Our Companion and Vindicator

Middle English : from Old French compaignon, literally ‘one who breaks bread with another,’ based on Latin com- ‘together with’ + panis ‘bread.’

On the night of his betrayal
Jesus our companion
Took bread
Broke it
Gave it to his followers
Eat
My body is broken for you

We break this bread with those who:
hunger for justice,
dream of a land free from occupation,
long to live life free from fear,
search for food and water each day,
long for companionship.

ORIGIN mid 16th cent.(in the sense [deliver, rescue] ): from Latin vindicat- ‘claimed, avenged,’ from the verb vindicare, from vindex, vindic- ‘claimant, avenger.’

On the night of his betrayal
Jesus our vindicator
Took wine
Gave it to his followers
Remember
My blood is poured out for you
Drink
This is a new promise
All who come to me will have life

We drink this wine with those who:
see too much blood flow,
watch loved ones die,
are judged by their race or skin colour,
carry in their blood the stigma of HIV/AIDS,
long for someone to dry their tears.

Come, eat, drink, you who hunger and thirst,
For a deeper faith, for a better life, for a fairer world,
For healing and wholeness – Come.

thanks to Chris Rose