Agape Supper and sundry matters

Recently had an ecumenical Agape supper which was very good (Methodists, Anglicans, and Catholics all present) - see service below - and guess which prayer I was asked to say and light a candle for! "I light a candle for questioning, for journeying in the wilderness,and living on the edge." I asked if that was deliberate, as they know me rather well! When I went to Guernsey last year, I mentioned I was looking forward to visting the dolmens there that I had not seen before, and Mark, the Rector, said "ah, yes, doing pagan things!" The harvest supper this year had instead of goods, a "talents" auction, and I offered two hours of computer tuition, and a 3 hour tour (with booklet I put together) on the island's dolmens and menhirs. Mind you, the dolmen tour raised £35, so some people are interested!

 

Go to St Thomas (Catholic) weekdays, and St Brelade weekends for Celtic Evening Prayer. Sometimes St Brelade has a Eucharist instead, and I go to that as well, it runs a policy of being an "inclusive church", which means anyone who wants to come and take part can, regardless of denomination, confirmation etc etc., quite non-discriminatory, as you might expect from a church which has two women priests. As you can see from the bit in the Agape service which mentions "Be with those abandoned by relatives or friends, and bring an end to divisions caused by sexism, racism, ageism, or homophobia."

 

Reading a lot of T.F. Powys recently, a most interesting writer, and like me, somewhat unorthodox in his beliefs! Other recent reading includes a book on the Carry On Films (not all my reading is serious!) as the kids are at an age when they are enjoying its seaside-postcard style of humour - amazing that they still are popular with children and adults today! Also reading Alec Guiness autobiography gradually, very amusing. Listened to a lot of Radio 4 (my favourite radio station), and Craig Brown's satirical history of Britain "1966 and All That" which is larugh out loud funny. Also re-read Aneuran Bevan's "In Place of Fear" on the health service. Brilliant stuff! Mentioned it to chap in office, and he said "who?". Amazing that people are so historically ignorant.

 

 

 

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Week of Prayer for Christian Unity: Agape Supper

Come Lord Jesus, be our guest, today at this table.

With friend, with stranger, with young and with old, be among us

today.

 

Come close to us that we may come close to you.

Forgive us that we may forgive one another.

Renew us so that, where we have failed, we may begin again

Amen.

 

At the Last Supper Jesus, sharing

bread and wine, invited the disciples

to share his journey.

 

Like many grains of wheat becoming

one loaf of bread, the disciples were

invited to become one body with him.

 

Here today, through bread and wine,

We renew our journey with Jesus and his disciples.

 

Here today, through bread and wine,

We renew our unity with one another,

and with all those -who have gone before us.

 

Here today, through bread and wine,

We renew our communion with the earth

and our interwovenness with the broken ones of the world.

Reading 1

The peace that Christ came to

proclaim we now share with one

another.

 

The peace of the Lord be with you.

And also with vou

 

Among friends, gathered round a table, Jesus took bread, and,

having blessed it. He broke the bread and gave it to his disciples,

saying, 'This is my body which is given for you'.

 

So now, following Jesus' example, we take this bread, break it and

give thanks.

 

As this broken bread was scattered through fields and hills before

being gathered to become one,

So may we and all people be gathered from the ends of the earth

into Christ's kingdom.

 

(each person breaks bread for their neighbour, and passes the loaf on)

 

1st course - soup and bread

 

Jesus also took wine, and, having given thanks for it; he poured it

out and gave the cup to his disciples, saying,

 

"This cup is the new relationship with God, sealed with my blood.

Take this and share it. I shall drink wine with you next in the

coming kingdom of God'.

 

As many grapes were mixed to make this wine, we who are many

are united as one in Christ

 

(each person pours wine into their neightbours glass, and passes the jug of wine on)

 

Thanksgiving

 

(different people come up, light a tea-light candle, and put it in a central tray, around a large church candle)

 

I light a candle for Jesus, the Christ.

Thanks be to God

 

I light a candle for the apostles, sent out to be Christ's Church.

Thanks be to God

.

I light a candle for the scriptures, Hebrew and Christian. In which

we may discern the word that enlivens us.

Thanks be to God.

 

I light a candle for the wise thinkers - the Fathers and Mothers - of

the early Church.

Thanks be to God.

 

I light a candle for theologians through the ages: for their learning

and study and new insights.

Thanks be to God

.

I light a candle for the faithful people of God, in whose love and

lives the ongoing Church of Christ is realised.

Thanks be to God.

 

I light a candle for worship - colourful and quiet, exuberant and

contemplative. For word and silence, movement and stillness,

singing and sighing.

Thanks be to God.

 

I light a candle for Christian art, literature, and music, for symbols

which point us to God.

Thanks be to God.

 

I light a candle for strength of conviction

Thanks be to God.

 

I light a candle for questioning, for journeying in the wilderness,

and living on the edge.

Thanks be to God.

 

I light a candle for our rich diversity.

Thanks be to God.

 

I light a candle for our blessed connectedness in the love of Christ.

Thanks be to God.

 

Reading 2

2nd course

Reading 3

Intercessions

Loving God, we thank you that whatever our favoured image of

you, Jesus continues to have a talent for breaking out of our

moulds, and ever remains provocative. So, lead us away from the

security of our own comfortable images of Christ, to face the

complex issues of today.

 

Be with those abandoned by relatives or friends, and bring an end

to divisions caused by sexism, racism, ageism, or homophobia.

 

Protect us from irresponsible or extreme interpretation of scripture,

and check our emotional responses, we pray.

 

Above all, challenge us afresh to progress beyond gender divisions

to know the spiritual wholeness of the unity of Christ

 

In the grace, and empowerment, of the Holy Spirit we pray for our

lives to be so transformed so that we your Church are united as one

body in you, the Triune God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Amen.

 

Our Father who art in Heaven….

 

God of community, three in one, we offer ourselves: as different

organs in a single body; as many threads in a woven fabric; as

diverse stones in a mosaic; as various instruments in an orchestra;

as myriad drops in a moving river.

 

We acknowledge our need of one another, our failure when we

act alone; let us find delight in our interdependence and discover

your presence in one another.

 

Amen.