About the Service of
Communion
and
The Siddur Todah Rabbah = The
Service of Great Thanksgiving
Go to the Service of
Communion below
Communion is Like the Kiddush
If you are attentive, you may relive
the entire Passion through this Communion service – from Yahshua’s
entry into Jerusalem to his Resurrection. If you are from a
Messianic Jewish background, you may perceive the similarity of the
Communion to the kiddush at the end of the synagogue service.
Communion Defamed or Discarded;
Eucharist Misunderstood or Relegated to the Occult
The Communion also follows the
pattern of worship in Nehemiah 8. From ancient times, this pattern
has been used in remembrance of Yahshua the Anointed through the
uncomplicated services of the New Testament and the Didaché to the
complicated and overtly paganistic pomps of the Roman Catholic and
Orthodox Churches, devised throughout their sordid histories.
However, we dare not destroy the precious pearl along with the paste
and tarnished alloys that have come to surround it. But we must
conserve that which is not only good, but what is commanded (John
6:51-55). Many among the Sacred Name and Messianic fellowships have
discarded Communion, relegating it to a few words during and annual
Passover or dropping it altogether on account of the excesses and
false teachings of others. Some have even told me that they cannot
offer Communion because the term “‘Eucharist’ sounds like a ‘new
age’ thing.”
(The Greek word
eucharistos /
eucaristoV
– or some close variation – appears with great frequency
throughout all the Scriptures, and means “thanksgiving” or
“giving thanks.” Certainly, it is every bit as Scriptural – if not
moreso – than the Aramaic words left untranslated in the New
Testament, like “Maranatha,” Abba,” and “Halleluyah.” In some
traditions, including mine, the Communion is generally known as
The Great Thanksgiving.)
The Communion has been Hijacked;
All Believers Must Reclaim It
The Communion is not the property of
movements that would use it to ‘sacrifice Christ’ daily on behalf of
the people; i.e. their priests, through the breaking of the
‘host,’ murder the Master afresh so that he may again rise again for
those who are in fellowship with the denomination. This entire
sacrificial theology has its roots in several ancient pagan
mysteries; its great mass of branches furnished by the bold,
unrighteous embellishments of past and present Roman apostates.
As for peeling the pearl; let us
consider the simplicity and theology of the following Communion
service (and the several others I have gleaned from the earliest
successors to the original Nazorean movement in Palestine). I have
left the original terms for the parts of the Communion in Latin
language, since Latin was already becoming the world language (as
English is today) by the beginning of the Common Era. (Historians
like Josephus translated their Aramaic accounts into Latin for
greater readership. Jerome translated the earliest Greek and Hebrew
version into Latin in order for a greater readership of Scripture.)
Communion is Not a Sacrifice; It
is a Sacrament
A simple definition of the word
“Sacrament” might be “an action in three dimensional reality that
creates consequences in the higher dimensions”; or “an action in the
physical sphere that creates consequences in the spiritual sphere.”
It is not difficult to find examples of general sacraments in the
Scripture: Herod is in a furious rage; Joseph has dreams about it;
Peter and John command a lame man to walk and pull him to his feet
at which time he is healed of his affliction; an mother prays for
her wayward adult son over and over until the day comes in which he
is delivered from his criminal intent.
As there are general sacraments,
there are special sacraments – that is, Sacraments with a capital
‘S.’ (Again, the technical term ‘Sacrament’ often triggers a
negative reaction due to its technical nature and the
known pagan excesses of the churches previously mentioned.) The
difference between sacrament and Sacrament is that the Sacramental
action is succinctly described in Scripture and its doing is
absolutely required. Then upon the action’s completion, special
favor is bestowed on the individual from the spiritual realm by YHWH
as Ruach haQodesh.
Baptism is one such sacrament. A
person is commanded to be properly baptized, and when the act is
committed, gifts and favors are bestowed immediately from the realm
of the Spirit, then on throughout
the life of the consecrated. (There are so many examples of Sacrament in both
Testaments that I hardly need to point out an example.)
