Almighty Father, we pray for this bread to be the body of Christ, which was given for us. Through Christ’s death and resurrection, give us forgiveness and make us a living sacrifice to your service. In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has taught us to pray for all things in his name,.
The Lord’s Supper goes by a number of different names: “the Lord’s table” (1 Corinthians 10:21), “communion,” “the cup of blessing” (1 Corinthians 10:16), and “the breaking of bread” ( Acts 2:42 ). The early Christians called it “eucharist,” which means “thanksgiving” (Matthew 26:27), and the Latin Church called it “mass,” which comes from the formula of dismission, Ite, missa est, or “Go, it is discharged.” Bible passages like Matthew 26:26–29, Mark 14:22–25, Luke 22:19–20, and 1 Corinthians 11:24–26 detail the first time Jesus instituted the communion sacrament.
When Jesus instituted the Eucharist, He also explained why we do so. Do this… to remember me, he instructed (1 Corinthian 11:25).
Each time a Christian partakes of communion, they are reminded of Jesus’ death on the cross. All who partake in the sacrament are reminded of Christ’s love through the symbols of bread and wine. Jesus didn’t just tell us to “remember,” he gave us something to help us do just that. Similar to how we need food and water to sustain physical life, we need Jesus Christ to sustain our souls.
The time of communion is meant for sharing fellowship with one another. It’s an opportunity to worship God and share in the eternal life He made possible by dying and rising again. In this treatise, you’ll learn communion prayers for elders and a short prayer before communion.
Short Prayers for Communion
1. Grant me spiritual healing
Lord, as I partake in Your Holy Mysteries, may my soul and body be healed of all afflictions. Just as you healed the sick and broken-hearted during Your earthly ministry, heal me today as I receive Your precious Body and Blood.
2. Strengthen my faith
May the communion I receive today strengthen my faith in You, Lord. Help me to trust in Your plan for my life, even when things seem uncertain or difficult. Let Your presence in me be a constant reminder of Your love and faithfulness.
3. Fill me with Your peace
Lord, as I partake in Your Holy Eucharist, fill me with Your peace that surpasses all understanding. Help me to let go of any anxieties or worries and to rest in Your presence, knowing that You are in control of all things.
4. Give me a heart of gratitude
Thank you, Lord, for allowing me to partake in Your Holy Things. Let my heart overflow with gratitude for the sacrifice You made for me on the cross. Help me to live each day in thankfulness for Your love and mercy towards me.
5. Guide me in Your ways
As I receive Your Body and Blood, guide me in Your ways, Lord. Lead me on the path of righteousness and help me to follow Your commandments with a willing heart. May Your presence in me be a light to others.
6. Fill me with Your love
Lord, let Your love flow through me as I partake in Your Holy Mysteries. Help me to love others as You have loved me, with compassion and grace. May Your love shine brightly in all that I do.
7. Renew my spirit
Renew my spirit, Lord, with Your Holy Communion. Wash away any sin or impurity in me and make me new in Your sight. Help me to live a life that is pleasing to You, now and always.
8. Unite me with Your Church
As I join in communion with my fellow believers, unite us as one body in Christ. Help us to love one another as You have loved us and to bear each other’s burdens in love. May Your Church be a beacon of light in a dark world.
9. Prepare me for Your return
Lord, as I partake in Your Holy Eucharist, prepare me for Your second coming. Help me to be vigilant and watchful, filled with expectation for Your glorious return. May I be found faithful when You come again.
| Scripture Verse: | 1 Corinthians 11:26 – For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes. |
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Prayer For Communion Bread
Dear Lord,
We come before you today to celebrate the mystery of your presence in our lives. We are thankful for the gift of this bread, and we ask that you bless it with your presence so that we may always be sustained by your love.
May this communion bread remind us that we are all connected—that every person is part of one body. May it remind us that we must care for one another, and for the world around us. May it remind us that your love is always present in us, no matter what happens or how far away we feel from each other.
We thank you for this gift, and pray that it will continue to nourish us throughout our lives. Amen
Dear God,
We thank you for this bread, which symbolizes the body of Christ. We pray that we may be nourished by it as we share in the sacrament of communion. May this meal bring us together and strengthen our bond to one another and to you, O Lord. Amen.
Lord, we pray for the bread which we are about to receive, and for all the benefits that come from this sacrament. Through it we are filled with the Holy Spirit and united more closely with Christ.
May this bread strengthen us in our weakness, help us to live in peace with one another, and bring us closer to you. We ask this through Christ our Lord.
O God, who through the blessed Virgin Mary has given us your Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, grant that we may find him in this sacrament.
Make us realize that we are not worthy to receive you, but graciously cleanse us of all stain and purify us by your blood.
Strengthen us so that we may be able to celebrate this holy communion worthily and joyfully.
Amen
O Lord Jesus Christ, who said to your apostles: “Take and eat of this all of you; for this is my body which will be given up for you,” and who also said to them: “This is my blood of the covenant, which will be shed for many unto remission of sins,” grant us, we beseech you, so to partake of your most holy Body and Blood that we may receive the gifts of eternal life. And since we cannot worthily celebrate this mystery without you and your Holy Spirit, grant us by the power of the same Holy Spirit to receive the consecration with reverence, humility and devotion. Amen.
