I Am The Bread Of Life
Worship
On Eagles' Wings
Thematic Prayer, Meditation, And Services Of The Word For Christian Burial
(Family and friends are called to silence for the opening of the prayer service.)
Opening Invocation
Leader: In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Jesus said, "I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty. This is the will of him who sent me, that I should lose nothing of all that he has given me, but raise it upon the last day" (John 6:35, 39).
Today we celebrate the life and death of _____________ who has been raised up to live with God in heaven. In the wondrous gift of the Bread of Life, we receive the gift of eternal life.
Responsive Reading from Philippians 4:4--7
Reader: Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice.
Response: Let your gentleness be known to everyone. The Lord is near.
Reader: Do not worry about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.
Response: And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Prayer
Leader: Let us pray. Heavenly Father, you have given us the Bread of life. You feed our bodies with manna from heaven and you feed our souls with the Bread of Life from heaven. We thank you for these gifts. Open our ears to your Word that we may find hope and comfort for those who mourn. Help us to remember that your steadfast love and mercy is free to all who call upon you. In your name we pray. Amen.
Old Testament Responsive Reading from Isaiah 55:10--13, 56:1
Reader: For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return there until they have watered the earth,
Response: Making it bring forth and sprout, giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater,
Reader: So shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty,
Response: But it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and succeed in the thing for which I sent it.
Reader: For you shall go out in joy, and be led back in peace;
Response: The mountains and the hills before you shall burst into song, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands.
Reader: Instead of the thorn shall come up the cypress; instead of the brier shall come up the myrtle;
Response: And it shall be to the Lord for a memorial, for an everlasting sign that shall not be cut off.
Reader: Thus says the Lord: Maintain justice, and do what is right,
Response: For soon my salvation will come, and my deliverance be revealed.
New Testament Readings
Leader: Our ancestors ate the manna in the wilderness; as it is written, "He gave them bread from heaven to eat." Then Jesus said to them, "Very truly, I tell you, it was not Moses who gave you the bread from heaven, but it is my Father who gives you the true bread from heaven. For the bread of God is that which comes down from heaven and gives life to the world." They said to him, "Sir, give us this bread always." Jesus said to them, "I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty. But I say to you that you have seen me and yet do not believe. Everything that the Father gives me will come to me, and anyone who comes to me I will never drive away; for I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will, but the will of him who sent me. And this is the will of him who sent me, that I should lose nothing of all that he has given me, but raise it up on the last day. This is indeed the will of my Father, that all who see the Son and believe in him may have eternal life; and I will raise them up on the last day" (John 6:31--39).
Communion is a celebration of Jesus, our Bread of Life. As we commune, we remember that Jesus suffered death and rose again to heaven to prepare a place for us. As we drink the wine and eat the earthly bread, we do this in remembrance of Jesus, our Bread of Life. We read in Matthew 26:26--29:
While they were eating, Jesus took a loaf of bread, and after blessing it he broke it, gave it to the disciples, and said, "Take, eat; this is my body." Then he took a cup, and after giving thanks he gave it to them, saying, "Drink from it, all of you; for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. I tell you, I will never again drink of this fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father's kingdom."
Responsive Reading
Leader: God, our Father, in his mercy gave us his only Son, our Savior, Jesus Christ, so that we may have eternal life for all who believe. We read responsively in John 3:31--36:
Reader: The one who comes from above is above all; the one who is of the earth belongs to the earth and speaks about earthly things.
Response: The one who comes from heaven is above all.
Reader: He testifies to what he has seen and heard,
Response: Yet no one accepts his testimony.
Reader: Whoever has accepted his testimony has certified this, that God is true.
Response: He whom God has sent speaks the words of God, for he gives the Spirit without measure.
Reader: The Father loves the Son and has placed all things in his hands.
Response: Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life.
Meditation and Prayer
Leader: In God's mercy, salvation was planned for us. Let us reflect upon the words read a few moments ago. (Silence) We pray, Heavenly Father, you provide us with all needs of the body and soul. You give eternal life to all who believe in Jesus Christ, the Bread of Life and Savior of the world. We give you thanks and praise. May your peace fill our hearts and minds. In Jesus' name. Amen.
