In today's gathering, we explored the profound themes of hospitality, community, and the power of seeing and loving others as Jesus does. We began by acknowledging the shared space we offer to the seaside Jewish community for their High Holy Days, a gesture that embodies our commitment to hospitality and recognizing that we all worship the same God, even if our paths differ. This act of hospitality is a testament to our belief that everyone is a child of God, deserving of love and respect.

We also took a moment to remember and honor Bunny Mayer, a beloved leader in our community who recently passed away. Her legacy of noticing and addressing the needs around her serves as a poignant reminder of our theme today: noticing needs. Bunny's life encourages us to be attentive to the details and to act on them, just as she did.

The heart of our reflection centered on the story of Jesus feeding the multitude, illustrating the importance of seeing, knowing, and loving others. Jesus, despite his exhaustion, noticed the hunger of the crowd and acted with compassion. This story challenges us to look beyond our own needs and to trust in God's provision, enabling us to see and respond to the needs of others. We are called to remember our own experiences of need and to use them to empathize with others, transforming our memories into acts of love and service.

We also shared stories of resilience and community in the face of natural disasters, highlighting how people come together to support one another in times of crisis. These stories remind us of the power of community and the importance of being present for one another, even in small, everyday ways.

As we move forward, we are invited to ask ourselves who God is calling us to see, know, and love in our daily lives. By doing so, we become the hands and feet of Jesus, distributing his love and provision to those around us. Let us go forth, knowing that we are seen, known, and loved by Jesus, and let us extend that same grace to others.

**Key Takeaways:**

1. **Hospitality as a Divine Gesture:** Our act of offering space to the seaside Jewish community for their High Holy Days is a powerful expression of hospitality, reminding us that we are all children of God, deserving of love and respect, regardless of our differences. This gesture invites us to embrace diversity and unity in our faith journey. [12:29]

2. **Legacy of Noticing Needs:** Bunny Mayer's life exemplifies the importance of noticing and addressing the needs around us. Her attention to detail and commitment to action challenge us to be vigilant and proactive in our communities, ensuring that we do not overlook the small but significant needs of others. [14:02]

3. **Seeing, Knowing, and Loving Like Jesus:** Jesus' compassion for the hungry crowd teaches us to see beyond our own needs and to trust in God's provision. By remembering our own experiences of need, we can empathize with others and transform our memories into acts of love and service. [45:45]

4. **Community Resilience in Crisis:** Stories of people coming together during natural disasters highlight the strength and resilience of community. These narratives remind us of the importance of being present for one another, offering support and love in times of crisis, and embodying the spirit of Jesus' love. [53:17]

5. **Called to See and Love Others:** We are invited to ask ourselves who God is calling us to see, know, and love in our daily lives. By doing so, we become the hands and feet of Jesus, distributing his love and provision to those around us, and transforming our world with acts of kindness and compassion. [58:02]

**Youtube Chapters:**

- [0:00] - Welcome
- [12:29] - Embracing Hospitality
- [14:02] - Remembering Bunny Mayer
- [15:45] - Prayer and Reflection
- [17:29] - Feeling Invisible
- [43:51] - Story of Bev
- [45:45] - Jesus' Compassion
- [46:36] - Wilderness Experience
- [47:45] - Trusting God's Provision
- [49:24] - Understanding Others' Needs
- [50:31] - Jesus' Love and Abundance
- [51:56] - Seeing and Loving Others
- [53:17] - Community in Crisis
- [55:14] - Acts of Kindness
- [58:02] - Called to Action
- [59:05] - Communion and Unity

### Bible Study Discussion Guide

#### Bible Reading
1. **Mark 6:30-44** - The story of Jesus feeding the multitude.
2. **Matthew 25:35-40** - Jesus speaks about serving others as serving Him.
3. **Hebrews 13:2** - Encouragement to show hospitality to strangers.

