Bread of Life, The

Description

Here are worship resources for John 6, where Jesus refers to himself as the bread of life.

Scripture

John 6:22-59

Prayers

Opening Prayer

Feed us now, Child of God, as you fed your first disciples.

Feed us with that soul-food which nurtures enough love within us
to outstrip the fears and enmity that ties the world up in knots.

Feed us with that spiritual bread which strengthens our hands
for serving those broken and lost people whom this world deems a waste of space.

Feed us, so that we may be fulfilled with some of that joy
which the universe cannot contain.
For your love’s sake.

Amen.

~ written by Bruce Prewer, and posted on Bruce Prewer’s Home Page.
http://www.bruceprewer.com/

Prayer of Invocation

God of healing and transformation,
we hunger and thirst for your abundant life.
We bring you our sorrow and ask for the bread of joy;
we bring you our despair and ask for the bread of hope;
we bring you our weariness and ask for the bread of inspiration.
Meet us here.
We need the bread of heaven to sustain us
as we journey to find our way,
that we may we be one with you.
In Jesus' name we pray.

Amen.

~ from Spiritual Hunger and Thirst for God, written by the Rev. Bonnie Tarwater. Posted on the United Church of Christ website.
http://www.ucc.org/worship/worship-ways/

Opening Prayer: Feed Us, Lord

Lord,
the eyes of all look to You in hope;
and You give them what they need.
You open Your hand
and satisfy the hunger and thirst of every living thing.

We, too, turn to You again, longing to be filled—
to eat of the Bread of Life,
to drink from Your life-giving streams,
to taste Your goodness and live.

May the time we spend together in Your presence
nourish our hearts and minds;
may it strengthen our relationship with You,
and renew our commitment to live in this world as Your faithful disciples.

For You alone are God, the Source and Sustainer of life.

In Jesus’ name, Amen.

~ Christine Longhurst

Spoken Resources

Call to Worship Litany

Hungering and thirsting, we come to the Lord.
Jesus is the living bread!
Feed us with your love and healing power, O Lord.
Give us the bread of hope
and compassion that we may also feed others.
Praise be to you, O Lord, for your compassion for us.
Praise be to you, O Lord, for your steadfast love.

Amen.

~ written by Nancy C. Townley, and posted on the Ministry Matters website.
http://www.ministrymatters.com/

Sending Out

If you have found some of the good bread of Christ here this day,
then don’t hesitate to share it with others.
For this is the bread that increases the more it is given away,
and nourishes us best in the presence of goodwill and laughter.

Go on your way in good spirits, for the best is yet to come.
The grace of our Saviour,
the love of our Creator,
and the friendship of our Enabler,
will be with us
this day and evermore.

Amen!

~ Written by Bruce Prewer, and posted on Bruce Prewer’s Home Page.
http://www.bruceprewer.com/

Prayer of Thanksgiving

Jesus, you came that we might have life, and have it abundantly
Precious Jesus, we offer you our praise and thanks.

You poured living water into lives that were parched and thirsty
Precious Jesus, we offer you our praise and thanks.

You fed souls that were hungry with the bread of life
Precious Jesus, we offer you our praise and thanks.

You brought healing through a touch that knew no prejudice or barrier
Precious Jesus, we offer you our praise and thanks.

You brought Salvation through the cross,
Precious Jesus, we offer you our praise and thanks.

You brought a means through which humanity
could be made right again with its Creator
Precious Jesus, we offer you our praise and thanks.

You brought comfort to the sorrowing, liberty to the poor
Precious Jesus, we offer you our praise and thanks.

You accept us as we are,
and mould us into the people we were meant to be
Precious Jesus, we offer you our praise and thanks.

You enable broken lives and relationships to be made whole again
Precious Jesus, we offer you our praise and thanks.

~ written by John Birch, and posted on his Faith and Worship website.
http://www.faithandworship.com/

Songs

Traditional Hymn: All the Way My Savior Leads me

Worship Together #599

All the way my Savior leads me;
What have I to ask beside?
Can I doubt His tender mercy,
Who through life has been my Guide?
Heav’nly peace, divinest comfort,
Here by faith in Him to dwell!
For I know, whate’er befall me,
Jesus doeth all things well;
For I know, whate’er befall me,
Jesus doeth all things well.

All the way my Savior leads me,
Cheers each winding path I tread;
Gives me grace for every trial,
Feeds me with the living Bread.
Though my weary steps may falter,
And my soul athirst may be,
Gushing from the Rock before me,
Lo! A spring of joy I see;
Gushing from the Rock before me,
Lo! A spring of joy I see.

All the way my Savior leads me
O the fullness of His love!
Perfect rest to me is promised
In my Father’s house above.
When my spirit, clothed immortal,
Wings its flight to realms of day
This my song through endless ages—
Jesus led me all the way;
This my song through endless ages—
Jesus led me all the way.

~ Fanny J. Crosby

Contemporary Song: Everything We Need

In the morning, Lord, we do look to You
for the strength we need just to make it through, have mercy.
In the evening, Lord, we look back and say
it was in Your strength that we made our way, have mercy.

You are everything we need.
Feed us Lord.

Listen to it here (Steve Bell/Fresh I.E. version):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m-P6nrcFWTU

Contemporary Song: Bread of Life

You are the Bread of Life
You are the Bread of Life
He who comes to Me will never go hungry
And he who believes in Me will never be thirsty
You are the Bread of Life Jesus
You are the Bread of Life

This is My body that was broken
This is My blood that was shed for you
Take it and eat and drink and remember Me
Remember Me

Contemporary Song: Hungry

Hungry I come to You
For I know You satisfy
I am empty
But I know Your love
Does not run dry
And so I wait for You
So I wait for You

I'm falling on my knees
Offering all of me
Jesus You're all
This heart is living for

Broken I run to You
For Your arms are open wide
I am weary
But I know Your touch
Restores my life
And so I wait for You
So I wait for You

Listen to it here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yrZETO6DiEQ

Images

Additional Resources

Readers’ Theatre: John 6:35, 41-51
http://re-worship.blogspot.ca/2012/07/readers-theatre-john-6-35-41-51.html

Notes

This worship resource was created/compiled by Christine Longhurst. You are welcome to use it free of charge, and where appropriate, please note the source. If you are printing any of the resources for distribution, please print the source as well. The content of the worship resource does not necessarily represent the views of the Canadian Conference of Mennonite Brethren Churches, which oversees the Centre for Mennonite Brethren Studies. For more worship resources by Christine Longhurst, see http://www.re-worship.blogspot.ca or http://www.faithmatters.ca.

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