(choir singing) (organ playing) (choirs singing) 

Priest: Beloved, we have assembled here in this place of worship, to commune with the Lord Jesus Christ, who has invited us to come symbolically to his table. To prepare our hearts for the feast, which he has ready for us. Let us hear some of the verses of scripture, which help us to understand what we are about. Behold said, Jesus, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come into him and eat with him, and he with me. Again, Jesus said, I am the living bread, which came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever. And the bread which I shall give him is the bread for the life of the world, and is my flesh. The apostle Paul writing about this said, The cup of blessing, which we bless, is it not a participation in the blood of Christ? the bread which we break is it not 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 same loaf. Again, Paul writing, What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man can see what God has prepared for those who love him. God has revealed to us through the spirit. For the spirit searches everything, even the depths of God. The Lord be with you. 

Congregation: And also with you. Let us pray our prayer for purity, uniting our hearts and our voice. All mighty God unto whom all hearts are open, all desires known and from whom no secrets are hid. Cleanse the thoughts of our hearts by the inspiration of thy Holy Spirit, that we may perfectly love thee and worthily magnify thy holy name through Christ, our Lord, Amen. Our father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name, thy kingdom come. Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory, forever, Amen. (organ playing) (choir singing) Truly and earnestly repent of your sins and are in love and charity with your neighbors and intend to lead a new life, following the commandments of God and walking from henceforth in his holy ways, draw near with faith and take this holy sacrament to your comfort, make your humble confession, to all mighty God. And may we now make our humble confession to almighty God in our unison prayer. 