#### Observation Questions
1. In the story of Jesus feeding the multitude, what actions did Jesus take to address the needs of the crowd? How did he demonstrate compassion? [45:45]
2. How did the sermon describe the community's response to Bunny Mayer's passing, and what does this reveal about the community's values? [14:02]
3. What examples were given in the sermon of people coming together during natural disasters, and how did these stories illustrate community resilience? [53:17]
4. How does the act of offering space to the seaside Jewish community for their High Holy Days reflect the theme of hospitality discussed in the sermon? [12:29]

#### Interpretation Questions
1. What does the story of Jesus feeding the multitude teach about trusting in God's provision and looking beyond our own needs? How can this trust impact our ability to serve others? [47:45]
2. How does the legacy of Bunny Mayer challenge individuals to notice and address the needs around them? What might be some barriers to noticing these needs? [14:02]
3. In what ways does the sermon suggest that personal experiences of need can be transformed into acts of love and service? How can remembering our own experiences help us empathize with others? [48:39]
4. How does the sermon encourage individuals to see, know, and love others in their daily lives? What practical steps can be taken to embody this calling? [51:56]

#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on a time when you felt invisible or overlooked. How did that experience shape your understanding of being seen and loved by Jesus? How can you use this understanding to see others who might feel invisible? [44:51]
2. Consider the act of hospitality shown to the seaside Jewish community. How can you practice hospitality in your own life, especially towards those who may have different beliefs or backgrounds? [12:29]
3. Think about a need you have noticed in your community. What steps can you take to address this need, following the example of Bunny Mayer? [14:02]
4. How can you cultivate a deeper trust in God's provision, allowing you to focus more on the needs of others rather than your own? What specific actions can you take this week to practice this trust? [47:45]
5. Identify a person in your life whom you feel God is calling you to see, know, and love more deeply. What practical steps can you take to understand their needs and show them love? [51:56]
6. Reflect on the stories of community resilience shared in the sermon. How can you contribute to building a supportive and resilient community in your own context? [53:17]
7. How can you transform your personal experiences of need into acts of service and empathy towards others? What is one specific memory you can draw upon to help you empathize with someone else's situation? [48:39]

Day 1: Embracing Divine Hospitality
In a world filled with differences, the act of hospitality becomes a divine gesture that transcends boundaries. By offering space to the seaside Jewish community for their High Holy Days, we embody the belief that all are children of God, deserving of love and respect. This act invites us to embrace diversity and unity in our faith journey, recognizing that while our paths may differ, our destination remains the same. Hospitality is not just about opening our doors but also our hearts, creating a space where everyone feels seen, known, and loved. [12:29]

"Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unawares." (Hebrews 13:2, ESV)

Reflection: Who in your life can you extend hospitality to today, and how can you make them feel truly welcomed and valued?


Day 2: The Legacy of Noticing
Bunny Mayer's life serves as a powerful reminder of the importance of noticing and addressing the needs around us. Her attention to detail and commitment to action challenge us to be vigilant and proactive in our communities. By being attentive to the small but significant needs of others, we honor her legacy and ensure that no one feels overlooked or invisible. This legacy calls us to be present and engaged, transforming our communities through acts of kindness and service. [14:02]

"Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others." (Philippians 2:4, ESV)

Reflection: What is one small need you have noticed in your community that you can address this week, and what steps will you take to meet it?


Day 3: Compassion Beyond Exhaustion
The story of Jesus feeding the multitude illustrates the importance of seeing, knowing, and loving others, even when we are weary. Despite his exhaustion, Jesus noticed the hunger of the crowd and acted with compassion, challenging us to look beyond our own needs. By trusting in God's provision, we can empathize with others and transform our memories of need into acts of love and service. This story invites us to be the hands and feet of Jesus, distributing his love and provision to those around us. [45:45]

"And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up." (Galatians 6:9, ESV)

Reflection: When you feel exhausted, how can you still show compassion to those around you, trusting in God's strength and provision?


Day 4: Resilience in Community
Stories of resilience and community in the face of natural disasters highlight the strength and resilience of people coming together. These narratives remind us of the importance of being present for one another, offering support and love in times of crisis. By embodying the spirit of Jesus' love, we can create a community that stands strong in the face of adversity, supporting each other through both the storms and the calm. [53:17]

"Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ." (Galatians 6:2, ESV)

Reflection: How can you be a source of support and strength for someone in your community facing a crisis today?


