I went to church this morning and ran a few errands in the afternoon but the rest of the day was spent here, praying that those who needed assurance or comfort or hope would join us, and then I spent time reading and responding to the messages some of you left about what you encountered at the table. I heard from you here in the comments section of the communion post, on the SisterFriends forum, in email, and over on Facebook and with every story you told I wept a little more. I’m so glad you came to the table. I’m overjoyed this meant something to so many of you. This is one of those times so full of God that my heart wants to cry out in thankfulness, “Okay God. This was one of the most wonderful things you’ve ever done and so I’m never going to ask you for anything ever again because what you did today was more than enough.” But of course I don’t say that out loud to God because I always want more and even if I said it, I’m pretty sure God wouldn’t believe me anyway.

So I’ve moved through the day with tears in my eyes and a heart full of gratitude that so many of you came to the table and when you did Grace was there waiting for you. Do yourself a favor if you haven’t already and take a few minutes to read the communion stories that are found at the end of the communion post and here is something written by one of the women over at the SisterFriends Forum that I share here with her generous permission. I just want you to know the awesome company you were in when you went to the table.

As an altar server in my church, my duties include assisting in the preparation of the sanctuary and the altar for the Holy Eucharist. So, this morning for our SisterFriends Community Communion, I prepared my dining table with the same love and reverence as I do at church. I lit the candles, placed a few special items on the table (Bible/Book of Common Prayer, Anglican prayer beads, desk labyrinth, incense, laptop), and set the loaf of bread and cup of wine in the centre. And, after saying a brief opening prayer, I started the service.

The order of service was simple and very moving. Eyes closed, prayer beads in hand, I was surprised to feel tears rolling down my face as I lifted up my own voice – holy, holy, holy – during the song ‘Beautiful’. (My singing voice is so awful that I usually make my dear poodle cry – but not this morning. God was in this place. And even my pooch knew it!) I mimicked Anita’s actions during the breaking of the bread and, in remembrance of our Lord, I partook of the loaf and drank the wine. The Holy Eucharist has become very special to me over the past few years particularly and knowing that we were all sharing in this sacred sacrament together made it even more so.

After the service was complete, I sat there and peacefully transitioned into a time of Centering Prayer, a contemplative practice that I am drawn to. In this form of prayer, a sacred word is gently invoked when the mind starts to wander. Now, I almost always use the same word, but this morning the sacred word that came to me was ‘holy’. (Sound familiar?) I ended with the Lord’s Prayer and a period of reflective silence. Then, as I do at church, I cleared away the table, drank the remaining consecrated wine, reserved the remaining consecrated bread, blew out the candles and put away all of my special items.

Then, I went to Mass at my church. I wasn’t serving on the altar this morning because I was playing in the band, but we sit upstairs in the organ loft which gives me the best view of the altar. When I wasn’t playing, I found myself drawn to the altar table and my heart was filled with such love for our Lord, for Anita for putting together our Community Communion, and all of you, my sisters and brother, in Christ. I don’t know if this will sound weird or not, but as I walked up to the communion rail, I felt all of you there with me. And, as we played the last hymn, ‘Guide Me O Thou Great Redeemer’, I blew my saxophone so loudly (apologies to the trumpeter in front of me) in honour of all of you at the part that goes -Bread of heaven, bread of heaven, feed me now and evermore, evermore. Feed me now and evermore! Did you all hear it?

Having never done anything like this before, I didn’t know what to expect. Now, after having participated in the service, all I can say is what an amazingly powerful experience this was, and I feel so blessed to have been able to share in the Community Communion with all of you. This couldn’t have been more perfect. Except next time I think I’ll use a dinner roll instead of the huge multigrain loaf – it was tough trying to break that thing. Anita made it look so easy!

Sorry that this was so long, but I just wanted to share everything! I can’t wait to hear about your experiences too. By the way, here’s a picture of my SisterFriends Community Communion table.

I’ve said this several times already but I want to say it again for the one of you who may have missed it. The Gathering for Communion post will always remain in here in the SisterFriends archive and so anytime you want to go to the table in your home, the post will be there and if you don’t want to go to the table alone, email me. Tell me you’re planning to read the post and take communion in your home and in my own home I will take communion with you. Though we might not be going to the table at the very same moment in time, we’ll still meet there in God’s spirit. You’ll be there, I’ll be there, those who came before us will be there, those who will come after us will be there, God will most certainly be there, and together we’ll all gather around the table and receive the bread and cup of Christ.  Anytime. You just let me know.

And now, let our worship begin!

We Gather Together
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OpeningWelcome

Anita: …………..God be with you.
Community:…..And also with you.

