Some churches practice "close" communion, so called because only those who are close, or within that particular family of faith can participate. For instance, in Ceres, Oklahoma there are two small country churches. I served one while in seminary at Enid and learned that the other, a Southern Baptist church, allowed only members of the local body to participate. Even former members who had moved away, joined another Baptist church and returned to visit could not partake. It was an extremely "close" service.
Our church, and most others, have an open table. I got to thinking about the image of an open table and its implications. Several key words came to mind that summarize the meaning of "open."
"Inclusive" was the first. The invitation in the scriptures, "whosoever will may come" applies to the table as well as to the Christian faith. It is the Lord's Table and we know from the Gospels that Jesus did not shrink from eating with anyone. Saint, sinner, down and out, up and out, all classes, all colors -- all are welcome.
The second word is "opportunity," as in an open door. But opportunity must be seized. It is an opportunity to meet the Lord and receive his grace. But you have to answer, to go through the door, to show up at the table. It requires some action and commitment on our part.
"Enough" is the third word. An open table implies that there is enough to go around. Its like the church potlucks we have. We always invite everyone to stay and eat, even if they brought no food. And there's always enough for all. What we receive at the Lord's Supper is also enough to sustain us spiritually. Here we find the bread of life and there is enough for all.
Another word that comes to mind when the word open is used is "transparent," or "revealing." You can see through an open door. Or we speak of certain people as being open and mean that they are not secretive, they do not hide their feelings or thoughts. To be sure, there is something mysterious about the Lord's Supper because it operates by faith, but at the same time it is open and revealing. Through it we see the sacrifice, the love, and the open arms of our Savior.
One more word implied by "open" is "unhindered." There is no fence around the table. There are no barriers. No one will stop you from participating. Those who have no faith in Christ will probably not participate, but the table is open to them also as an invitation to faith. To everyone, this table says, will you believe, will you commit yourself, will you confess your faith in Christ. "Whosoever will may come.
Let us say our confession of faith and then let us commune with the One who said, "this is my body," and "this is my blood."
Monday, March 1, 2010
Wednesday, January 27, 2010
The Gospel Every Week
I once had a student at Northwest Christian who asked me the same question several times. He was an older student, had a good sense of humor, and with his Reformed Church background enjoyed playing this little game with me. The question always came if he happened to see me as we left a chapel service. Referring to the sermon we had just heard he would ask, "was the gospel or law?" He knew the answer and he knew that I knew the answer but he liked to play that little game.
If I were to ask you this morning after Nick's sermon, was that gospel or law, what would you say? It might help if I define the terms. By "law" I do not mean legalistic rules and regulations. In this case, it means guidance and helpful instructions for living. Psalm 119 refers to the law as a light for our path. It is the kind of guidance found in the Sermon on the Mount or in the epistles. It is the biblical revelation of how to live in keeping with God's will.
Nick might preach a really helpful sermon from one of these texts, say, on loving one another, or on living a holy life, or how to pray, but it would not be a gospel sermon. The gospel is not good advice or good ideas or good instruction. The gospel is good news.
But what is this good news? In its simplest and most essential sense it is Christ. To preach Christ is to preach the gospel. One of the most concise summaries of the gospel is give by Paul in 1 Corinthians 15:1-4. In essence, he says that the gospel he preached to them was:
If I were to ask you this morning after Nick's sermon, was that gospel or law, what would you say? It might help if I define the terms. By "law" I do not mean legalistic rules and regulations. In this case, it means guidance and helpful instructions for living. Psalm 119 refers to the law as a light for our path. It is the kind of guidance found in the Sermon on the Mount or in the epistles. It is the biblical revelation of how to live in keeping with God's will.
Nick might preach a really helpful sermon from one of these texts, say, on loving one another, or on living a holy life, or how to pray, but it would not be a gospel sermon. The gospel is not good advice or good ideas or good instruction. The gospel is good news.