Day 5: Called to See and Love
We are invited to ask ourselves who God is calling us to see, know, and love in our daily lives. By doing so, we become the hands and feet of Jesus, distributing his love and provision to those around us. This calling challenges us to transform our world with acts of kindness and compassion, ensuring that everyone feels seen, known, and loved. As we go forth, let us remember that we are seen, known, and loved by Jesus, and let us extend that same grace to others. [58:02]

"Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins." (1 Peter 4:8, ESV)

Reflection: Who is God calling you to see and love today, and what specific action can you take to show them His love?

1) "It's hard when you feel invisible. It's hard when you feel like no one sees. And yet, Jesus sees. We notice that in our story today. There is a movement in the United Methodist Church to make disciples. And it's called See All the People. And it has three movements. See all the people, including those who might be invisible to others. Know them. Get to know them and know their needs. And then love them. See, know, and love. And that's exactly what Jesus did in this story. Did you notice in this story that no one told Jesus that they were hungry?" [45:45] (47 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)


2) "Because I think all of us can think about a time when we've been in the wilderness. Where the things that normally feed us and give life to us are no longer there. And it feels dry like a desert. And that's exactly where these people were. And yet, Jesus is able to get out of his own exhaustion from healing all of these people. In order to see them. And I think he's able to see them because he trusts enough that God is going to take care of his needs. I think that's part of what needs to happen with us when we're called to see other people." [47:45] (42 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)


3) "But Jesus also knows what it's like to be hungry. Earlier in the gospel of Mark. He had been sent out into the wilderness to be tempted. And he had fasted for 40 days and 40 nights we're told. I would be a little hangry by then. But Jesus trusted that God was going to take care of him. And yet he understood what it was like. He remembered what it was like to be hungry. And so part of knowing is remembering our own experience. It may not be the exact same experience. But we've had similar experiences. So to remember what that feels like. Is so important." [48:39] (47 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)


4) "And so Jesus had this memory. He knew what it was like to be hungry. But then he could imagine what it was like. For those who were gathered around him. And then we're told that he loved them. He had compassion on them. And he didn't want them to go away hungry. And so. He turns to his disciples. Who by the way. Have food. So Jesus didn't even need to worry about this. Because he had enough food for himself. And for his disciples. But he turns to them and says. What do you have? And they said." [50:31] (31 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)


5) "And so. If you ever feel invisible. I want you to know. That Jesus sees you. Jesus knows what you're going through. And Jesus loves you. And wants to provide for you. And so once we know that. And once we trust. Jesus provision for us. And Jesus love for us. Then we can ask ourselves the questions. Who is it. That God wants us to see? Who do we encounter every day? Who is in our sphere of influence. That God wants us to see. And to really see. And then how is God inviting us to know them? To understand what their needs are." [51:56] (46 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)


6) "And so each one of us. Is called to do something simple like that. And when we do. We will change our world. We will show the world. That there is indeed hope. Because Jesus lives. Not only forever in heaven. But Jesus lives. In every single one of us. Amen. As we just sang, Jesus invites to this table everyone, calls all of us children of God, and reminds us that this is a table of justice and of joy. And today we do remember that Christians around the world are celebrating this meal together." [59:05] (60 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

Morning, beautiful people. I hope you heard the words to that song, "You Are a Child of God." Loved and precious and called by name.

Welcome to Epworth, where we continue to explore faith and embrace community, and where we long to call each other by name, to remind ourselves that God calls us by name. So I'm so glad that you are here and invite you to give us the gift of your presence by signing in on one of the connection pads if you're here. If you are joining us online, I invite you to sign in in the chat and say hello to us so that we can hear you. We know that you are a part of this beautiful community.

We continue to explore the theme of hospitality, and you may notice this blue drape that is covering over our cross. The reason for that is because we are offering hospitality to the seaside Jewish community for their High Holy Days. I think it is such an amazing gift that we offer to them. The church was packed this week with people for Rosh Hashanah. There will be another service this coming weekend, but this is a way that we say to them, you are children of God too. We may see things a little differently, but you also worship the same God. So I thank you all for understanding that and for the gift of hospitality.

