Lenny Duncan's Words of Institution and Prayer

Yesterday I came across this Facebook post made by Lenny Duncan.  I loved the poetic version that he created for the part of the liturgy where the eucharistic elements are consecrated and prayers offered. I wanted both to preserve it for myself and to offer it to others.

Lenny Duncan's post:

"Every year I get asked to preach somewhere on this weekend. If they are Lutheran, and I am presiding at the table, this is the version of the of what I use as words of adoration, institution, etc every year based on an ELW setting. I change them slightly every year. Please use freely:

God of our weary years, God of our silent tears,

you have brought us this far along the way.

In times of bitterness you do not abandon us,

but guided us into the path of love and light.

In every age you sent prophets

to make known your loving will for all humanity, like the Rev. Dr King, Malcolm X, Fred Hampton, bell hooks, and the millions who responded to the cry of George Floyd for his mama:

The cry of the poor and the oppressed has become your own cry;

our hunger and thirst for justice is your own desire.

In the fullness of time, you sent your chosen servant

to preach good news to the afflicted,

to break bread with the outcast and despised,

and to ransom those in bondage to white supremacy and sin.

In the night in which he was betrayed,

our friend and protector Jesus took bread, and gave thanks;

broke it, and gave it to his disciples, saying:

Take and eat; this is my brown body, given for you.

Do this for the remembrance of me.

Again, after supper, he took the cup, gave thanks,

and gave it for all to drink, saying:

This cup is the new covenant in my brown blood,

shed for you and all people for the forgiveness of sin.

Do this for the remembrance of me.

For as often as we eat of this bread and drink from this cup

we proclaim the Rebel's death until he comes.

Christ has died.

Christ is risen.

Christ will come again.

Remembering, therefore, his death and resurrection,

we await the day when Jesus shall return

to free all the earth from the bonds of slavery and death.

Come, power of Jesus! And let the church say, Amen

Amen.

Send your Holy Spirit, our advocate,

to fill the hearts of all who share this bread and cup ( for online: for those who have bread and cup today)

with courage and wisdom to pursue love and justice in all the world.

Come, Spirit of freedom! And let the church say, Amen

Amen.

Join our prayers and praise with your prophets, rebels, oddballs, poor, displaced, and martyrs of every age, that, rejoicing in the hope of the resurrection,

we might live in the freedom and hope of your Son.

Through him, with him, in him, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, all glory and honor is yours, almighty Holy Parent, now and forever.

Amen.