The Sacrament Must Not Be
Abandoned
Communion is also a Sacrament. The
earliest assemblies built their entire service liturgies around
the Supper. That which is to be received immediately is life in
timelessness. Frequent Communions not only help keep the talmidim
pure and spiritual (there is a very deep well of spirituality in
it), but the favor bestowed is extendable to others outside the
Communion. Since coming to understand a little of Sacramental Theology, I have
personally seen and experienced wonderful ‘reactions’ that served to
heal families, drive out unclean spirits, and open the spiritually
dead to outpourings of praise and eucharist.
The fact is, I am writing this essay
and sharing this service on account of the needs of my family – that
though we may leave the church and religious establishment, we must
not leave the table of the Master. (Frequent communing leads to a
hunger for the body and blood of our Savior as well as a strong
desire to ever be close to He who loved us enough to share his body
with us.)
The Ancient, Traditional
Divisions of the Service
Each section is very short and to
the point, as the complete service below demonstrates.
Invocation
(Shimah, "Calling on")
Confession & Absolution
(Vadim, Psalms 32:5.)
Sursum Corda
("Lifting the Heart," Soo Sharim Levichem Psalms 9:9; 28:7.)
Tersanctus
(Three-fold sanctity, Qadosh: Isaiah 6:6.)
Anamnesis (Greek for
remembering / reliving; Hebrew, tzecher)
Mysterion (Raza, The
mystery of our belief: 1 Timothy 3:9.)
Epiclesis (Vetered, The
“calling down,” the consecration: Psalms 144:5; Isaiah 31:4.)
Sovereign’s Prayer
(Tefillah
l’Adonecha,
"Teach us to pray.")
Fraction (Breaking
matzah into pieces.)
Distribution
(chalek, Passing the pieces.)
Prayer (Tefilah)
Benediction (Amidah, The
Blessing: Luke 1:46.)
The Service of Communion :
Siddur
Todah Rabbah = The Great Thanksgiving
Invocation (Shimah,
"Calling on")
Psalms 61. Hear us cry (Shimah) , O
Elohim; attend to our prayer. From the end of the earth will we cry
out to you, when our hearts are overwhelmed: lead us to the rock
that is higher than us. For you have been a shelter for us,
and a strong tower from the enemy. We will stay in your tent
forever: We will trust in the cover of your wings. For you, O Elohim,
have heard our vows: you have given us the same heritage as those
that revere your name. So will we sing praise to your name forever,
that we may daily perform our vows.
Confession (Vadim) (Daniel
9:4, 1 Corinthians 11:27-29)
YAHAD: Sovereign Yahweh Elohim,
We confess that we have sinned
against you in our thoughts, words, and acts.
We are worried about the future, even
though we have proclaimed you as our Source and Sovereign.
We have failed to love our neighbors
enough, and we have disobeyed your commandments.
Have mercy upon us, Mar Yahshua.
Forgive us our sins and cleanse us of
all unrighteousness
So we may walk in your ways and serve
you in your favor and love.
{pause for silent prayer}
This our plea for forgiveness we ask
in your famous Name, O Yahweh. Amein.
Absolution (HaSlicha) (1
John 1:9)
LEADER: Yahshua our Savior is
faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us of all
unrighteousness; and as he promised, you are forgiven!
ALL: And you too are forgiven! You
are cleansed of all unrighteousness, and worthy to participate in
this set-apart meal.
Sursum Corda (Lifting the
Heart) (Soo Sharim Levichem) (Ruth 2:4, KJV; 1 Samuel 17:37)
LEADER: May Yahweh be with you!
YAHAD: and also with you.
LEADER: Lift up your hearts!
(Lamentations 3:41)
YAHAD: We lift up our hearts
to our Sovereign!
LEADER: Let us give thanks to Yahweh
our Elohim!
YAHAD: Giving him our thanks
and praise is a righteous activity!
LEADER: Yes, to give you thanks
always and in all places is a righteous, good, proper, and happy
activity.