Reading from Philippians 3:13--18, 20--21
Reader: What have we done to deserve this gift from God? What does God expect of us? How should we live our lives? We read Paul's answer in Philippians 3:
Beloved, I do not consider that I have made it my own; but this one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the heavenly call of God in Christ Jesus. Let those of us then who are mature be of the same mind; and if you think differently about anything, this too God will reveal to you. Only let us hold fast to what we have attained. Brothers and sisters, join in imitating me, and observe those who live according to the example you have in us. For many live as enemies of the cross of Christ; I have often told you of them, and now I tell you even with tears. But our citizenship is in heaven, and it is from there that we are expecting a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ. He will transform the body of our humiliation that it may be conformed to the body of his glory, by the power that also enables him to make all things subject to himself.
Leader: As Paul tells us, we are to press on, to live our lives as God commands and as an example to the world. Let us take a few moments to recall the life of __________. As friends and family, you remember the joys, sorrows, and daily experiences you shared with him/her. (Silence) As you recall these memories, you are asked if there are any that you would like to share with family and friends at this time, remembering the way in which __________ touched your life.
A Time for Sharing
(The leader will allow time for recollections.)
Comfort for the Living
Reader: Jesus said: "This is indeed the will of my Father, that all who see the Son and believe in him may have eternal life; and I will raise them up on the last day. Very truly, I tell you, whoever believes has eternal life. I am the bread of life. Your ancestors ate the manna in the wilderness, and they died. This is the bread that comes down from heaven, so that one may eat of it and not die. I am the living bread that came down from heaven. Whoever eats of this bread will live forever; and the bread that I will give for the life of the world is my flesh, and I will raise them up on the last day; for my flesh is true food and my blood is true drink. Those who eat my flesh and drink my blood abide in me, and I in them. Just as the living Father sent me, and I live because of the Father, so whoever eats me will live because of me. This is the bread that came down from heaven, not like that which your ancestors ate, and they died. But the one who eats this bread will live forever" (John 6:40, 47--51, 54--58).
Leader: Jesus has assured us that through him we have eternal life, in the beautiful words of John 3:16--17: "For God so loved that world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life. Indeed, God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him." We are assured that today ___________ lives in God's heavenly kingdom.
Responsive Reading from Luke 11:9--13
Leader: The book of Deuteronomy is the final book of the law and is associated with Moses. In Deuteronomy 8:3, Moses speaks to the people, "[God] humbled you by letting you hunger, then by feeding you with manna, with which neither you nor your ancestors were acquainted, in order to make you understand that one does not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord." This verse emphasizes through God's Word we receive hope, comfort, and the assurance of everlasting life. Let us read responsively:
Reader: So I say to you, Ask, and it will be given you; search, and you will find;
Response: Knock, and the door will be opened for you.
Reader: For everyone who asks receives, and everyone who searches finds,
Response: And for everyone who knocks, the door will be opened.
Reader: Is there anyone among you who, if your child asks for a fish, will give a snake instead of a fish?
Response: Or if the child asks for an egg, will give a scorpion?
Reader: If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children,
Response: How much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!
Leader: Let us pray the pray our Lord taught us:
All: Our Father which art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.
Closing Prayer
Leader: Jesus said, "I am the living bread that came down from heaven. Whoever eats of this bread will live forever; and the bread that I will give for the life of the world is my flesh. Those who eat my flesh and drink my blood have eternal life, and I will raise them up on the last day." Heavenly Father, we are grateful for your gifts to us. Our simple prayers of thankfulness cannot express the joy and comfort we receive with your assurance that we and all believers will someday join _____________ and all our loved ones in heaven. Grant us your steadfast love, and may the Holy Spirit comfort us in the days ahead. In the name of Jesus, our Bread of Life. Amen.
(The service is concluded.)
Service Program For Distribution
I Am The Bread Of Life
(The participants will read the portions of the service marked with Response and All.)
