‘eucharist’ [09.06.00]
we’ve created several interpretations of the eucharist, from simple sharing bread and wine with no pre-determined words, to more litrugical versions such as this.

this particular version was used at pentecost - the confession ritual reflect this. but the pentecost-specific parts could be replaced with whatever was appropriate to the time of year (or ommitted).

the general structure of the service was to build up - with use of more media, faster video cuts, louder and more frantic music - to the breaking of the bread, at which point everything continued in silence.

we know some of the text here came from various sources (we suspect the methodist worship book, possibly iona, maybe the church of new zealand, but we can’t remember which bits) - we apologise in advance of impending law suits

we’ve used this a couple of times with different altar layouts - once with a long central altar, another time with a more traditional font altar. both times we used our usual white sheets hung from the ceiling to projcet still and moving images and words on to. both times all responses were projected.

The Service:

The Lords Prayer
a visual prayer with the traditional words projected in sequence accompanied by still images exploring the meaning of the prayer. dance music accompanied the prayer (can’t remember exactly what track). one of the images of cupped uplifted hands remained as a constant image throughout the rest of the service

Hymn
[based on Psalm 8]

Yahweh, Lord
Adored Mother of creation
Space and time cosmic architect
Atoms ring with your praises
God present in all ages
I raise my head up to the heavens
See distant stars - and know you

What am I
Among this infinite science?
Why should you spare a thought for me?
Yet you give our vocation:
Trust us with this creation
I raise my head up to the heavens
I praise your name, Yahweh, Lord

Welcome and explanation of how bread and wine will be shared

Explanation of confession ritual

Ritual act of confession and absolution
the congregation were invited to write confessions on scrap of paper, then place them in stone bowl on altar. the last paper was set alight and dropped in to ignite all.
(it helps to have some lighter fuel already in the bowl)

video images: sparks and flames

Story telling
two intertwined stories of Pentecost, one a telling of the account in Acts, one set in present day Bradford:

this was written with the idea of retelling the original pentecost story (in plain text), but with an added modern day bradford element (in italics)

for full effect have two people each read one of the two accounts - at first alternate, then concurrently with random repeats by other readers to give an idea of cocophony

At first it was just a noise, like the first winds of a storm, softly at first, the sound of leaves rustling as the warm breeze moves around an olive grove.

At first it was just a noise, like the first winds of a storm, softly as if at the end of a summer day just before the rain soaks the hot dry earth back into life.

And then louder, the sound of angry air whipping around tree trunks, the sound filling the room we were in.

But the air was warm and brittle, almost electric and the sound both warm and harsh, a full rich sound. Almost musical in it’s roar.

It was a noise that could lift you from where you were sat. Make you want to stand up and move.

And I stood still to let the air wrap around me, enjoying the feel, and watched as it lifted rubbish off the pavement and whirled it around.

And then we saw the colour, spreading accross the sky, dark reds and oranges with sharp flickers of blue lighting up the clouds from inside.

And the colours of a deep sunset flashed accross the sky, not still on the horizon, but darting about urgently.

Flames licked down. Like long tongues, smooth and rounded, yet firey and darting at the edges. And the flames reached out to touch each one of us. Setting us alight inside.

The sharp cracks of blue fame reached down and hit the tall buildings. I saw a church spire flash. The dome of a mosque illuminated with the reflection for a second. A tall orange pole crack and fizz as the fire looked for somewhere to go.

And we started to talk. We used words we had never heard before. We looked at each other amazed, understanding what we were saying but not understanding how.

And a man stopped beside me to watch and said something in a language I didn’t understand, but it sounded like a prayer.

And we were shouting, not in anger, but rejoicing, having fun with the words, shouting over the top of each other.

And people started to gather outside, wondering at the noise, then marvelling that they could pick out their own language from the cacophony of voices.

And as large wet drops of rain began to splatter around us, he reached out and took my hand in his and shook it gently, nodded in greeting, then turned to walk on into town.

Reading : Joel 2:28-32

Intercessions
there were stations around the worship area containing ‘things to pick up and do’, ie write a letter to your MP, join Amnesty, take part in the Christian Aid campaign.

Bring forward Eucharistic elements
3 people read the following passage and bring elements forward

Jesus said “I am the light of the world. Follow me and you will never live in darkness but will have the light that gives life”
[bring lighted candle to altar]

Jesus said “I am the vine and you are the branches. When you are joined with me and I with you, the harvest is sure to be abundant.”
[bring wine to altar]

Jesus said “I am the bread that gives life. Come to me and you will never be hungry”
[bring bread to altar]

Thanksgiving
an initial spoken response followed by a visual thanksgiving - a video clip comprised of some jesus-breaking-bread footage from osbd and lots of images of christ from art, both traditional and contemporary - these were in sequence so as to give a ‘potted history’ of christ’s life.

The creator is here
God’s spirit is with us

Words of consecration

On the night before he died…

…in remembrance of me.      

Epiclesis

And so, living God,

pour out your holy spirit

that these gifts of bread and wine

may be for us the body and blood of Christ.

Unite us with him, with one another

and with all of creation.

That this world might be part of a universal community

of solidarity, justice and love.

Response

You send forth your spirit.

You bind us in love.

You renew the face of the earth.      

[music builds to a frantic pace and loud volume ( we used 'On the Approach of Doubt' by Robert Fripp) and then suddenly stops completely. bright light illuminates the altar area]

Breaking of bread
done in silence, the bread held high for all to see

Sharing of bread and wine
passed around the congregation and taken in silence

throughout this the video continues showing images of a glass of wine and of people eating in a cafe

Blessing
spoken by all and immediately followed by music (’god bless’ by lamb)

May the God who dances in creation,

who embraces us with human love,

who shakes our lives like thunder,

bless us and drive us out with power

to fill the world with her justice,

Amen.

Sharing of the peace
we wanted the service to naturally flow into everday life as son as possible after taking the bread and wine. so, we kept the peace until the end so it would flow into conversation, milling about, perhaps dancing if the mood was right.

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