Sovereign Elohim! We join our voices
with the cherubim, the seraphim, and all the kol tzeva ha shamayim
who through the ages sing:
Tersanctus (Shloshet
Kadoshim)
YAHAD: Holy, holy, holy Sovereign
Yahweh, (Kadosh, kadosh, kadosh, Yahweh Tze’va·ot)
Heaven and earth are full of your esteem (me·lo
chol-ha·a·retz ke·vo·do) (Isaiah 6:3)
Highest Hosanna, O Yahweh, (Ana Yahweh ho·shi·ah ha·ga·dol)
Send us prosperity (hatz·li·cha na)
(Psalms 118:25)
Blessed is He who comes in the name
of Yahweh (Ba·roo·ch ha·ba be·shem Yahweh)
We have blessed you from the house of
Yahweh. (Ba·rach·noo·chem mi·beit Yahweh) (Psalms 118:26)
Hosanna in the highest! (Ho·shi·an·a
ha·ga·dol) (Matthew 21:9)
Anamnesis
(Tzeker)
LEADER: In the beginning, you created
us for yourself. But even though we have fallen to sin and death
through our own disobedience, you in your infinite mercy, favor, and
love sent your only begotten Son our Savior Yahshua the Anointed
One, born of a virgin to live among us as a man. He suffered every
hardship and adversity, every trial, trouble, tribulation, and
temptation that we face—except without sin
(Hebrews 4:15). Finally, He stretched out His arms toward the
stake in perfect obedience to your will and offered Himself as a
sacrifice for the sins of the entire world (1 John 2:2).
On the night on which our Master was
given over to suffering and death through the betrayal of a friend,
He took bread, and after He had blessed it and given thanks to you,
Father, He gave it to His disciples and said, “Take, eat, this is my
Body that is given for you.” After the supper, he took the cup, and
after He had blessed it and given thanks to you for it, Father, He
said, “Drink of this, all of you. This is my Blood of the new
covenant that is shed for the remission of your sins and the sins of
the entire world” (1 Corinthians 11:26-25, 1 John 2:2).
So as often as we eat this bread and
drink from this cup, we eat the Body and Blood of our Master Yahshua
Messiah. We proclaim His death until He comes again (John 6:53-59).
Let us proclaim the mystery of our faith:
Mysterion (Raza)
ALL: Moshiach has died.
Moshiach is risen.
Moshiach is coming again!
Epiclesis (Vetered)
LEADER: Ruach haKodesh, you are the
giver of life in whom we live and move and have our being;
consecrate this bread and wine to be, for us, the Body and Blood of
our Master Yahshua Messiah (Acts 17:28, John 6:53-59) and consecrate
us, Father, to partake of this set-apart food. (More if so
inspired.)
All this we ask, O Ruach haKodesh, in
the name of Yahshua Messiah, who lives and reigns with you, in the
esteem of His Father, Amein. Therefore we pray the prayer our
Sovereign taught us, saying:
Sovereign’s Prayer (Tefillah
l’Adonecha)
ALL: {The Master’s Prayer}
Fraction (Matzah)
LEADER: As Sha’ul said to the
Corinthians, I say to you: The Anointed One, our Passover, has been
sacrificed for us. Therefore, let us keep the feast! (1 Corinthians
5:7-8a)
ALL: HalleluYah!
May the Body and Blood of our
Sovereign King keep you unto health and enduring life.
The Distribution (Chalek)
“The body of Messiah, the bread of
heaven,” or other words to that effect.
“The blood of Messiah, the cup of
salvation,” or other words to that effect.
“May the body and blood of our
Sovereign Yahshua Messiah keep you unto enduring life.
Prayer (Tefillah)
LEADER: We thank you, Yahweh our
Sovereign, that you have fed us with the mysteries of the
Body and Blood of your Son our Savior Yahshua Messiah. By eating His
Body, we become members of His Body (John 6:56), and thus His agents
in this world. Help us to be the distributors of your blessings, the
agents of your providence, the instruments of your favor, and the
ambassadors of your love to all the people we meet in our everyday
lives. By drinking His Blood, we have taken on His life (Genesis
9:4, John 6:53), which was not finally pierced by the stake nor
smothered in the tomb, but lasts for l’olam. We thank you for
this, the medicine of life; the antidote to death. All this we pray
in the most kadosh and chozeq name of Yahshua-Yahweh, because He is
alive, and He reigns with you in the Echad of the Elohim.
ALL: Shema, Israel: Yahweh Eloheinu
Yahweh Echad. You are one Elohim, now and forever, Amein.
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