Opening Invocation
Responsive Reading Philippians 4:4--7
Reader: Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice.
Response: Let your gentleness be known to everyone. The Lord is near.
Reader: Do not worry about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.
Response: And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Prayer
Old Testament Responsive Reading from Isaiah 55:10--13; 56:1
Reader: For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return there until they have watered the earth,
Response: Making it bring forth and sprout, giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater,
Reader: So shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty,
Response: But it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and succeed in the thing for which I sent it.
Reader: For you shall go out in joy, and be led back in peace;
Response: The mountains and the hills before you shall burst into song, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands.
Reader: Instead of the thorn shall come up the cypress; instead of the brier shall come up the myrtle;
Response: And it shall be to the Lord for a memorial, for an everlasting sign that shall not be cut off.
Reader: Thus says the Lord: Maintain justice, and do what is right,
Response: For soon my salvation will come, and my deliverance be revealed.
New Testament Readings from John 6:31--39; Matthew 26:26--29
Responsive Reading from John 3:31--36
Reader: The one who comes from above is above all; the one who is of the earth belongs to the earth and speaks about earthly things.
Response: The one who comes from heaven is above all.
Reader: He testifies to what he has seen and heard,
Response: Yet no one accepts his testimony.
Reader: Whoever has accepted his testimony has certified this, that God is true.
Response: He whom God has sent speaks the words of God, for he gives the Spirit without measure.
Reader: The Father loves the Son and has placed all things in his hands.
Response: Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life.
Meditation and Prayer
Reading from Philippians 3:13--18, 20--21
A Time for Sharing
Comfort for the Living
Responsive Reading from Luke 11:9--13
Reader: So I say to you, Ask, and it will be given you; search, and you will find;
Response: Knock, and the door will be opened for you.
Reader: For everyone who asks receives, and everyone who searches finds,
Response: And for everyone who knocks, the door will be opened.
Reader: Is there anyone among you who, if your child asks for a fish, will give a snake instead of a fish?
Response: Or if the child asks for an egg, will give a scorpion?
Reader: If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children,
Response: How much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!
The Lord's Prayer
All: Our Father which art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.
Closing Prayer
Opening Invocation
Leader: In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Jesus said, "I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty. This is the will of him who sent me, that I should lose nothing of all that he has given me, but raise it upon the last day" (John 6:35, 39).
Today we celebrate the life and death of _____________ who has been raised up to live with God in heaven. In the wondrous gift of the Bread of Life, we receive the gift of eternal life.
Responsive Reading from Philippians 4:4--7
Reader: Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice.
Response: Let your gentleness be known to everyone. The Lord is near.
Reader: Do not worry about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.
Response: And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Prayer
Leader: Let us pray. Heavenly Father, you have given us the Bread of life. You feed our bodies with manna from heaven and you feed our souls with the Bread of Life from heaven. We thank you for these gifts. Open our ears to your Word that we may find hope and comfort for those who mourn. Help us to remember that your steadfast love and mercy is free to all who call upon you. In your name we pray. Amen.
Old Testament Responsive Reading from Isaiah 55:10--13, 56:1
Reader: For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return there until they have watered the earth,
Response: Making it bring forth and sprout, giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater,
Reader: So shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty,
Response: But it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and succeed in the thing for which I sent it.
Reader: For you shall go out in joy, and be led back in peace;
Response: The mountains and the hills before you shall burst into song, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands.
Reader: Instead of the thorn shall come up the cypress; instead of the brier shall come up the myrtle;
Response: And it shall be to the Lord for a memorial, for an everlasting sign that shall not be cut off.
Reader: Thus says the Lord: Maintain justice, and do what is right,
Response: For soon my salvation will come, and my deliverance be revealed.
