Covenant God

Genesis 9:11-17

I establish my covenant with you, that never again shall all flesh be cut off by the waters of a flood, and never again shall there be a flood to destroy the earth.” God said, “This is the sign of the covenant that I make between me and you and every living creature that is with you, for all future generations: I have set my bow in the clouds, and it shall be a sign of the covenant between me and the earth. When I bring clouds over the earth and the bow is seen in the clouds, I will remember my covenant that is between me and you and every living creature of all flesh; and the waters shall never again become a flood to destroy all flesh. When the bow is in the clouds, I will see it and remember the everlasting covenant between God and every living creature of all flesh that is on the earth.” God said to Noah, “This is the sign of the covenant that I have established between me and all flesh that is on the earth.”

Invitation

Come to this table all who seek peace

Come to this table all who seek love

Come to this table all who seek relationship

The God of peace, love and relationship

waits to serve you here

Narrative

God who created the world lives in relationship with creation

God created humankind to enjoy fellowship with God and with each other

All through history, God has found ways to demonstrate love 

In creation, through the prophets, and, by sending Jesus

Rituals and memorials help us to recall history and to celebrate love

The night before he died, Jesus gathered his friends around him 

to speak again of love and to set up this memorial in which we remember him

He took bread, symbol of everyday life and sustenance 

Symbol of Christ's body broken to sustain us in life and love.

He took wine, symbol of thirst quenching celebration

Symbol of Christ's blood poured out for us that we might enjoy life to the full

And so, continuing the covenant he makes with us, we take these symbols 

and consecrate them to use in this memorial.

Prayer of Thanksgiving

God you set your bow in the sky, a symbol of your never ending love

 You made a covenant with Noah, with Abraham, with Joseph, with Moses, with prophets,priests and kings.

And now you make a covenant with us, gathered here

You are our God and we are your people, swept up in the continuum of your everlasting love.

We praise you for every sign of your love we see around us

In the beauty of creation

In the clouds and the rainbows

In the people around us every day

And we remember in this place, all those who made your covenant known to us

Those who lived out your promises and showed us your love

Those who join us today as we share in this feast that is celebrated in Heaven and on earth

Living God, true to their memory, may we take every opportunity to hand on your love

In our homes, in our communities, in our nation and throughout the world.

Show us how to live in covenant with you by exploiting every opportunity 

with which you present us to demonstrate your love in action.

May we care for one another - when that is easy and when it is hard.

May we serve one another- when that comes naturally and when it takes effort

May we speak out against injustice and seek peace in all things, 

especially when speaking up or seeking peace costs us.

God, you held nothing back and never gave up.

So may we follow your example, persistently loving

never giving up hope until all the world knows your incredible love.

May that love unfreeze our cold hearts, loosen our clenched fists

and release our energy to serve you in love

beginning right here, right now.

God, send your Spirit upon these gifts of bread and wine and upon us.

As we share here may we be filled and energised to serve you in the world.

May this spiritual food sustain us to walk with you wherever you may lead.

In the name of Christ who walked the way of the cross for us.

Amen

Fraction

Jesus, the night he was betrayed, gathered his friends around, took bread and said:

This is my body broken for you.

Do this to remember me.

He took a cup, passed it around with these words:

This cup is the NEW covenant, a new relationship with God, made possible because of my death

Drink this to remember me.

We eat this bread and drink this cup in a new covenant with God.

Prayer after communion

Lord Jesus, we have recalled the new covenant you made with us

We have recalled your life, your love and your death

We have been filled by your promise

So may we step out in faith, in hope and in love

to bring your peace into all the world

Beginning here, beginning now,

In the name of God who keeps covenant.

Amen