Reading: Introduction Themes for the Lord's Supper

The Invitation (From CRCNA.og)

Welcome to the feast of the Lord. All who are baptized and believe in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior are invited to join in this meal. Or other words that bring forward the theme of the sermon of the day.

Since many congregations may benefit from learning more about the Lord’s Supper, people may find it helpful if the minister uses various brief additional words of invitation that accent different aspects of the meaning of the sacrament. The following are suggestions.

1. Christ invites all his baptized people who trust in Christ as their Savior to dine at his table, where he will feed them with himself by the Holy Spirit. Come to receive all the benefits and blessings of his atoning death, his life-giving resurrection, and his ascended lordship.
2. We come to the table not just as individuals but as a community. By sharing the loaf and the cup, Christ makes us one with him and with each other.
3. Just as we are nourished by the food we eat, Christ nourishes us spiritually at this table with the bread of heaven and the cup of salvation.
4. This is the joyful feast of the Lord, for the elements we receive symbolize not just the flesh and blood of the crucified Lord but the life-giving flesh and blood of the risen and ascended Lord.
5. As we come to the table as repentant sinners, Christ wants to assure us of his forgiveness. As we come with our struggles, Christ wants to assure us of his living presence. As we come with our doubts, Christ wants to touch us with the flesh and blood reality of his life.
6. At the Lord’s Supper we look back, remembering the whole story of our salvation; we look around, seeing that we are together members of the body of Christ; we look forward to the great banquet in God’s coming kingdom; and we look up to our ascended Lord, who promises to feed us with his body and blood by the Holy Spirit.
7. Congregation of Jesus Christ, the Lord has prepared his table for all who love him and trust in him alone for their salvation. All who are truly sorry for their sins, who sincerely believe in the Lord Jesus as their Savior, and who desire to live in obedience to him as Lord, are now invited to come with gladness to the table of the Lord.