New Testament Readings
Leader: Our ancestors ate the manna in the wilderness; as it is written, "He gave them bread from heaven to eat." Then Jesus said to them, "Very truly, I tell you, it was not Moses who gave you the bread from heaven, but it is my Father who gives you the true bread from heaven. For the bread of God is that which comes down from heaven and gives life to the world." They said to him, "Sir, give us this bread always." Jesus said to them, "I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty. But I say to you that you have seen me and yet do not believe. Everything that the Father gives me will come to me, and anyone who comes to me I will never drive away; for I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will, but the will of him who sent me. And this is the will of him who sent me, that I should lose nothing of all that he has given me, but raise it up on the last day. This is indeed the will of my Father, that all who see the Son and believe in him may have eternal life; and I will raise them up on the last day" (John 6:31--39).
Communion is a celebration of Jesus, our Bread of Life. As we commune, we remember that Jesus suffered death and rose again to heaven to prepare a place for us. As we drink the wine and eat the earthly bread, we do this in remembrance of Jesus, our Bread of Life. We read in Matthew 26:26--29:
While they were eating, Jesus took a loaf of bread, and after blessing it he broke it, gave it to the disciples, and said, "Take, eat; this is my body." Then he took a cup, and after giving thanks he gave it to them, saying, "Drink from it, all of you; for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. I tell you, I will never again drink of this fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father's kingdom."
Responsive Reading
Leader: God, our Father, in his mercy gave us his only Son, our Savior, Jesus Christ, so that we may have eternal life for all who believe. We read responsively in John 3:31--36:
Reader: The one who comes from above is above all; the one who is of the earth belongs to the earth and speaks about earthly things.
Response: The one who comes from heaven is above all.
Reader: He testifies to what he has seen and heard,
Response: Yet no one accepts his testimony.
Reader: Whoever has accepted his testimony has certified this, that God is true.
Response: He whom God has sent speaks the words of God, for he gives the Spirit without measure.
Reader: The Father loves the Son and has placed all things in his hands.
Response: Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life.
Meditation and Prayer
Leader: In God's mercy, salvation was planned for us. Let us reflect upon the words read a few moments ago. (Silence) We pray, Heavenly Father, you provide us with all needs of the body and soul. You give eternal life to all who believe in Jesus Christ, the Bread of Life and Savior of the world. We give you thanks and praise. May your peace fill our hearts and minds. In Jesus' name. Amen.
Reading from Philippians 3:13--18, 20--21
Reader: What have we done to deserve this gift from God? What does God expect of us? How should we live our lives? We read Paul's answer in Philippians 3:
Beloved, I do not consider that I have made it my own; but this one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the heavenly call of God in Christ Jesus. Let those of us then who are mature be of the same mind; and if you think differently about anything, this too God will reveal to you. Only let us hold fast to what we have attained. Brothers and sisters, join in imitating me, and observe those who live according to the example you have in us. For many live as enemies of the cross of Christ; I have often told you of them, and now I tell you even with tears. But our citizenship is in heaven, and it is from there that we are expecting a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ. He will transform the body of our humiliation that it may be conformed to the body of his glory, by the power that also enables him to make all things subject to himself.
Leader: As Paul tells us, we are to press on, to live our lives as God commands and as an example to the world. Let us take a few moments to recall the life of __________. As friends and family, you remember the joys, sorrows, and daily experiences you shared with him/her. (Silence) As you recall these memories, you are asked if there are any that you would like to share with family and friends at this time, remembering the way in which __________ touched your life.
A Time for Sharing
(The leader will allow time for recollections.)
Comfort for the Living
Reader: Jesus said: "This is indeed the will of my Father, that all who see the Son and believe in him may have eternal life; and I will raise them up on the last day. Very truly, I tell you, whoever believes has eternal life. I am the bread of life. Your ancestors ate the manna in the wilderness, and they died. This is the bread that comes down from heaven, so that one may eat of it and not die. I am the living bread that came down from heaven. Whoever eats of this bread will live forever; and the bread that I will give for the life of the world is my flesh, and I will raise them up on the last day; for my flesh is true food and my blood is true drink. Those who eat my flesh and drink my blood abide in me, and I in them. Just as the living Father sent me, and I live because of the Father, so whoever eats me will live because of me. This is the bread that came down from heaven, not like that which your ancestors ate, and they died. But the one who eats this bread will live forever" (John 6:40, 47--51, 54--58).