But what is this good news? In its simplest and most essential sense it is Christ. To preach Christ is to preach the gospel. One of the most concise summaries of the gospel is give by Paul in 1 Corinthians 15:1-4. In essence, he says that the gospel he preached to them was:
Christ,
Christ predicted in scriptures
Christ crucified for our sins, and
Christ resurrected and seen to be alive.
The great Reformer and theologian, John Calvin, said that we need the gospel preached to us every week, and the Lord's supper to ratify the promise, because we are partly unbelievers until we die. As the distraught father said to Jesus in Mark 9: "Lord, I believe; help my unbelief." We are all partly unbelievers and we need to hear the gospel every week, -- the good news of what God has done for us in Christ, his sacrifice for our forgiveness and salvation.
And we do. Like a couple of weeks ago when Nick's sermon was an excellent example of "law," giving guidance and instruction for living as Christians, we still heard the gospel in the communion meditation and in the act of communion. And we needed that. As the old Gospel hymn says:
Tell me the old, old story of unseen things above,
Of Jesus and his glory, of Jesus and his love.
Tell me the story simply, as to a little child;
For I am weak and weary, and helpless and defiled.
Tell me the story slowly, that I may take it in --
That wonderful redemption, God's remedy for sin.
Tell me the story often, for I forget so soon;
The early dew of morning has passed away at noon.
Yes, tell me the old, old story, of Jesus and his love. We need to hear the gospel every week, and we do as we hear his words from the Last Supper and partake of his body and his blood.
Monday, December 14, 2009
Joy For The Season
"Then the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all the people. For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord." Luke 2:10-11
It's true that in this Christmas season many people, even many Christians, do not experience the joy and happiness the angel declared was coming. Some are burdened by tragedy or circumstances beyond their control, but many do not know the joy simply because they have forgotten or never known how it comes.
In another declaration well known to all of us we hear about "unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness." That phrase, "the pursuit of happiness," puzzled me for a long time. It could easily be understood as hedonistic, self-centered and focused on personal pleasure. Surely that isn't what Jefferson and his colleagues meant. But what did it mean? I came to understand it when I learned the educational and philosophical context in which it was written.
The Declaration of Independence was written and signed my men who had been highly influenced by the Scottish enlightenment. In fact, fully 1/3 of the signers were of Scottish or Ulster Scott extraction. They were all familiar with and had been influenced by the teachings of Francis Hutcheson of Glasgow who was known as the founding father of the Scottish Enlightenment.
Hutcheson believed that every one's ultimate goal in life is happiness, but for him this meant not the gratification of physical desires but making others happy. The highest form of happiness is making others happy. "That action is best," he said, "which procures the greatest happiness. Can you imagine what our country would be like today if everyone were trying to make others happy?
A recent scientific experiment at the University of Oregon and reported by the Register Guard supports this idea. A number of people were given money and the opportunity to give it away or to keep it. Their brains were monitored and it was discovered that voluntarily giving to help others produced a response in the part of the brain that registers pleasure.
Haven't you found it to be true that when you made someone else happy that it produced happiness in you also? Like seeing your child open a long desired gift, or like seeing a young person blossom as a result of your teaching. And doesn't it make you happy to see slides by a missionary of someone being baptised in Kenya, or children singing enthusiastically in a Ukrainian church camp, knowing you had a hand in that through your support? On the other hand, the more self centered, the more we try to make ourselves happy by hoarding or spending on ourselves, the more miserable we are.
Jimmy Durante's gravelly voice in Sleepless in Seattle said it well in song: "Make someone happy, make just one someone happy, and you will be happy too."
This helps us understand the puzzling statement about Jesus in Hebrews 12:2 which says, "... for the joy set before him he endured the cross ..." It seems strange to put joy and enduring the cross together in the same sentence but it is true that when Jesus went to the cross he was in "the pursuit of happiness" -- yours and mine. The happiness of forgiven sin, of cleansing and renewal. The happiness of reconciliation and hope. All of this he secured for us the cross. Thus, it was "for the joy set before him that he endured the cross." We experience again that joy promised by the angel even now as we join our Lord at the communion table.
