A Concord Pastor Comments: NIGHT PRAYER: Sunday 6/14

As the sun sets on this feast of your Body and Blood,
I come again today to thank you, Lord,
for the gift of your presence in communion,
for your communion with us in the Eucharist
and the communion that's ours in your Spirit
when we gather at your table in church
or in our virtual "pews" at home...

Your presence in communion, Lord,
is a comfort and a consolation:
your presence in the simple gifts we offered
and your presence within and among us
is all an amazing grace and the source of longed for peace...

But communion with you is still more, Lord,
it's also a command and a challenge:
our communion with you commands us
to love one another as you love us;
and our communion with you is a challenge
to break ourselves open, like bread,
and pour ourselves out, like wine,
to make our lives generously available,
in serving one and all...

Especially in these times, Lord,
especially in our nation
you command us to love our neighbor
and you challenge us to see as you see,
to hear as you hear, to speak as you speak,
to serve as you serve and to love as you love:
freely, fully and with forgiveness...

Help us become what we receive, Lord,
and nothing less than that:
help us become your presence for others,
healing, forgiving and making peace...

To be your bread now, be your wine now,
Lord, come and change us:
make us a sign of your love.
Blest and broken, poured and flowing,
help us become the gift you gave us,
help us be your people, your body,
once again...

May we become, Lord, what we receive,
your love, broken and poured out
for all...

Protect us, Lord, while we're awake
and watch over us as we sleep
that awake, we may keep watch with you
and asleep, rest in your peace...

Amen.

To Be Your Bread Now by David Haas

To be your bread now, be your wine now,
Lord, come and change us to be a sign of your love.
Blest and broken, poured and flowing,
gift that you gave us, to be your body once again.

1. We come to your table with our lives as they are.
Heal us Lord, for we are broken; make us one again.

2. Lord, we stumble through the darkness of night.
Lead us, now, O Lord, we follow; bring us home to you.

3. Give us the bread and wine that bring us to life.
Feed us, and we'll never hunger, never thirst again.