“Let us put away our swords and our sound bites”

http://electiondaycommunion.org/

You can’t take communion over the internet. Not really. 

And that’s okay. One of the things I love about Christianity is the physicality of sacraments like communion and baptism, the way we can taste, smell, hear, see, and feel the presence of God through these beautiful acts of remembrance and faith.  So if you get the chance, I encourage you to participate in an Election Day Communion near you. This lovely idea is meant to bring Christians of all political and theological persuasions together, united in the common bonds of love and in a shared allegiance to Jesus Christ above all earthly kings and kingdoms.  

We can’t serve communion here today, but I still want this to be a safe place where you can find unity, not division. So I’ve included portions of the suggested Election Day Communion worship service below, and I invite you to share your own prayers, confessions, meditations, and thoughts in the comment section. Please make your comment edifying and positive (or else I’ll delete it because, like I said, this isn’t exactly a church).  I want this to become a place that people can visit throughout the day and find something hopeful. 

Grace and peace to all of you today! 

Call to worship 

Based on Ephesians 4:4-6

We have come together as one.
One people, gathered in the name of the one God.
We will worship together as one.
One community, giving praise and honor to the Righteous One.
We are being empowered as one by One.
One body and one Spirit, called to the hope of one calling, 
one Lord, one faith, one baptism,
one God and Father of all who is above all and through all and in all.
Now, in the name of the Three-in-One, we act as one.
One people, giving witness to the power of One.

Prayer for the election

By Joanna Harader, author of the “Spacious Faith” blog

God of justice and compassion,
God of Republicans and Democrats and Independents,
God of the poor and the 1% and the middle class,
in the heat of this election year
we pray for our nation, our churches, and ourselves.
In the midst of meanness and deception,
may our words be kind and true.
In the midst of loud speeches and harsh accusations,
may we listen well and try to understand.
May those who follow Jesus do the work of Jesus–
breaking down the dividing walls
speaking the truth in love
meeting together in the face of disagreements.
Holy, loving God, have mercy on your children.
Amen.

Invitation to the table

Adapted from “A call to put away your swords and your sound bites,” 
by Jonathan Martin, lead pastor of Renovatus Church

The world has called you to the voting booth to decide which candidate should run the country. We are calling you to the bread and wine, to decide once more who will run your life. So let us put away our swords and our sound bites. Let us drop our rocks and our nets. Let us come to the table that is not just for the rich and powerful, but for the broken. Come and receive the body of Christ broken for you, the blood of Christ shed for you.

Communion liturgy

Published by the Peace and Justice Support Network of the Mennonite Church USA 

Brothers and sisters, 
If you will to love God before, in, and above all things,
in the power of God’s holy and living Word, then let each say: I will.

If you will to love your neighbors 
and to serve your neighbors with deeds of love
then let each say: I will.

If you will to practice mutual admonition toward your brothers and sisters,
to reconcile yourselves with those whom you have offended, 
to abandon all envy, hate, and evil will toward everyone, 
and to also love your enemies, and do good to them,
then let each say: I will.

If you desire publicly to confirm before the church this pledge of love,
by eating bread and drinking wine,
the living memorial of the suffering and death of Jesus our Lord, 
then let each say: I desire it in the power of God.

Let us eat and drink with one another in the name of God the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.  May God give to all of us the strength to carry out our pledge.

Amen.

We praise and thank you, Lord God, Creator of the heavens and the earth, for your goodness  towards us. Especially you have loved us so much that you sent your beloved son to us, so that all who believe in him may not be lost, but have eternal life. Based on his example we walk the way of love and peace, and we also pray: 

Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
And forgive us our debts,
as we also have forgiven our debtors.
And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from the evil one. 

“For I received from the Lord what I also handed on to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night when  he was betrayed took a loaf of bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, ‘This is my body that is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.’”

“In the same way he took the cup also after supper, saying, ‘This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this as often as you drink it in remembrance of me.’ ”

“For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.”

Brothers and sisters, by eating the bread and drinking the cup in memory of the shed blood of our Lord Jesus Christ, we have had fellowship with one another, and have all become one loaf and one body. Since Christ is our Head, we should become conformed to our Head and as his members follow after him—love one another, do good, give and receive counsel, serve our neighbors, and even love our enemies.

Arise now and go forth in the peace of Christ Jesus. The grace of God be with us all.

Amen.

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What thoughts and prayers are on your hearts today? 

Visit the Election Day Communion Web site for images and resources to share.