Because we are a community that loves and cares for one another, we also know that we are living in the aftermath of the sudden death of one of our leaders this week. You all, I'm sure by now, have heard that Bunny Mayer, who was our president of our board of trustees, passed away completely unexpectedly on Wednesday. And so I'm so grateful for you all. You surrounded her spouse, Cheryl, with love and with your presence, allowing Cheryl to know that she is a part of the family. And so I thank you all for that. She is not alone during this.

I want to give a special shout out to Kathy and Susan, who do more than their fair share. By surrounding Cheryl, they went to Parcells with her the next morning, and they have done so much to care for her. And yet all of us remain in shock. I think most of us knew Bunny. If you didn't know her by name, you certainly knew her by presence. I keep looking out the back door, and I'm sure you know her by name. I keep looking out the back door and thinking she's going to be standing right there where she did so many Sundays.

One of the beautiful gifts that Bunny offered us as the president of trustees is that she noticed things. She noticed things about our building. And that's our theme for today, noticing needs. She would notice those little details, and she would stay on them until they got addressed. So what a wonderful gift she has been.

So I wanted to invite us as we begin worship just to go into a time of prayer, giving thanks for the gift of Bunny. This is when our faith becomes real, when one we love has walked through the valley of the shadow of death and does not have to fear evil because God remains with her. And God also remains with us.

We believe that God's love is big enough to hold both those who are still in temptation and those who are still living here and those who are living again in heaven with God. That is the promise God has given to us, and that is our hope.

So let us pray.

God of life, we thank you so much for this gift of life, that if we're honest with you, we sometimes take for granted until something like this happens, and someone we love is no longer living in this world. God, you know that our hearts are breaking over the sudden death of our dear sister, Bunny Mayer. God, you know how many of us loved her and knew her. You knew and know her love for this church, and you were the one who gave her as a gift to this community.

And so, God, we are grieving. It is hard for us to imagine the future without her presence in it. And yet, you are the God of life. You are the God who tells us that love is stronger than death. So remind us now that the love that we have for Bunny continues, and the love that she has for us continues. Remind us that in your love, we are your great love. You are still holding all of those who have gone on before us together with us.

We especially celebrate that today in communion, when we remember what we call the communion of saints. This week, Bunny joined that communion of saints. But remind us that she lives on. Every time we think of her, every time the Phillies hopefully win, although yesterday they lost. Every time something comes up and we think, oh, Bunny would think this or say this. Help that be a reminder to us that she has impacted our lives and continues to live on in us.

Let that be a promise that we will see her again, that she continues to live on in you. And now, God, as we continue to transition into worship, comfort us, wipe the tears from our eyes, protect her wife Cheryl, and care for her and her dog Bailey. Remind us all that we remain firmly in the palm of Your hand. And that is the best place in the world to be. We pray this trusting in the love of Jesus Christ that makes all of this possible. Amen.

And now I invite you to rise in body or in spirit as we transition into song.

Have you ever felt invisible? I think most of us can relate to that at some point, where we felt like we were experiencing something and the world was just completely blind to it.

I read a story about a teenager this week. Her name was Bev. She was 14 years old. And she was in a school. She was very shy. But she loved people. And so she had a lot of girlfriends. Well, this was in the 1970s. And they were so excited because there was the first boy-girl party that one of the boys at school was offering. And all of her friends got an invite. She didn't. She was African American, only one of two African American students in her class. And neither one of them were invited to the party.

She talked about how it wasn't so bad that she wasn't invited to the party. She said, you know, things were just slowly starting to change then. She said what made it so bad was that her friends didn't even notice. She was completely invisible to her friends. They were all talking about how excited they were to go to this party, how wonderful it was going to be. And no one even noticed or asked if she was invited. And she said she felt completely invisible.

So she decided that she needed to find some new friends. And she decided that she would look for others who might also feel invisible. It's hard when you feel invisible. It's hard when you feel like no one sees. And yet, Jesus sees.

We notice that in our story today. There is a movement in the United Methodist Church to make disciples, and it's called See All the People. It has three movements: See all the people, including those who might be invisible to others; Know them. Get to know them and know their needs; and then Love them. See, know, and love.

