By Grace Through Faith

Our Father, the Lord Jesus has paid for our sins. They are nailed with Him on the cross. We are crucified with Christ. Nevertheless we live and the Spirit gives us life that we might do the works of Christ. 

Jesus was delivered for our offenses, and was raised again for our justification. And sin once reigned unto death, but now grace reigns through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord. Grant us abundant life in Jesus as we believe in Him and partake of His body and blood by grace through faith. Amen.

Thanksgiving

Our Father, in You we live and move and have our being. We know that not one sparrow falls to the ground apart from Your notice and that You are intimately acquainted with us. Even the very heads of our head are numbered and You have also numbered all our days. We place our explicit trust in You knowing that You are a good Father and that You have and will provide for us in every way. Give this day our daily bread. Amen.

Symbols of Life

The bread and wine are fitting symbols of life and health. Bread has a wonderful aroma that portends joy. It is also a filling food. It assuages our extreme hunger and also prepares whets our appetite for a savory feast.

         Wine is strong. It, too, has a pleasant aroma that prepares us for good food and fellowship. It has many different tastes. It can be strong, smooth, bitter, lingering, all in the same small sip.

         The bread which we break and the cup which we bless are the body and blood of Jesus. Taste and see that the Lord is good.

         We see these symbols and they help us to see Jesus. We believe His promises, so we eat and drink in faith. As we do this, we do taste the Lord and know that He is good and that His promises to us are yea and amen.

         Body and blood. Life and health. Jesus and His people. Bread and wine. Joy and gratitude.

Confession

Our Father, we confess our failure to walk worthy of the kingdom and glory of Your Son Jesus Christ in all that we do, say and think. Forgive our sins and fill us with the power of Your Holy Spirit. Amen.

Praise

Our Father in Heaven, we hallow Your Name. We thank You for drawing us to Yourself through the power of Your Holy Spirit and for granting us the graces of repentance and the forgiveness of sins. We thank You for Your wisdom that created the world and all things therein and mankind to rule and subdue the earth. We thank You for Jesus lives and reigns with You, world without end, who has subdued all things beneath His feet. We praise You in His name. Amen.

Forgiveness is Healing

God grants us forgiveness and it is life and health to our bones. When we forgive, it heals both the forgiver and the forgiven. No room for bitterness. No room for shame. Bitterness and shame are banished from those who are forgive and are forgiven in Christ Jesus.

         We now stand before our risen Lord, risen in Him by the free grace of forgiveness. And we also grant those who have trespassed against us the free grace of forgiveness that they might rise and stand with us before the risen Lord.

We are forgiven and healed and have become forgivers and healers by the Lord’s grace.