Holy Communion

Christ has called us in our living

Christ has called us in our living,
there his love to find –
in our neighbour and self–giving,
peace of heart and mind.
Here in bread and wine we bring
Our lives, our world, our offering.

In our world of deep division,
Jesus makes us one;
each by sin set on collision:
met in God’s own Son.
Here in bread and wine we bring
Our lives, our world, our offering.

Saved by love on cross and altar:
sacrifice is done;
there, where each of us will falter,
Christ o’er death has won!
Here in bread and wine we bring
Our lives, our world, our offering.

Body broken, life blood spilling:
Friday victim’s priest;
darkness lit by God now filling
Eucharistic feast.
Here in bread and wine we bring
Our lives, our world, our offering.

Daily wants and wars and terrors
brought now to this place –
for God’s healing of our errors,
touched by Jesus’ grace
Here in bread and wine we bring
Our lives, our world, our offering.

For the future, God now feed us
in this meal of love
that in Jesus you may lead us
to our home above!
Here in bread and wine we bring
Our lives, our world, our offering.

© Neil Thompson 2011

Communion Hymn

God’s Word, love’s Word,
Spoken to each age,
True Word, life’s Word,
Writ in scripture’s page,

Lord God, Lord God,
Guide your world today,
Meet us as heav’nly food and strength –
Lead us in the Way.

God’s bread, love’s bread,
Blest by Jesus’ breath,
One bread, shared bread,
Shows forth saviour’s death.

God’s cup, love’s cup,
Poured to save the lost,
One cup, Christ’s cup,
Cross of glory’s cost.

God’s life, love’s life,
Lived in Christ today,
One life, your life,
Make us this we pray.

God’s breath, love’s breath,
Spirit’s power of life,
Truth’s breath, Christ’s breath,
Healing pain and strife.

God’s time, love’s time,
Sacramental power,
This time, all time,
Bless each passing hour.

© Neil Thompson 2003

Offertory Hymn

Lord, bless our bread, the world, each life –
That earthly food may be
The living Christ, love’s saving feast,
And find its home in me.

The gifts I have can cut me off
As self blots out Christ’s light.
O meet my broken hungry soul
And save me in my plight!

We bring to God the hidden pains
And wants that fill each day.
The whole world o’er needs Christ’s new life:
O Lord, for this we pray.

The Spirit and the broken bread
Make Christ alive to all;
The hunger caused by apple grasped,
Is met – and breaks our Fall.

A loaf can feed us for a day
But some have none and die.
The greedy world has food to spare
And fails to hear God’s cry.

St Francis turned from wealth to Christ
And found love’s simple way –
Where ‘Lady Poverty’ brings gifts
That riches cannot pay.

St Francis and St Clare left all
To feed the world with prayer –
It changes human grasping ways
To love: to risk and share.

The desert years that Israel spent
To reach the Promised Land,
Were blessed by God with bread and drink
Which faith drew from his hand.

The priestly life accepts the cost
Of love and freedom’s edge.
The burden and the joy of Christ
Makes real God’s heavenly pledge.

And so we pray that Christ will make
The eucharistic bread
A meeting place, where blessed and shared,
All people may be fed.

This hymn was written for the First Mass of the Revd Joanne Farman, a Francisan tertiary

Verses 6, 7 & 9 can be omtted for general use

© Neil Thompson 2001

Communion Hymn

Christ comes in the breaking of the bread,
the shedding of his blood;
God’s love is food and drink, his grace flows like a flood.
Jesus the crucified, the Lamb of God who died:
Christ comes in the breaking of the bread,
the shedding of his blood.

Christ comes in the breaking of the bread,
his death brings life anew
To all who hear the Word – the many and the few.
A broken world is healed, th’eternal’s love is sealed:
Christ comes in the breaking of the bread,
his death brings life anew.

Christ comes in the breaking of the bread:
now heav’n and earth are one.
Time’s veil dissolves away in Jesus, God’s own Son:
The eucharistic feast makes us Christ’s salt and yeast.
Christ comes in the breaking of the bread:
now heav’n and earth are one.

© Neil Thompson 2000