There are eight families in my church. We each sign up for a month or two during the year for ushering, providing alter flowers, setting communion, etc. I usually sign our family up for a couple and especially, the month of August, to do all of our "chores of church".
Why August? That's the month I stood before God, my family, and my friends and pledged my love and my life to my husband. There is definite meaning in the month of August for me.
In our church we celebrate communion on the first Sunday of the month, unless there are five Sundays - then we celebrate it again on the third Sunday.
There are five Sundays in August.
I set communion yesterday after finishing singing at a wedding at First United Church across the street from our Faith Lutheran Church. I'm not certain exactly what denomination their members are - it used to be a Methodist church, but then merged with the Congregational Church somewhere down the line possibly? The hymnals are definitely Methodist, so maybe they lean more that way....I guess it doesn't matter really.
We all share the same table.
Hmmmm..... a wise woman told me that last night as we discussed our joys and our sorrows, our anxieties and our comforts.
We all share the same table.
We drink the same wine.
We eat the same bread.
We remember the same body and blood of the One who saved us.
Young and old.
Missouri Synod Lutheran, Baptist, Methodist, or Catholic.
Red, Yellow, Black, or White....we are ALL precious in His sight.....
We share the same table.
One that was prepared for us. One that was commanded of us to share with others. One table.....
I love my "church chore" of setting communion and then taking it down after church. There is a comfort in preparing the body and blood of Christ for my church family. There is also a comfort in washing the goblets and placing them gently in their velvet-lined box. How many hands have washed these cups? I remember all those who have gone before me and know that they are at THE table....
Today's scripture lesson and sermon was based on Isaiah 56:1, 6-8
This is what the Lord says:
“Maintain justice
and do what is right,
for my salvation is close at hand
and my righteousness will soon be revealed.
and do what is right,
for my salvation is close at hand
and my righteousness will soon be revealed.
And foreigners who bind themselves to the Lord
to minister to him,
to love the name of the Lord,
and to be his servants,
all who keep the Sabbath without desecrating it
and who hold fast to my covenant—
these I will bring to my holy mountain
and give them joy in my house of prayer.
Their burnt offerings and sacrifices
will be accepted on my altar;
for my house will be called
a house of prayer for all nations.”
The Sovereign Lord declares—
he who gathers the exiles of Israel:
“I will gather still others to them
besides those already gathered.”
to minister to him,
to love the name of the Lord,
and to be his servants,
all who keep the Sabbath without desecrating it
and who hold fast to my covenant—
these I will bring to my holy mountain
and give them joy in my house of prayer.
Their burnt offerings and sacrifices
will be accepted on my altar;
for my house will be called
a house of prayer for all nations.”
The Sovereign Lord declares—
he who gathers the exiles of Israel:
“I will gather still others to them
besides those already gathered.”
To share in the joy and peace of sitting in His house?
To comprehend (as much as our earthly minds can) the completely unselfish sacrifice represented in the bread and wine?
I'm not a missionary.
The word evangelist brings back horrid memories of blue eye shadow and fake eye lashes and slick-talk.
I don't give my testimony....at least not like I was brought up to believe how that was done....but maybe I then again, I do.
Regardless, today, sitting in these old wooden pews, with windows open because we have no air conditioning, fan blowing my bulletin around, and turning the pages in my hymnal without my consent, I was reminded once again.
We all share the same table.
Welcome.....
