Here’s a beautiful preface for use in communion. It was written by Nathan Nettleton, inspired by Jeremiah 31:31-34 and John 12:20-33.
Eucharistic Preface
(Jeremiah 31:31-34; John 12:20-33)
(Jeremiah 31:31-34; John 12:20-33)
Let us lift up our hearts.
We lift them to the Lord.
Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
It is right to give our thanks and praise.
It is indeed right to give you our thanks and praise, O God,
for you have taken us by the hand,
and offered yourself to us in a sacred covenant.
You are the creator of all things;
you knew the earth and its inhabitants before their birth.
You led a suffering people from slavery to freedom,
and offered to be their God
if they would be your people.
Though we broke our vows to you and pursued evil,
in gracious love you offered us a new covenant
embodied in your Son, Jesus,
who was made perfect on the path of obedience,
even in the face of suffering.
Lifted up on a cross to die,
he has drawn all people to himself;
and raised from the dead,
he has become the source of eternal salvation
for all who live in obedience
to the new law you have written on our hearts.
Therefore with .....
~ Copyright © 2003 Nathan Nettleton http://www.laughingbird.net/
We lift them to the Lord.
Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
It is right to give our thanks and praise.
It is indeed right to give you our thanks and praise, O God,
for you have taken us by the hand,
and offered yourself to us in a sacred covenant.
You are the creator of all things;
you knew the earth and its inhabitants before their birth.
You led a suffering people from slavery to freedom,
and offered to be their God
if they would be your people.
Though we broke our vows to you and pursued evil,
in gracious love you offered us a new covenant
embodied in your Son, Jesus,
who was made perfect on the path of obedience,
even in the face of suffering.
Lifted up on a cross to die,
he has drawn all people to himself;
and raised from the dead,
he has become the source of eternal salvation
for all who live in obedience
to the new law you have written on our hearts.
Therefore with .....
~ Copyright © 2003 Nathan Nettleton http://www.laughingbird.net/