Short Communion Prayer For The Wine
A communion prayer is a prayer that you can say when you take communion and share in the body and blood of Jesus Christ. Here are some great communion prayers for elders to inspire you.
Heavenly Father, I thank You for this special time in my faith, a time when I must come before You and closely examine myself, and in doing so, I am to eat of the bread and drink of the cup. I thank You because as I carefully reflect upon myself, I know that I am unworthy of this, yet You love me enough to allow me to eat the bread which represents Your body and to drink the wine which represents Your blood. Amen.
1 Corinthians 11:28
Hallelujah, what a Savior! Thank You for laying down Your life for a wretch like me! Thank You for going to the cross just for me! Lord, I do not take this for granted and I pray that as I eat the bread or drink the cup of the Lord, I will not do so in an unworthy manner. If I were to do such a thing, I would be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord, so help me do so in the way that shows reverence to You. Amen.
1 Corinthians 11:27
Precious God, You sent Your Son so that He could give those who were subject to the law of man life. Your Son took the bread and gave thanks, then He broke it and gave it to the disciples, saying, “This is My body which is given for You; do this in remembrance of Me.” Lord, I choose to take this bread in remembrance of Your love for me and I thank You for sacrificing Yourself so that I could be set free. Amen.
Luke 22:19
Everlasting Father, Your word states that as often as I eat this bread and drink the cup, I proclaim Your death until You come. I thank You for offering me this hope even in Your death! Thank You for this Communion, which is a symbol of the realization of a spiritual union between You and I. Thank You for not only washing away my sins on the cross, but for welcoming me into a bond with You. Amen.
1 Corinthians 11:26
Prince of Peace, he who eats Your flesh and drinks Your blood has eternal life, and You will raise Him up on the last day! I thank You for the everlasting life that You have promised me as I partake in Communion. You have kept me all these years here on earth, but I know that a greater reward and resting place waits for me in heaven. Thank You for the room that You have prepared for me above. Amen.
John 6:54
God of Mercy, You are one bread, and we who are many are one body, for we all partake of the one bread. Lord, I thank You for allowing Communion to unite me with Your people. You are the Bread of Life, and I have come to partake of You so that I may have eternal life and so that life can be brought to Your body, both corporately and individually. Amen.
1 Corinthians 10:17
God of Love, the cup of blessing that we bless is a participation in the blood of Christ and the bread that we break is a participation in the body of Christ. Lord, I thank You for this Communion and I understand that this cup of wine is not to get drunk nor is the bread to feast on. But Communion is so that I may focus on my relationship with You, my Savior and Lord. Amen.
1 Corinthians 10:16
Prayer Before Communion
Communion is a sacred time for you as a follower of Jesus. But before you participate in this memorable occasion, take time to spend some reflective moments in self-examination. What does that mean? How should you pray? While this is an individual matter between you and God, here are some communion prayer thoughts and meditations that might help you as you prepare for this beautiful time of remembrance.
A Communion Prayer
Lord Jesus, I bow before you in humility and ask You to examine my heart today. Show me anything that is not pleasing to You. Reveal any secret pride, any unconfessed sin, any rebellion or unforgiveness that may be hindering my relationship with You. I know that I am Your beloved child, having received You into my heart and life and having accepted Your death as penalty for my sinfulness. The price You paid covered me for all time, and my desire is to live for You.
As I take the bread representing Your life that was broken for me, I remember and celebrate Your faithfulness to me and to all who will receive You. I can’t begin to fathom the agonizing suffering of Your crucifixion. Yet You took that pain for me. You died for me! Thank You, Jesus. Thank You for Your extravagant love and unmerited favor. Thank You that Your death gave me life—abundant life now, and eternal life forever. As You instructed Your disciples, I, too, receive this bread in remembrance of You.
And in the same way, as I take this cup representing Your blood poured out from a splintered cross, I realize that You were the supreme sacrifice for all my sin: past, present, and future. Because of Your blood shed for me, and Your body broken for me, I can be free from the power and penalty of sin. Thank You for Your victory over death. You took the death that I deserved. You took my punishment. Your pain was indeed my gain. And today I remember and celebrate the precious gift of life You gave me through the blood that You spilled.
But while my relationship is secure with you, I know sin can break our fellowship at times. I’m still human, and I often forget who I am and Whose I am. You want to convict and correct me, not shame me. You love me like a perfect parent. You’ll never disown me or leave me. You love me no matter what. But sin hurts both my heart and Yours. So before I take communion today, I’m asking You to truly search my heart and reveal hidden things for which to ask Your forgiveness.
Each time I take communion, Lord, I want to recommit my life, my heart, my thoughts, my everything to You. Fill me today with Your powerful Spirit. As I leave this place, help me to hold this fresh remembrance and the story that never grows old close to my heart. Help me to share its message faithfully as You give opportunity.
In Your Precious name,
Amen
Communion Scripture
“And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to the disciples and said, “Take, eat; this is My body.” hen He took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you. For this is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.” Matthew 26:26-28
“Jesus said to them, “Very truly I tell you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you. Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise them up at the last day.” John 6:53-54
“and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, “This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me.” In the same way, after supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me.” For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes. So then, whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of sinning against the body and blood of the Lord. Everyone ought to examine themselves before they eat of the bread and drink from the cup.” 1 Corinthians 11:24-28