A NEW YEAR’S COMMUNION

by Ryan Marsh and Tara Ward

ALL SING: Should old acquaintance be forgot,
and never brought to mind?
Should old acquaintance be forgot,
auld lang syne?

For auld lang syne, my dear,

for auld lang syne,

we’ll take a cup of kindness yet,

for auld lang syne.

ONE: At some point in time we have all probably sang the song Old Lang Syne, but who’s ever stopped to figure out what in the world it means?  Well, I  thought I’d look into it and I found that essentially you could translate “Auld Lang Syne” as “For Old Time’s Sake”.  ”For old time’s sake, my dear, for old time’s sake, we’ll raise a drink and make a toast for old time’s sake”  It’s a song to remember friends and times long forgotten.  And when we remember, we bring the past into the present moment.  And that is what do here at this table.  We remember the story of God’s grace for us in Jesus and Jesus re-members us – makes us members of the people of God.

ALL SING: We two have run about the slopes,
and picked the daisies fine ;
But we’ve wandered many a wearyfoot,
since auld lang syne.

For auld lang syne, my dear,

for auld lang syne,

we’ll take a cup of kindness yet,

for auld lang syne.

We two have paddled in the stream,
from morning sun till dine;
But seas between us broad have roared
since auld lang syne.

For auld lang syne, my dear,

for auld lang syne,

we’ll take a cup of kindness yet,

for auld lang syne.

ONE: Perhaps this year many currents have swept you to and from the living memory of God’s grace.  May this story sweep you there once more.

(Pass bread around)

Jesus gathered his friends to a meal, took a piece of bread in his hands and prayed God’s blessing upon it.  Then he broke it apart and gave it to his friends saying, “Here, take it and eat.  Remember Beloved, I am for you.”

Let’s eat to Jesus, the Lord of all time!

ALL: Christ has died

Christ is risen

Christ will come again! (all eat)

(Pass wine glasses around, sparkling white wine is preferable)

ONE: After supper Jesus took the cup of wine in his hands and prayed God’s blessing upon it.  Then he gave it to his friends saying, “Here, take it and drink.  Remember Beloved, I am for you.”

So let’s drink to Jesus, the Lord of all time!

ALL: Alleluia! Grant us peace! (all drink)

And there’s a hand my trusty friend!
And give us a hand o’ thine!
And we’ll take a right good-will draught,
for auld lang syne.

For auld lang syne, my dear,
for auld lang syne,
we’ll take a cup of kindness yet,
for auld lang syne.

ONE: May the Peace of Christ be with you all!

ALL: And also with you.

ONE: Share a sign of Christ’s peace with one another.

(There is a song text set to the tune of “O Danny Boy”, whose first line is “I cannot tell why he whom angels worship” that we are using for a sending song right after this.  It seemed to fit the service and the season.)

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