As I write these words there sits before me a loaf of braided Challah bread and a portion of wine held in a ceramic chalice. I am here and God is here.

And now, a few hours or even days later, you’re reading these words and within your reach rests the bread and cup you’ve prepared. You are there and God is there.

And we are here together for we’ve entered into God’s time as we stand before Christ’s table. Right now we are together, you and I, and all those who have come to the table before us and all those who will one day follow us. What a mystery of our faith, that time and space lose their boundaries for we are brought together as one by the Spirit. Let this be a reality for you as you move through this time. You are not alone. You are at a table with your sisters and brothers in faith, from the first disciples who gathered around the table with Jesus to those who have yet to be born but will like you and I, find their life and meaning before the same bread and the same cup we share now.

Gathered around this table are gay and straight, young and old, male and female. We speak many languages. We have lived different lives. Some of us come to the table in brokenness and despair. Some of us come in confident rejoicing. We come believing and we come doubting. We come with expectations and we come expecting nothing. God’s grace calls to us wherever we are, assuring us that it doesn’t matter how we come to the table, only that we come. No one will be turned away. No one will be unwelcome. There is no one standing in your way at this table. No matter what your experience at other tables has been in the past, no matter what you’ve been told that’s made you stop and turn away from coming to the table, there is room for you at this table. There is a place at this table for you. I don’t invite you to the table. Christ invites you because this table belongs to Him. He provides the meal. He decides who may come. No one else but Christ alone. All that I am doing is inviting you to receive with an open heart the invitation Christ has sent to you this day so that you would say “Yes, I’ll come to Your table. I’ll eat of Your bread and drink of Your cup and receive of Your love.”

Come to the table. All are welcome.

Responsive Prayer

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The following prayer, “A People With Many Secrets” is found in Walter Brueggemann’s book, “Awed to Heaven, Rooted in Earth.” Please join me in reading this prayer responsively by opening the audio clip below and reading along.

ResponsivePrayer

A: You are the God from whom no secret can be hid,
……and we are a people with many secrets,

C: that we want to tell for the sake of our lives,
…..that we dare not tell because they are deep and painful.

A: But they are our secrets…and they count for much;

C: they are our truth…rooted deep in our lives.

A: You are the God of all truth
…..and now we bid you heed our truth,
…..about which we will not bear false witness…

C: The truth of grief unresolved,

A: the truth of pain unacknowledged,

C: the truth of fear too child-like,

A: the truth of hate, as powerful as it is deep,

C: the truth of being taken advantage of,
…..and being used,
…..and being oppressed,
…..and slandered.

A: We trust the great truth of your wondrous love,
…..but we will not sit still for it,
…..until you hear us.

C: Our truth – heard by you – will make us free.

E: So be the God of all truth, even ours,
…..we pray in the name of Jesus,
…..who is your best kept secret of hurt. Amen.

Scripture Reading

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This translation of Psalm 139 comes from “Psalms for Praying: An Invitation to Wholeness” by Nan C. Merrill. As you meditate on the words of the Psalmist I encourage you to read the passage out loud.

Oh my Beloved, You have searched me
….…..and known me!
You know when I sit down and
……..when I rise up;
….You discern my innermost thoughts.
You find me on the journey and
….….guide my steps:
….You know my strengths and
….….my weaknesses.
Even before words rise up in prayer,
….Lo, You have already heard
….….my heart call.
You encompass me with love where’er
….….I go,
….and your strength is my shield.
Such sensitivity is too wonderful
….….for me;
….it is high; boundless gratitude
….….is my soul’s response.

Where could I go from your Spirit?
….Or how could I flee from
….….your Presence?
If I ascend into heave, You are there!
….If I make my bed in darkness,
….….You are there!
If I soar on the wings of hte morning
…. or dwell in the deepest parts
….….of the sea,
Even there your hand will lead me,
….and your Love will embrace me.
If I say, “Let only darkness cover me,
….and the light about me is night,”
Even the darkness is not dark to You,
….the night dazzles as with the sun;
….the darkness is light to You.

For You formed my inward being,
….You knit me together in my
….….mother’s womb.
I praise You, for You are to be
….….reverenced and adored.
….Your mysteries fill me with wonder!
More than I know myself You know me;
….my essence was not hidden from You,
When I was being formed in secret,
….intricately fashioned from the
….….….elements of the earth,
Your eyes beheld my unformed substance,
….in your records were written
….….every one of them,
The days that were numbered for me,
….when as yet there were none of them.
How precious to me are your creations,
….….….O Blessed One!
….How vast is the sum of them!
Who could count your innumerable
….….….gifts and blessings?
….At all times, You are with me.