It's true that in this Christmas season many people, even many Christians, do not experience the joy and happiness the angel declared was coming. Some are burdened by tragedy or circumstances beyond their control, but many do not know the joy simply because they have forgotten or never known how it comes.
In another declaration well known to all of us we hear about "unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness." That phrase, "the pursuit of happiness," puzzled me for a long time. It could easily be understood as hedonistic, self-centered and focused on personal pleasure. Surely that isn't what Jefferson and his colleagues meant. But what did it mean? I came to understand it when I learned the educational and philosophical context in which it was written.
The Declaration of Independence was written and signed my men who had been highly influenced by the Scottish enlightenment. In fact, fully 1/3 of the signers were of Scottish or Ulster Scott extraction. They were all familiar with and had been influenced by the teachings of Francis Hutcheson of Glasgow who was known as the founding father of the Scottish Enlightenment.
Hutcheson believed that every one's ultimate goal in life is happiness, but for him this meant not the gratification of physical desires but making others happy. The highest form of happiness is making others happy. "That action is best," he said, "which procures the greatest happiness. Can you imagine what our country would be like today if everyone were trying to make others happy?
A recent scientific experiment at the University of Oregon and reported by the Register Guard supports this idea. A number of people were given money and the opportunity to give it away or to keep it. Their brains were monitored and it was discovered that voluntarily giving to help others produced a response in the part of the brain that registers pleasure.
Haven't you found it to be true that when you made someone else happy that it produced happiness in you also? Like seeing your child open a long desired gift, or like seeing a young person blossom as a result of your teaching. And doesn't it make you happy to see slides by a missionary of someone being baptised in Kenya, or children singing enthusiastically in a Ukrainian church camp, knowing you had a hand in that through your support? On the other hand, the more self centered, the more we try to make ourselves happy by hoarding or spending on ourselves, the more miserable we are.
Jimmy Durante's gravelly voice in Sleepless in Seattle said it well in song: "Make someone happy, make just one someone happy, and you will be happy too."
This helps us understand the puzzling statement about Jesus in Hebrews 12:2 which says, "... for the joy set before him he endured the cross ..." It seems strange to put joy and enduring the cross together in the same sentence but it is true that when Jesus went to the cross he was in "the pursuit of happiness" -- yours and mine. The happiness of forgiven sin, of cleansing and renewal. The happiness of reconciliation and hope. All of this he secured for us the cross. Thus, it was "for the joy set before him that he endured the cross." We experience again that joy promised by the angel even now as we join our Lord at the communion table.
Wednesday, November 25, 2009
We Are All Connected 1 Corinthians 10:16-17
The word "communion" refers to the celebration of the Lord's Supper. But it can also mean a sharing of something with others. It can refer to intimate discourse with others. I t can mean a body of Christians who share a common faith. We are a communion, a community of faith.
If there is one word that expresses the impact of communion it is the word "connected." This celebration points to our connectedness.
I have recently read two very different books that reminded me of the essential connectedness that we have in life. One is a biography of John Muir, Rediscovering America, by Frederick Turner. Actually, what Muir said came to me first in a slide show that I saw at our church not long ago. The photographer, who presented some outstanding slides of wild animals nature scenes, prefaced a section of his slides with a quote by Muir. That very evening as I read the biography in bed I came across the same statement: When one tugs at a single thing in nature, he finds it hitched to the rest of the world. Everything is connected.
The other book is Mitch Albom's latest, Have a Little Faith. The book grew out of a request by his Rabbi for Albom to deliver the Reb's eulogy after his death. One as they visited the Rabbi began talking about the community he experienced when he was growing up in the Bronx. "Our apartment building was like a family. We watched out for one another," he said.
"I remember once, as a boy, I was so hungry, and there was a fruit and vegetable truck parked by our building. I tried to bump against it, so an apple would fall into my hands. That way it wouldn't feel like stealing. Suddenly, I heard a voice from above yelling at me in Yiddish, 'Albert, it is forbidden!' I jumped. I thought it was God."
Who was it? Albom asked. "A lady who lived upstairs." Albom laughed. Not quite God. "No, but Mitch, we were part of each other's lives. If someone was about to slip, someone else could catch him" (p 62).
