Special Communion Sunday

July 26, 2026
Special Communion Sunday
Sermon Audio

CENTRAL TEXT: Luke 22:14-20

And when the hour came, he reclined at table, and the apostles with him. 15 And he said to them, “I have earnestly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer. 16 For I tell you I will not eat it until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God.” 17 And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he said, “Take this, and divide it among yourselves. 18 For I tell you that from now on I will not drink of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes.” 19 And he took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” 20 And likewise the cup after they had eaten, saying, “This cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood.

CALL TO WORSHIP: Based on Psalm 34:1-5, 8, 46:1, 103:8

LEADER: Come, let us leave behind the hunger of the world and find true nourishment in God’s presence.
ALL: We come seeking His presence, ready to experience His grace.
LEADER: The scriptures say, “Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good! Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him!”
ALL: God is our refuge and our strength. His love satisfies the hungry soul.
LEADER Let us magnify the Lord together, and exalt His name forever.
ALL: We will bless the Lord at all times; His praise shall continually be in our mouths.
LEADER The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.
ALL: Come, let us worship the Lord!

CELEBRATION OF THE LORD’S SUPPER: 

CONFESSION OF SIN:

LEADER:  Let us confess our sin to the Lord.

ALL: Most holy and merciful Father,
we confess that we have sinned against You
in thought, word, and deed;
by what we have done,
and by what we have left undone.
We have not loved You with our whole heart,
and we have not loved our neighbors as ourselves.
We are truly sorry and we humbly repent.
For the sake of your Son Jesus Christ, have mercy
on us and forgive us; that we may delight in your will,
and walk in your ways, to the glory of your Name. Amen.

ASSURANCE OF PARDON: Based on Isaiah 53:5

LEADER: Now lift up your hearts.
ALL: We lift them up to the Lord.
LEADER: Christ was pierced for our transgressions. Christ was crushed for our iniquities. He drank the cup of God’s wrath so we can be sustained by his body and blood. He alone is our refuge. He alone is our living hope. We have confessed our sins. We have acknowledged our iniquity. Therefore, by the authority of Jesus Christ, and as a minister of his gospel, I declare to you the entire forgiveness of all your sins, in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.

ALL: Thanks be to God!

PRAYER OF COMMUNION:

LEADER: Father in heaven, Your Son has prepared his table for all who love him and trust in him alone for their salvation. All who are truly sorry for their sins, who sincerely believe in the Lord Jesus as their Savior, who desire to live in obedience to him as Lord, and who are covenantally committed to his church are now invited to come with gladness to the table of the Lord. 

ALL: We come boldly before you not because we ought, but because we may by your grace; not because we are righteous, but because we are loved by you; not because we are strong, but because we are weak; not because we are full, but because we are hungry and thirsty for more of Christ. We come to feast on Christ and enjoy the benefits of his covenant of grace. May we taste and see that the Lord is good. Amen.

QUOTES:

A covenant is a bond in blood sovereignly administered. 
- O. Palmer Roberston
The sacraments duly perform their office only when accompanied by the Spirit, the internal Master, whose energy alone penetrates the heart, stirs up the affections, and procures access for the sacraments into our souls. If he is wanting, the sacraments can avail us no more than the sun shining on the eyeballs of the blind, of sounds uttered in the ears of the deaf.
- John Calvin