That's exactly what Jesus did in this story. Did you notice in this story that no one told Jesus that they were hungry? Right? He had been out in the wilderness. If you read the passage right before this one, he had been out in the wilderness. People had been bringing all of their sick relatives and friends to Jesus to heal.

Now, it's exhausting to listen to people's stories and to feel their pain over and over and over again. And yet, this is precisely what Jesus had been doing. People would come, and they would bring someone who couldn't hear or who couldn't see or who couldn't walk. And they would plead and they would beg. And Jesus would feel their pain. And then he would heal them.

He must have been exhausted. And yet, here he is. He looks around and sees the people. He realizes that they must be hungry because they've been out in the wilderness for a while.

Whenever the gospel writers use the term wilderness, it's both a physical place, but it is also meant for us to be a spiritual place. Because I think all of us can think about a time when we've been in the wilderness, where the things that normally feed us and give life to us are no longer there. And it feels dry like a desert. And that's exactly where these people were.

And yet, Jesus is able to get out of his own exhaustion from healing all of these people in order to see them. I think he's able to see them because he trusts enough that God is going to take care of his needs. I think that's part of what needs to happen with us when we're called to see other people.

Often times what I hear is, "But I grew up poor too," or "I struggled too," or "I don't have enough money either." We get so focused on our own needs that we don't see the needs of others. Jesus had such a deep trust in God that God was going to meet his needs, that he could look out and see the others.

But Jesus also knows what it's like to be hungry. Earlier in the gospel of Mark, he had been sent out into the wilderness to be tempted. He had fasted for 40 days and 40 nights, we're told. I would be a little hangry by then. But Jesus trusted that God was going to take care of him. And yet he understood what it was like. He remembered what it was like to be hungry.

Part of knowing is remembering our own experience. It may not be the exact same experience, but we've had similar experiences. So to remember what that feels like is so important. But then Jesus also had to transfer that memory into imagining what they were feeling. Right?

He remembers what it was like to be hungry, and so he can imagine that they are hungry. He can imagine that they have come to this place so desperate to have their loved one healed that they would be very, very hungry. And he doesn't want to send them away because they might faint.

This sense of taking their perspective, knowing their needs, understanding their needs means you have to get out of your own head and think about what those other people are experiencing. You know that's really hard for us. Because sometimes we would say, "Well, you know, if I were you, I would dot, dot, dot." That's not taking someone else's perspective. That's putting yourself first. That's putting yourself in their place as you are, but not really understanding where they're coming from.

I could hear, you know, maybe some of the followers of Jesus saying, "Why didn't they prepare? This is the desert. Why didn't they just bring food themselves?" You know? But instead, Jesus doesn't do that.

For us to see and to know other people and to understand their needs, it's not enough to say, "Well, this is what I would do." We have to put ourselves in their place. We have to hear their stories. We have to understand where they're coming from. We have to imagine what they might be going through.

Jesus had this memory. He knew what it was like to be hungry. But then he could imagine what it was like for those who were gathered around him. Then we're told that he loved them. He had compassion on them. He didn't want them to go away hungry.

So he turns to his disciples, who by the way, have food. So Jesus didn't even need to worry about this because he had enough food for himself and for his disciples. But he turns to them and says, "What do you have?" And they said, "Well, we've got this." And Jesus says, "Perfect."

He has everybody sit down, and he takes it, and he blesses it, and he breaks it, and he gives it to his disciples. It sounds familiar, doesn't it? Sounds very much like communion, where Jesus takes, and blesses, and breaks, and gives. And there's so much that everyone is fed, and there are baskets full left over. Because Jesus wants to provide for us, to provide for our needs, not just a little tiny bit, but in abundance.

If you ever feel invisible, I want you to know that Jesus sees you. Jesus knows what you're going through. And Jesus loves you and wants to provide for you.

Once we know that, and once we trust Jesus' provision for us and Jesus' love for us, then we can ask ourselves the questions: Who is it that God wants us to see? Who do we encounter every day? Who is in our sphere of influence that God wants us to see and to really see?

Then how is God inviting us to know them? To understand what their needs are? To know what it's like to be in their position? To use our imagination? To ask them questions? To find out what it is that they need?