Leader: Jesus has assured us that through him we have eternal life, in the beautiful words of John 3:16--17: "For God so loved that world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life. Indeed, God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him." We are assured that today ___________ lives in God's heavenly kingdom.
Responsive Reading from Luke 11:9--13
Leader: The book of Deuteronomy is the final book of the law and is associated with Moses. In Deuteronomy 8:3, Moses speaks to the people, "[God] humbled you by letting you hunger, then by feeding you with manna, with which neither you nor your ancestors were acquainted, in order to make you understand that one does not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord." This verse emphasizes through God's Word we receive hope, comfort, and the assurance of everlasting life. Let us read responsively:
Reader: So I say to you, Ask, and it will be given you; search, and you will find;
Response: Knock, and the door will be opened for you.
Reader: For everyone who asks receives, and everyone who searches finds,
Response: And for everyone who knocks, the door will be opened.
Reader: Is there anyone among you who, if your child asks for a fish, will give a snake instead of a fish?
Response: Or if the child asks for an egg, will give a scorpion?
Reader: If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children,
Response: How much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!
Leader: Let us pray the pray our Lord taught us:
All: Our Father which art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.
Closing Prayer
Leader: Jesus said, "I am the living bread that came down from heaven. Whoever eats of this bread will live forever; and the bread that I will give for the life of the world is my flesh. Those who eat my flesh and drink my blood have eternal life, and I will raise them up on the last day." Heavenly Father, we are grateful for your gifts to us. Our simple prayers of thankfulness cannot express the joy and comfort we receive with your assurance that we and all believers will someday join _____________ and all our loved ones in heaven. Grant us your steadfast love, and may the Holy Spirit comfort us in the days ahead. In the name of Jesus, our Bread of Life. Amen.
(The service is concluded.)
Service Program For Distribution
I Am The Bread Of Life
(The participants will read the portions of the service marked with Response and All.)
Opening Invocation
Responsive Reading Philippians 4:4--7
Reader: Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice.
Response: Let your gentleness be known to everyone. The Lord is near.
Reader: Do not worry about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.
Response: And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Prayer
Old Testament Responsive Reading from Isaiah 55:10--13; 56:1
Reader: For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return there until they have watered the earth,
Response: Making it bring forth and sprout, giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater,
Reader: So shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty,
Response: But it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and succeed in the thing for which I sent it.
Reader: For you shall go out in joy, and be led back in peace;
Response: The mountains and the hills before you shall burst into song, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands.
Reader: Instead of the thorn shall come up the cypress; instead of the brier shall come up the myrtle;
Response: And it shall be to the Lord for a memorial, for an everlasting sign that shall not be cut off.
Reader: Thus says the Lord: Maintain justice, and do what is right,
Response: For soon my salvation will come, and my deliverance be revealed.
New Testament Readings from John 6:31--39; Matthew 26:26--29
Responsive Reading from John 3:31--36
Reader: The one who comes from above is above all; the one who is of the earth belongs to the earth and speaks about earthly things.
Response: The one who comes from heaven is above all.
Reader: He testifies to what he has seen and heard,
Response: Yet no one accepts his testimony.
Reader: Whoever has accepted his testimony has certified this, that God is true.
Response: He whom God has sent speaks the words of God, for he gives the Spirit without measure.
Reader: The Father loves the Son and has placed all things in his hands.
Response: Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life.
Meditation and Prayer
Reading from Philippians 3:13--18, 20--21
A Time for Sharing
Comfort for the Living
Responsive Reading from Luke 11:9--13
Reader: So I say to you, Ask, and it will be given you; search, and you will find;
Response: Knock, and the door will be opened for you.
Reader: For everyone who asks receives, and everyone who searches finds,
Response: And for everyone who knocks, the door will be opened.
Reader: Is there anyone among you who, if your child asks for a fish, will give a snake instead of a fish?
Response: Or if the child asks for an egg, will give a scorpion?
Reader: If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children,
Response: How much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!
The Lord's Prayer
All: Our Father which art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.
Closing Prayer
