An Invitation to a Community Communion

September 15, 2009

My upcoming surgery is scheduled for a week from today and before I begin my two week hiatus to tend to my recovery I’d like to fulfill an ongoing dream of mine here on the blog.

I’d like us to take communion together. Really.

Whatever corner of this world we inhabit, I want to provide an opportunity for any who desire to do so to join us for communion across the miles so  we might know that as we each drink of the cup and eat of the bread in our own homes, we will be spiritually joining our hearts at the table of Christ.  We will be reminded that however lonely or isolated we might feel, how our truest selves are unknown by so many, at the table we aren’t alone. We stand with others at the table as much in our wholeness as in our brokenness and we come to a table where Christ’s arms are outstretched and God’s love is fully present to receive us.

I know from some of the things you’ve told me that it’s been years since you last received communion. A few of you have said it’s been so long you don’t even remember when the last time was that you went to the table. You haven’t gone because there was a time when you were held back from the table because someone dared to say that as long as you were gay you weren’t welcome. Or you have been so wounded by God’s people and Christ’s church that you don’t dare risk joining hands with the other guests at the table for fear you’ll be wounded by them again. Or some of you have stayed away because you’re not even sure that God has set a place for you at the table.

Whether you go to the table every Sunday or if you haven’t been there in years, I invite you to join us for this one celebration of Christ’s table; that through this act we’ll be remembering not only the gift of God through Christ but we’ll be assured that we’re meeting each other at a table where all are fully welcome and where everyone belongs. It is never up to a human or institution to decide who is or is not welcome or worthy at the table. The table belongs to Christ. It has been set by Him. The meal has been provided by Him. The guest list has been prepared by Him, and on that list is your name. In big, bold, capital letters.

And Jesus is saying, “Please come.”

If you still wonder if you’re worthy enough to come to the table, maybe something I said to Wendy will help you.

On Sunday morning, September 20, Pacific Standard Time, I will be posting “Gathering at the Table.”  The post will be an outline of communion service. There will be an opening call to worship, prayers, and scripture readings for us to reflect on. There will be embedded videos of worship music and audio segments I’ll be recording to lead us to our time at the table. For those who follow this blog in email, you will need to come to the blog itself to participate since the audio/video files and layout can’t be included in the email format.

Whatever your time zone if you would like to participate I would encourage you to do so sometime between Sunday late afternoon and Tuesday morning (PST). It’s not important that we all partake of communion at the exact same moment but if a number of us participate we can almost be sure that at any time between Sunday and Tuesday at least two or three of us will be crossing paths at Christ’s table.

Over the next several days, my single highest priority is to create an online event that graced by God’s Spirit will extend beyond the limitations of this medium and create a meaningful spiritual experience for each one of us who participate.  In the meantime until Sunday, there are some things you can do to prepare for joining us at the table.

1. Begin now to pray, preparing not only your heart and mind for meeting Christ at the table, but praying for any others who have hesitated to receive communion because they’ve been too wounded or feel unwelcome, unworthy, or undeserving of the meal that awaits them there.
2. Whatever day you choose to receive communion between Sunday and Tuesday, allow yourself approximately 30 minutes.  That’s more time than the actual “service” will take but provides you with additional time for prayer, meditation, or simply relishing a few minutes of intentional silence before God. Make arrangements with other family members to give you this time free of distractions. Turn down your phone. If you have a laptop take it to an end of the house or a corner of your apartment free from as many visual and auditory distractions as possible.
3. Try to create a quiet place near your computer. Remove all the stacks of papers and clutter that surround your computer space and replace whatever is normally there with a candle or any objects that help you feel at peace.
4. Purchase an especially yummy roll or loaf of bread you love and fill a nice glass with wine or grape juice. Make it beautiful. The table of Christ doesn’t need to be fancy but sometimes making it more beautiful reminds us of how special all that it represents is to us.
5. Have your Bible nearby. While I’ll cut and paste the Scripture passages into the thread, you still might prefer opening your Bible to the passage.

There’s no practice or ritual within Christianity that’s more sacred and beautiful to me than coming to the table of Christ, whether we call it the Lord’s Supper, Holy Eucharist, Communion, or the Great Feast. It’s the place that always anchors me, holds me, and keeps me centered in the greatest gift I’ve ever received and the one for which I will continue to give thanks without ceasing.

There a chair reserved at the table for you. Please come.

Be Sociable, Share!

• 

Posted in Devotionals, SisterFriends