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Communion Prayer


Featured on this page are several prayers and resources for celebrating Holy Communion. There is a traditional Anglican prayer for the congregation to say before communion, as well as short prayers for the priest or celebrant to say whilst adminstering the bread and wine. There is also a contemporary poem for reflection and meditation, a post communion prayer, and several good readings and quotes about the Eucharist meal.


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We who have turned our lives over to Christ need to know how very much he longs to eat with us, to commune with us. He desires a perpetual Eucharistic feast in the inner sanctuary of the heart.

(Richard J. Foster, Celebration of Discipline: The Path to Spiritual Growth)



Episcopal Prayer Before Communion


We do not presume to come to this thy Table, O merciful Lord, trusting in our own righteousness, but in thy manifold and great mercies. We are not worthy so much as to gather up the crumbs under thy Table. But thou art the same Lord whose property is always to have mercy. Grant us therefore, gracious Lord, so to eat the flesh of thy dear Son Jesus Christ, and to drink his blood, that we may evermore dwell in him, and he in us.

Amen.

(Source: The Holy Eucharist: Rite One, 1979 Book of Common Prayer, Protestant Episcopal Church in the USA)



Communion Meditation

A short prayer which asks for God's forgiveness and reflects on the wonder of salvation found in Christ:-


The Giving of Communion


Traditional Prayers
(longer version)

The Body of our Lord Jesus Christ, which was given for thee, preserve thy body and soul unto everlasting life. Take and eat this in remembrance that Christ died for thee, and feed on him in thy heart by faith, with thanksgiving.

The Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ, which was shed for thee, preserve thy body and soul unto everlasting life. Drink this in remembrance that Christ’s Blood was shed for thee, and be thankful.

or with these words
The Body (Blood) of our Lord Jesus Christ keep you in
everlasting life. [Amen.]

or with these words
The Body of Christ, the bread of heaven. [Amen.]
The Blood of Christ, the cup of salvation. [Amen.]

(Source: The Holy Eucharist: Rite One, 1979 Book of Common Prayer, Protestant Episcopal Church in the USA)


Holy Communion is offered to all, as surely as the living Jesus Christ is for all, as surely as all of us are not divided in him, but belong together as brothers and sisters, all of us poor sinners, all of us rich through his mercy. Amen.

(Karl Barth, Deliverance to the Captives)



The Giving of Communion
(Modern Prayers)

Communion Prayer for the Bread

Your body of life
Is broken for us.
Thank you for your amazing grace.

OR if giving the bread to a member of the congregation:-

Christ's body of life
broken for you.
Thank the Lord for his amazing grace.

Communion Prayer for the Cup

Your love and sacrifice
Is poured out for us.
Thank you for your amazing grace.

OR if giving the wine to a member of the congregation:-

Christ's love and sacrifice
poured out for you.
Thank the Lord for his amazing grace.

Simple Prayer of Thanks

a short prayer of thanks suitable for saying after communion:-

prayer of thanks with photo of a flower

Prayer of thanks for after communion

(a post communion prayer)

Jesus,
No words can express our gratitude and amazement that you should die for us.
How amazing is it that each of our lives is so valuable to you that you would lay yours down to reach us. May the bread and wine remain with us as we seek to take your message of love and grace into the world.

Amen.

(a post communion prayer from www.lords-prayer-words.com)


Prayer Poem Meditation on Communion


We still our minds, and draw our hearts so near to yours.
And find that we're sat with faithful friends, at a meal with open doors.
Your invitation is to all, to come and eat for free.
You've paid the bill, your resurrection life, we will receive.
And as I glance around the room I see so many things -
The tears of pain, the smiles of joy,
The hopes, the dreams and fears -
Upon these gathered, young and old, the followers of Christ.
That come to take of bread and wine,
To remember your sacrifice.
And in this moment all is clear from beginning to end,
From your birth in Bethlehem to your death on a cross,
And your resurrection in the Garden of Gethsemane.
We build our lives on yours Jesus.
On a love that never ends.
We carry a promise in our hearts like a gift of peace.
That those who put their trust in you,
In eternity we'll meet.

(a prayer poem meditation on the communion from www.lords-prayer-words.com)



Communion Prayer in the Bible


The Last Supper

Jesus took some bread in his hands and gave thanks for it. He broke the bread and handed it to his apostles. Then he said, “This is my body, which is given for you. Eat this as a way of remembering me!”
After the meal he took another cup of wine in his hands. Then he said, “This is my blood. It is poured out for you, and with it God makes his new agreement.

Luke 22:19-20 (CEV)




The Master, Jesus, on the night of his betrayal, took bread. Having given thanks, he broke it and said,
This is my body, broken for you.
Do this to remember me.
After supper, he did the same thing with the cup:
This cup is my blood, my new covenant with you.
Each time you drink this cup, remember me.
What you must solemnly realize is that every time you eat this bread and every time you drink this cup, you reenact in your words and actions the death of the Master. You will be drawn back to this meal again and again until the Master returns. You must never let familiarity breed contempt.

1 Corinthians 11:23b-26 (The Message)



Follow this link for prayers suitable for saying in church on Sunday mornings.