Then how is God calling us to love? Because every single one of you are those disciples that Jesus has given provision to and invited to go and distribute it to all that you meet.

We are seeing that at work throughout our world today. We're seeing so many people come together. As you know, we've been praying for the storm in Helene, from Florida all the way through western North Carolina. Western North Carolina, of course, is particularly meaningful to us. That's where we did all of our internships when we were at Duke Divinity School. We know several people there.

To see the devastation, to really see it—trailers washed away, people who have no place to go back home to. I have friends who are there, and to see their responses has been amazing. One of my friends talked about the fact that she now knows why they need a five-gallon bucket when you're facing a hurricane. She said you've got to have water in that bucket to try to flush the toilets. Otherwise, there's nowhere to go, right?

Literally. She said, you know, I didn't have one, but my neighbor had two, and my neighbor gave me one of theirs. She said, you know, what is so amazing is coming outside after all of the rain was over and seeing neighbors out there with their chainsaws, cutting up the trees that had fallen down, whether it was in their yard or not, and stacking that wood nicely by the side.

They were going house to house to house. She said nobody had anything, but they were going house to house to house and checking in, "Are you okay? Do you know when we might get power back?" They say it's going to be maybe months before their water system gets restored.

One of the things that the United Methodist Committee on Relief did first is send water—lots and lots of water to that area. But you know, to see people's response when everything seems to have been taken away is just so amazing.

I have a friend who lives down there. She was one of my classmates at the Naval Academy. She talked about the fact that when the storm was coming, she went into Asheville. She has a house outside of Asheville, but to be close to her parents. So she has a condo in Asheville, and her parents live in Asheville.

After the storm was over, her parents had power but no water, and she had water but no power. They were taking care of each other. But there was nowhere that had internet, cell phone coverage, anything like that except the library. There was a gathering of people at the library because they wanted, you know, they weren't sitting there looking up the news or playing their crossword puzzle in the New York Times. They were telling their family that they're okay, that they survived.

They were telling their families what they need because remember the roads have been completely washed out. It is really hard to get people in and out. She said she's standing there at the library, waiting to get word to the rest of her family and to find out if she could bring her parents to their uncle's house outside of Charlotte and stay for a while until everything could be rebuilt.

While she's there, she notices, she sees this young couple, and she hears them talking about the fact that they had just come down to visit. They were tourists living in a hotel that now had nothing, and none of the restaurants were open. All they had to eat were crackers.

She looked at them and thought, you know, I bet they're hungry. She said, "Excuse me, I just overheard some of your story, and it sounds to me like you're hungry. My family has some water at my parents' house or electric—no, electric at my parents' house and water at my house. Why don't you come and have dinner with us?"

She said they had steak dinner because, you know, you've got to get rid of the stuff that's in your freezer. She said they had steak dinner with these complete strangers who were now friends, all because she was willing to see beyond herself, because she was willing to know what they were going through, to not only imagine what it was like but then to know that they have all lost everything, and then to love them through this simple act of friendship.

That's the kind of task that Jesus calls us to do. So I'm not asking you to leave your homes and to, you know, go on a foreign mission trip. We're not asking you to do these huge major things. But what if every single one of us looked around us and saw people—people who might be invisible to others?

What if we got to know them and understood their story? And what if then we began to love them? Not to embarrass Doug too much, but I think this is exactly what happened with the Parkinson's choir, getting to know Rose and understanding her, seeing her and understanding the Parkinson's, and then knowing what it's like to struggle, and then loving.

Each one of us is called to do something simple like that. And when we do, we will change our world. We will show the world that there is indeed hope because Jesus lives not only forever in heaven but Jesus lives in every single one of us. Amen.

As we just sang, Jesus invites to this table everyone, calls all of us children of God, and reminds us that this is a table of justice and of joy. Today we do remember that Christians around the world are celebrating this meal together.

That means from midnight last night all the way through until midnight tonight, there will be Christians celebrating this meal throughout our world. What a wonderful reminder that we are part of a much bigger family.

As we come to this meal, we invite you into a time of confession. Let us pray.

