A service with wine

Prayer of Preparation

Almighty God,
As we gather here to taste of your suffering and goodness,
Help us to remember your death and resurrection,
And help us to look for the new wine of your kingdom
All: Amen.

Readings and tastings

First reading: Mark 14: 23-25

And [Jesus] took a cup, and when he had given thanks he gave it to them, and they all drank of it. And he said to them, "This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many. Truly, I say to you, I shall not drink again of the fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new in the kingdom of God."

 

Second reading: Mark 14: 32-36

And they went to a place which was called Gethsem'ane; and [Jesus] said to his disciples, "Sit here, while I pray." And he took with him Peter and James and John, and began to be greatly distressed and troubled. And he said to them, "My soul is very sorrowful, even to death; remain here, and watch." And going a little farther, he fell on the ground and prayed that, if it were possible, the hour might pass from him. And he said, "Abba, Father, all things are possible to thee; remove this cup from me; yet not what I will, but what thou wilt."

Third reading: Mark 15: 22-24a

And they brought [Jesus] to the place called Gol'gotha (which means the place of a skull). And they offered him wine mingled with myrrh; but he did not take it. And they crucified him.

 

First tasting: diluted red wine vinegar *

 

Fourth reading: John 2: 1-10

On the third day there was a marriage at Cana in Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there; Jesus also was invited to the marriage, with his disciples. When the wine failed, the mother of Jesus said to him, "They have no wine." And Jesus said to her, "O woman, what have you to do with me? My hour has not yet come." His mother said to the servants, "Do whatever he tells you."

Now six stone jars were standing there, for the Jewish rites of purification, each holding twenty or thirty gallons. Jesus said to them, "Fill the jars with water." And they filled them up to the brim. He said to them, "Now draw some out, and take it to the steward of the feast." So they took it.

When the steward of the feast tasted the water now become wine, and did not know where it came from (though the servants who had drawn the water knew), the steward of the feast called the bridegroom and said to him, "Every man serves the good wine first; and when men have drunk freely, then the poor wine; but you have kept the good wine until now."

Fifth reading:  Mark 2: 19-20 and 22

And Jesus said to them, "Can the wedding guests fast while the bridegroom is with them? As long as they have the bridegroom with them, they cannot fast. The days will come, when the bridegroom is taken away from them, and then they will fast in that day. ...No one puts new wine into old wineskins; if he does, the wine will burst the skins, and the wine is lost, and so are the skins; but new wine is for fresh skins."

 

Second tasting: desert wine

 

Conclusion

All praise to you our God and Father
For you have quenched our thirst from the true vine:
Hear our prayer that, being grafted into Christ,
We may grow together in unity
And feast with him in his holy kingdom;
Through Jesus Christ our Lord
All: Amen.


* A good red wine vinegar diluted 1:1 with water
** A good desert wine such as Tokaji
Provide in individual shot glasses.