O that You would vanquish my fears,
….….….Beloved;
….O that ignorance and suffering
….….would depart from me -
All that separates me from true
….….abandonment,
is surrendering myself into
….….….Your hands!
Yet are these not the very thorns that
….….focus my thoughts upon You?
….Will I always need reminders to
….….turn my face to You?
I yearn to come to You in love,
….….to learn of your mercy and wisdom!

Search me, O my Beloved, and know
….….….my heart!
….Try me and discern my thought!
Help me to face the darkness within me;
….enlighten me, that I might
….….radiate your love and light!

Preparing Our Hearts
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The two songs that follow in video are offered as a conversation, a conversation God initiates and that we follow up with in response.

There are those who’ve come to us in our lives saying, “God is saying this to you…” or “The Lord would want you to know…” and the words that followed, spoken in God’s name have crushed our spirits and battered our souls. The message they came bringing in God or Jesus’ name made us wonder where we stood with God. But hear this my friend; when God speaks to his beloved, God’s words uplift and bless, restore and heal, comfort and bring peace. When the Spirit of God speaks the words are ones of love, grace, and mercy. Any words that fall short of that, that stand in opposition to the very nature of a God who loves with unconditional love, who gives without measure and takes endless delight in his beloved, are not words from God.

So what I invite you to do in these next few minutes is put every word aside that has wounded your soul, lay down every message given in God’s name that has caused you to doubt your Creator’s great and abiding love for you. And now in the stillness of this moment receive the words of this song as though they express the very heart of God for you….because they do. God is singing over you and the song God sings is love.

The words you just heard express the heart of God for you. For you. And while our faith depends on more than emotion, I pray even now you’re able to feel God’s love for you, to receive every word as a whisper of God to the center of your soul. Believe. Believe. You are God’s beloved.

There are times in our lives when the love of God is made so real we have no choice, no other desire but to come to God in worship and give thanks. Since no one is watching you right now other than God, I invite you to enter into a posture of worship as the next song begins. Over the past days as I’ve listened to this song over and over again, I’ve found my hands spontaneously going to my heart, as if to hold my heart before God as a way of letting God know that the words of this song reflect my deepest praise for all God is to me. So whether you hold your hands to your heart or lift them up into the air, whether you stand or sit or kneel, it doesn’t matter. I just want to encourage you as we begin our journey to the table to come not only in heart and mind but with all that you are, including the body that holds your spirit and the Spirit of God within you. One more thing. About half way through the song, the chorus will change and begin repeating “Holy, Holy, Holy, Holy, Holy, You are. You are.” The melody is easy enough so even if you think your voice is enough to make flowers wilt, sing along. God hungers for your worship and every voice lifted in praise is beautiful to Him.

Gathering at the Table

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communionprayer

A:…..The Lord be with you.
C: …..And also with you.
A: …..Lift up your hearts.
C: …..We lift them up to the Lord.
A: …..Let us give thanks to the Lord, our God.
C: …..It is right to give God thanks and praise.

A: …..[Prayer] For all this and more we pray…
C: ….through Christ, with Christ, in Christ; in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
………all glory and honor is yours Almighty God, now and forever. Amen.

Remembering and Receiving

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Closing Thoughts from Anita

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I pray now as I already have been praying, that this would have been a special time for you and that through it you would have felt a little more loved and a little less alone. I pray that the Spirit of Christ we remember and celebrate at the table was made real to you in a new and living way. Brother or Sister, you are God’s beloved. Let no one and nothing ever tell you otherwise. Give no one the power to stand in your way to God or to the table God has provided for you through Jesus.

This post will always be here and so you can return to it again and again whenever you want. If you decide to come to the table here again in another week or month or year, let me know and I’ll come back here too and take communion with you again.

I’d love to invite any of you who participated in this communion, to share any reflections you have in terms of what the experience meant to you, where it challenged you or where it blessed you. And if not about this particular time at the table, it would be amazing if you would relate another communion that was meaningful to you in your life.

Thank you for joining me at Christ’s table, and thank you for all the times you stop by SisterFriends Together.

Christ has died. Christ has risen. Christ will come again.

Anita

Our community communion that will be posted on Sunday will depend primarily on audio and video. If you’re able to view Youtube video clips then you’re good to go. If you’re unable to view video download a free copy of Adobe (formerly Macromedia) Flash Player.

The audio clips will be in mp3 format which will play for Mac users with Quick Time Player and for Window users with Media Player. You can download either for free at the links provided however unless your computer is 12 years old and as large as a mini fridge it should already be included among your applications/programs.

Let’s check it out. Click on the red arrow. The slider should open and the sound begin to play.

Anita’s audio test sisterfriends welcome

Video working? Audio working?

Then all systems go!