Communion Message
(Mercy and grace)
February 26-27, 2000
Pastor Donald Sheley 

For I have received from the Lord that which I also delivered to you: that the Lord Jesus on the same night in which He was betrayed took bread; and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, "Take, eat; this is My body which is broken for you; do this in remembrance of Me." In the same manner He also took the cup after supper, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in My blood. This do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me." For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord's death till He comes. Therefore whoever eats this bread or drinks this cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of the body and the blood of the Lord. But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of the bread and drink of the cup. Each Lord's Day we approached the communion time differently. As I thought earlier in the week and was praying about this moment I would spend with you at the table, in my devotions I enjoy playing some of the great worship choruses and it brings my heart close to God. And I was playing a chorus "I come to the cross needing mercy and grace". And I thought to myself this would make a marvelous prayer for all of us at communion today, so I'm going to ask you to kneel with me while the singers sing our prayer song. May you make it your prayer too. Let's kneel together, shall we?

(Music starts) 

I come to the cross seeking mercy and grace. 
I come to the cross where You died in my place. 
Out of my weaknesses and into Your strength humbly I come to the cross. 
I come to the cross seeking mercy and grace I come to the cross where You died in my place. 
Out of my weaknesses and into Your strength Jesus I come to the cross. 
Your arms are open. You call me by name. 
You welcome this child that was lost. 
You paid the price for my guilt and my shame. 
Jesus I come, Jesus I come, Jesus I come to the cross.

(Repeat) 

Lord Jesus these emblems that we hold in our hands today You've told us bespeak Your body that was given in sacrifice, and Your blood that was shed for our cleansing there at the cross. We come to the cross needing mercy and grace today. We have sinned. We have been disobedient. We have been rebellious at times to righteousness. We need Your grace and we need Your forgiveness, and we ask for that today. And we're assured that in Your Word that if we confess our sins, You will be faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. We trust in the promise today. Thus we come out of our weakness into Your strength. Thank you Jesus. Let's take the bread together, shall we? And then the cup. With all of our heart and all of our soul we worship You dear Jesus, and with gratitude that is deep and genuine we say thank you for dying so that we might have life, life abundant and life eternal. Thank you Jesus and everybody said, amen. Let's stand and greet the folks that have come to worship with us, shall we?