Second Week of the Month

Group examen
 
For what am I most grateful this week?
For what am I least grateful this week?
Where is God calling me and for what do I need to ask?
 
Honouring of sharing
 
Prayer, silence, clarification, request, accountability
 
Eucharist
 
Examine your motives, test your heart,
and come to this meal in holy awe.
 (1 Corinthians 11:28, The Message)
 
Pause for reflective self-examination
 
We come as pilgrims
from the journeys of the week,
each with our offering of joys and sorrows,
blessings and tiredness.
 
Readings from the lectionary
 
We come to this quiet center again,
recognizing Christ’s presence in each of us
who share this simple meal.
 
Lord, we gather around your table, and we remember.
We remember the desired Passover with your disciples;
Jesus, we desire to meet with you in this simple meal.
We remember the humble example of washed feet;
Lord, forgive our inability to love one another.
We remember the loving look at the three-times betrayer;
Jesus, may we be mindful of your loving gaze on us.
We remember the silent suffering before Pilate and Herod;
Jesus, we are silenced by your suffering for us.
We remember the exhausted stumbling and the African arms that carried the cross;
Lord, we would be your feet and hands in this world.
We remember the generous mercy to the penitent thief;
Lord, may your generous mercy embrace us all.
 
As we partake of the bread and wine,
we do so with faith and hope in the coming Christ.
We serve each other as a sign of our commitment
to one another
and of our communion with all the saints.
 
We remember that Jesus, on the night when he was betrayed, took the bread, broke it (break the bread), gave it to his disciples (hold bread up) and said,
“Take and eat, this is my body given for you.”
In the same way he took the cup (hold up the cup) and said, “This is the blood of the covenant, which is poured out for you.”
 
Let us give thanks for the bread and wine.
 
Prayer of thanks for the bread and wine
(Suggested prayer)
Jesus, we give you thanks for these gifts of broken bread and poured out wine, signs of your love and sacrifice for us. As we share this simple feast, may we be aware of the mystery of your loving, transforming presence in our midst.  Amen.
 
Words to share Eucharist
 
The body of Christ given for you.
The blood of Christ shed for you.
 
Silent reflection
 
Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
Forgive us our sins
as we forgive those who sin against us.
Save us from the time of trial
and deliver us from evil.
For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours
now and forever.  Amen.
 
Offering
 
Share with the group or reflect in silence
 
A confession of true self . . . Sharing the truth of who we are . . .
 
This offering of confession asks us to consider what insights we have had about who we are (in light or in shadow) and to know that we may share that openly with each other without judgment.
In the presence of love we find that the truth sets us free.
 
Or
 
An offering of choice.
 
Where have we made, or wish to make, a choice that leads to life?
 
I am now giving you the choice between life and death, between God's blessing and God's curse, and I call heaven and earth to witness the choice you make. Choose life.
(Deuteronomy 30:19 GNB)
 
Offering prayer
 
Lord, you have held nothing back from us
but given us all things in the Son you love.
So we offer these tokens of our love to you
as a reminder to ourselves that all we have belongs to you
and as a sign to you of both our struggle and our longing
to be wholly yours.  Amen.
 
Lectio Divina or Colloquio Divina
 
Go in peace, the Lord is with you.
Go in peace, the Lord is within you.
Go in peace, for wherever you go,
the Lord is already there to greet you.
Go in peace, the Lord is with you.  Amen.