- Almighty God, father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Maker of all things, judge of all men. We acknowledge and bewail our manifold sins, and wickedness, which we from time to time, most grievously have committed by thought word and deed against thy divine majesty. We do earnestly repent and are heartedly sorry for these our mis-doings. The remembrance of them is grievous unto us. Have mercy upon us, have mercy upon us, most merciful father for thy son, our Lord, Jesus Christ say, forgive us all of that is passed. And granted we may ever hear after serve and please thee in newness of life. Through the honor and glory of thy name, through Jesus Christ, our Lord, Amen. Almighty God, our heavenly father, who of thy great mercy has promised forgiveness of sins, to all them that with hearty repentance and true faith turned to thee. Have mercy upon us. Pardon and deliver us from all our sins. Confirm and strengthen us in all goodness, and bring us to everlasting life through Jesus Christ, our Lord, Amen. Hear what comfortable words. The scripture say to all that truly turned to the Lord, Come to me all who labor and are heavy laden. And I will give you rest. If anyone sins, we have an advocate with the father, Jesus Christ, the righteous. And he is the expiation for our sins and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world. Now let us pray for the whole state of Christ church using the Litany, page 13. Most merciful father, we humbly beseech thee to receive these our prayers for the universal church, that thou will confirm it in the truth of thy, holy faith. Inspire it with unity and concord and extend and prosper it throughout the world. We beseech thee also so to guide and strengthen the witness of the church to those in authority in all nations, that they may maintain the justice and welfare of all mankind. You have grace, so heavenly father to all ministers, of thy church that both by their life and doctrine, they may set forth dye true and lively word and faithfully administer thy holy sacraments and who all thy people give die heavenly grace, that with willing heart and due reverence, they made here and receive the holy word, truly serving thee and holiness and righteousness all the days of their lives. And we most humbly beseech of thy goodness, oh Lord, to support and strengthen all those who in this transitory life are in trouble, sorrow, need sickness, or any other adversity. We remember with Thanksgiving, those who have loved and served the entire church on earth, who now rest from their labors, especially those most dear to us, whom we name and our hearts before thee now. Keep us in fellowship with all thy saints and bring us at length to the joy of thy heavenly kingdom grant this oh father for the sake of Jesus Christ, our only mediator and advocate, Amen. The scripture lesson for today is bound in John's gospel verses from chapter 10, beginning with the first. The words of Jesus, truly, truly I say to you, he who does not enter the sheep bowl by the door, but climbs in by another way, that man is a thief and a robber, but he who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. To him the gatekeeper open. The sheep, hear his voice and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he has brought out all his sheep, he goes before them, the sheep follow him for, they know his voice. And I have other sheep that are not of this fold. I must bring them also and they will hear my voice. So there shall be one flock, one shepherd. Let us pray. Let the words of my mouth and the meditations of all of our hearts be always acceptable in thy sight, oh Lord. Our strength and our redeemer, Amen. If sometimes a temptation when talking about the Lord's supper, to try to be very profound and thereby perhaps to lose the spirit of it all, actually there's nothing very profound about an itinerant preacher, wanting to spend the final evening together with his friends that this particular final evening took place during the Jewish Passover enhances its value, especially for those who appreciate the symbol and the symbolism between the two events. Here was a man who simply wanted to share some unheard moments with those who had been closest to it. Now, since that original last supper, the church has made it our greatest symbol of fellowship and communion with the risen Lord. But even from the beginning, it has held different meanings for different people. As no doubt, there are varying opinions represented here today in this congregation. Well, what does it mean? This service of the bread and the cup, many things really. So today let me try to witness to only one of its meanings for me. The sacrament of the Lord's supper is a reminder that Jesus Christ calls me by name. It is a reminder that Jesus Christ calls me by name name. Names were considered very important in biblical society. And the name is by which many of biblical characters are known reveal what they became. Remember Jacob, who had his name changed to Israel. Then he wrestled with God one night by the river Jabbok and in the New Testament, that was Simon became Peter, Saul who became Paul names are also important to us. There are a lot of us who don't like our names. I've never been very fond of my first name, George. if you like your first name, George, then good for you, but I've never been very fond of mine. Think of the number of people for a moment who have their names changed. But most importantly, think how much we love to hear the sound of our name. There is no more sweet of sound in all the world and the sound of one's own name. So perhaps in this context, we may disagree with Shakespeare's Juliet. When she says what's in the name, that which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet. Our names are important to us to each of us. A student taking a course in religion after much discussion about many theories that of his professor. What I really want to know is this, does God know my name? Does God know my name? That's the question, I think that makes the difference. We're curious about the universe. You and I, we want to know its origin. We want to know its operation and destiny, but for each one of us, the question becomes at last upon the personal one, is there in the universe. one who cares for me? Is there one who cares for me? The writer of the gospel of John has Jesus say he who does not enter by the sheep fold by other sheep by the door, but climbs in another way that man is a thief and a robber. But he who enters the door is the shepherd of the sheep to him the gatekeeper opens, the sheep hear his voice and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. My friends, each time we take part in the reading of this service, each time we handle the bread and the cup, we can renew the experience of being called by name. He who took young children in his arms and blessed them. He who fed the hungry, heal the sick and blessed the weary. It was he who said during the course of his last supper with his friends, do this in memory of me. Do this in memory of who I am or what I have done and continue to do and will do forever. So in all the bigness of life today in the midst of so much, that is impersonal and unkind and abrupt and rude. We all need the tangible reminder of our own importance and word. A man who was rescued after many days at sea alone on a rubber raft said to those who found him. My only hope, my only hope was that I knew I was being sought I thought too you depends on that. Is anyone looking for me? And the answer that comes to us from this service is yes. In the fullness of time, God sent forth his son to find us and call us by name. One of the best demonstrations of the value of a name or the importance of using the right name comes from the play, A Man of Lavante. Many of you are perhaps familiar with this play and you will recall that one scene shows Don Quixote seated at a table in an end, preparing for a meal. The waitress is named Al Danza. She's a prostitute. As she efforts to set the table, Don Quixote is stricken by her presence. He addresses her sweet lady. Tell me your name, Al Danza. She says roughly, but he calls her by another name Dulcinea, Dulcinea I see heaven. When I see the Dulcinea and I name is like a prayer on angel whispers. Dulcinea, Dulcinea at the end of the play. When Don Quixote is dying, Al dons comes to him, saying Dulcinea Dulcinea won't you please bring back the dream of Dulcinea won't you bring me back the bright and shining glory of Dulcinea, Dulcinea as James Montgomery has written. And when these failing lips grow dumb and mind and memory flee when thou shalt and die kingdom come then Lord remember me. It's a good thing for us to be here so we can hear him call us by our name, Amen. (organ playing) (choir sings) Lift up your hearts. let us to give thanks unto the Lord. It is very neat, right? And there are bounded and duty that we should at all times and in all places give thanks unto the Lord. Holy father, all night, he everlasting God. Therefore with angels and archangels with all the company of heaven, we Lord and magnify thy glorious name, evermore praising the and say... (choir sings) Our mighty God our heavenly father who abide tender mercy did give thy only son, Jesus Christ suffered death upon the cross for our redemption. We made there by the one offering of himself, a full, perfect and sufficient sacrifice for the sins of the whole world and did institute and in his holy gospel, command us to continue a perpetual memory of his precious death until his coming again. Hear us so merciful father, we most humbly beseech thee, and granted we receiving these thy creatures with bread and wine. According to thy son, our savior Jesus Christ, holy institution in remembrance of his passion, death and resurrection may be partakers of the divine nature through him who in the same night that he was betrayed, took bread when he had given thanks. He broke it and gave it to his disciples saying, take eat this is my body, which is given for you do this in remembrance of me. Likewise, after supper, he took the cup when he had given thanks he gave it to them saying, drink ye all of this for this is my blood on the new covenant, which is shed for you. And for many, for the forgiveness of sin. Do this as often as you shall drink it in remembrance of me, Amen. We do not presume to come to this thy table, oh mercy Lord trusting in our own righteousness, but in thy manifold and grace mercy, we are not worthy so much as to gather up the crumbs under the table, but now are the same Lord whose property is always to have mercy. Grant us therefore gracious Lord. So to partake of this sacrament of thy son, Jesus Christ, that we may walk in newness of life, may grow into his likeness and they evermore dwell in him and he in us, Amen. (moment of silence) (organ playing) Jesus said I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture arise and go in peace, and in his service. May you find perfect freedom, Amen. Jesus said I am the light of the world. He who follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life rise and go in peace. And may the light of the world shine on your pathway and in your heart forever, Amen. Jesus said, I am the vine you are the branches. By this my father is glorified. That you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples. Arise and go in peace. And may the glory of your life with the fruits of the spirit, Amen. (moment of silence) Jesus said I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me and I have other sheep that are not of this fold. I must bring them also. So there shall be one flock, one shepherd. Arise and go in peace and may the voice of the good shepherd be your comfort in sorrow and your guide and happiness, Amen. (organ playing) Jesus said I came that they may have life and have it abundantly. Arise and go in peace. And may your abundant life in Christ overflow in deeds of love and service, Amen. (organ playing) Jesus said you did not choose me, but I chose you. I had appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide. Arise and go in peace. And by your fruits. May all men know that you are disciples of our Lord, Amen. (organ playing) Jesus said you are the light of the world.