A liturgy of bread

 

Introduction

Bread: basic staple of life reminding us of our daily needs and our dependence upon creation.  May we always be mindful of the simple things of life and aware of God's love in providing for us these basic necessities

 

Bread: miracle of transformation. Flour, yeast and water.  Changing the many grains into the one loaf.  Broken that the many might eat of the one bread.

 

God of bread.  Fill us with the good things of your creation.  Transform us by the yeast of your spirit

 

A litany of bread and body

 

While they were sitting at the table, the word of the LORD came to the old prophet who had brought him back. He cried out to the man of God who had come from Judah, "This is what the LORD says: 'You have defied the word of the LORD and have not kept the command the LORD your God gave you. You came back and ate bread and drank water in the place where he told you not to eat or drink. Therefore your body will not be buried in the tomb of your fathers.' "

 

Give us today our daily bread.  The bread of God, the bread of life

 

For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until he comes. Therefore, whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of sinning against the body and blood of the Lord. A man ought to examine himself before he eats of the bread and drinks of the cup.

 

Give us today our daily bread.  The bread of God, the bread of life

 

When evening came, Jesus arrived with the Twelve. While they were reclining at the table eating, he said, "I tell you the truth, one of you will betray me—one who is eating with me." They were saddened, and one by one they said to him, "Surely not I?" "It is one of the Twelve," he replied, "one who dips bread into the bowl with me.  The Son of Man will go just as it is written about him. But woe to that man who betrays the Son of Man! It would be better for him if he had not been born." While they were eating, Jesus took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to his disciples, saying, "Take it; this is my body."

 

Give us today our daily bread.  The bread of God, the bread of life

 

Is the bread that we break a participation in the body of Christ? Because there is one loaf, we, who are many, are one body, for we all partake of the one loaf.

 

Give us today our daily bread.  The bread of God, the bread of life

 

For I tell you I will not drink again of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes."And he took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, "This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me." In the same way, after the supper he took the cup, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you.

 

Give us today our daily bread.  The bread of God, the bread of life

 

Sharing

 

Conclusion

 

God, we thank you for the miracle of bread.  For feeding us, and nourishing us, and keeping us alive.  Let us remember those who will go hungry this night for lack of bread, or who in some other have to go without the basic necessities of life

 

Space for reflection or intercessions 

 

God, we thank you for the miracle of bread.  As we leave this place may we remember that you are the one who feeds us, that you are the one who transforms us, that you are the one who gives life

 

Space for reflection or thanksgiving

 

God, we thank you for the miracle of bread.  Each time we eat bread this week, each time we share bread with friends and family may we remember your transforming love.