Gracious God, God of forgiveness and hope, we confess to you that sometimes we are so caught up in our own needs that we don't see the needs of others. Sometimes we are so caught up in looking around that we miss the one who is invisible.

So, God, we pray that you would forgive us for that oversight so that you would allow us to trust you more so that we could see people, so that we could get to know them and know their needs, and so that we could respond in love.

And so here now in the silence of our hearts, our confession to you.

Now hear the amazing good news. Jesus sees you. Jesus knows you. And Jesus loves you. And before we have even confessed, Jesus has forgiven us. In the name of Jesus Christ, we are all forgiven. Glory to God. Amen.

We come to this meal and we say a prayer just as Jesus thanked God for this meal before he shared it with his disciples.

The Lord be with you.

And also with you.

Lift up your hearts.

We lift them up to the Lord.

Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.

It is right to give our thanks and praise.

It is right and a good and joyful thing to delight in your presence, O Lord. It is amazing to think of joining with Christians all over the world to celebrate this meal together. You have made us one family.

You have united Christians from the United States with Christians from Costa Rica and Korea, Ukraine, Palestinian Christians, Chinese Christians, Congolese Christians, Jamaican Christians, all into one family. You have given us siblings who live on every continent in this world, who speak every language imaginable, and then some.

You have given us siblings who think like us and get along with us, and even some who get on our nerves every single day. You have given us siblings of every sexual orientation and gender identity, and you love us all as your family. And you expect us to love one another as your family.

As your family on earth, together with all the members of our family in heaven, including today especially our beloved Bunny, we join together and give to you our unending song of praise.

Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might. Heaven and earth are full of your glory. Hosanna in the highest. Blessed are those who come in the name of the Lord. Hosanna in the highest.

You are holy, Lord. And we give thanks for your son Jesus Christ, who taught us the transforming experience that is ours when we see, when we know, and when we love.

On that last night, Jesus surrounded himself with those whom he knew would betray him, deny him, and desert him. And yet he washed their feet, and he shared this meal with them as a reminder of his great love and the promise of feasting with them again.

So he took bread, and he gave thanks to you, and he broke it, and he gave it to his disciples and said, "Take and eat. This is my body given for you. Do this in remembrance of me."

After supper, he took a cup. He gave thanks to you once again, and he gave it to his disciples and said, "Drink from this, all of you. This is my blood, my life blood of the new covenant, poured out for you and for many for the forgiveness of sins."

So we come remembering your amazing acts, your acts of love and forgiveness in Jesus Christ, as we offer ourselves in praise and thanksgiving as a holy and living sacrifice, ourselves in union with Christ as we offer ourselves to the world to see, to know, and to love.

We proclaim this mystery of faith: Christ has died. Christ is risen. Christ will come again.

Come now, Lord, and visit us, your people, in this place and in our homes and in our hearts as we share this sacrament. As you have invited us to this table, so now we invite you to our own, here and in rooms all across the community, even across the world.

Pour out your spirit on all everywhere who are gathered with us this day and on these gifts of bread and juice which we have brought to the table. Make them be for us the body and blood of Christ so that we might be for the world the body of Christ, redeemed by his love and his blood.

We pray that those who receive these elements wherever they may be may be drawn closer to you in this moment. And by your spirit, make us one with you, one with each other, and one in ministry to all the world until you come again.

Together we feast at your heavenly banquet with all of our family throughout all time. We pray this in the name of Jesus and the Holy Spirit, one God forever. Amen.

Everyone is invited. I invite the servers to come up to your stations, and we will bring the elements to you. Everything is gluten-free, so if you need gluten-free, all of the bread is gluten-free. The juice is all grape juice.

We practice this by intinction, so you take a piece of bread and dip it into the cup. If you would prefer, we have individual cups, and those will be in the center aisle. So if you would prefer to take a piece of bread but then to have an individual cup, come to the center aisle, and the ushers will help direct us as we taste and see the goodness of God.

I invite you to go from this place knowing that Jesus sees you, Jesus knows exactly what you're going through, and Jesus loves you and longs to provide for whatever your need is.

So go knowing that you are loved. And then go being willing to love others with that same amazing grace. Amen.