Paul describes the church in much the same terms when he says, There are many members, yet one body ... And if one member suffers, all the members suffer it it; if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it (1 Corinthians 12:20,26). As members of this one body we are connected.
Shortly before this, in chapter 10, Paul linked the Lord's Supper with this connectedness when he wrote: The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ? For we, though many, are one bread and one body; for we all partake of that one bread (10:16-17).
As we partake today I hope that you will let this observance speak to you of our connectedness.
Twin Oaks Christian Church
November 8, 2009
If there is one word that expresses the impact of communion it is the word "connected." This celebration points to our connectedness.
I have recently read two very different books that reminded me of the essential connectedness that we have in life. One is a biography of John Muir, Rediscovering America, by Frederick Turner. Actually, what Muir said came to me first in a slide show that I saw at our church not long ago. The photographer, who presented some outstanding slides of wild animals nature scenes, prefaced a section of his slides with a quote by Muir. That very evening as I read the biography in bed I came across the same statement: When one tugs at a single thing in nature, he finds it hitched to the rest of the world. Everything is connected.
The other book is Mitch Albom's latest, Have a Little Faith. The book grew out of a request by his Rabbi for Albom to deliver the Reb's eulogy after his death. One as they visited the Rabbi began talking about the community he experienced when he was growing up in the Bronx. "Our apartment building was like a family. We watched out for one another," he said.
"I remember once, as a boy, I was so hungry, and there was a fruit and vegetable truck parked by our building. I tried to bump against it, so an apple would fall into my hands. That way it wouldn't feel like stealing. Suddenly, I heard a voice from above yelling at me in Yiddish, 'Albert, it is forbidden!' I jumped. I thought it was God."
Who was it? Albom asked. "A lady who lived upstairs." Albom laughed. Not quite God. "No, but Mitch, we were part of each other's lives. If someone was about to slip, someone else could catch him" (p 62).
Paul describes the church in much the same terms when he says, There are many members, yet one body ... And if one member suffers, all the members suffer it it; if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it (1 Corinthians 12:20,26). As members of this one body we are connected.
Shortly before this, in chapter 10, Paul linked the Lord's Supper with this connectedness when he wrote: The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ? For we, though many, are one bread and one body; for we all partake of that one bread (10:16-17).
As we partake today I hope that you will let this observance speak to you of our connectedness.
Twin Oaks Christian Church
November 8, 2009
Monday, November 2, 2009
Preparing for Communion Luke 22:7-13
As I read these verses recently it struck me that there is a theme here that needs more attention -- the theme of preparation. Jesus knew that an extremely important event was coming and adequate preparation was needed.
During Jesus' final week in Jerusalem, after he cleansed the temple of money changers, Jesus knew that his life was in danger. Not wanting to go before he was ready, his usual routine was to spend the day among friendly crowds in the temple area and then move to safe lodging on the Mount of Olives.
"In view of that," Fred Craddock comments, "one could easily read Jesus' instructions to Peter and John in Luke 22 as intriguing prearrangement's, as shadowy moves in a mystery novel" (Interpretation, 254).
"A man carrying a jar of water will meet you; follow him," Jesus said (v.10). It was unusual for a man to carry water; that was woman's work, and he would be easily spotted. Apparently, Jesus knew of a house where they could safely meet and had arranged to use it. He had prepared for this moment.
Then he told his disciples to make preparations for the Passover meal. This required purchasing bread, wine, herbs and a lamb that had been approved by a priest as unblemished and properly slain. It was then roasted whole.
There was a lot of preparation and the amount of preparation signified the importance of the event. When something is important we prepare carefully. Recently I watched the University of Oregon play a football game. At times I would have sworn that the defense knew exactly what the other team was going to do. Later, one of the players was quoted in the newspaper as saying that they had watched so much film and prepared so thoroughly that they did, indeed, know what was coming.
In the case of Jesus and his disciples, as a result of their meeting in that upper room we have this act of communion and remembrance. Wouldn't it be good for us to think more about our preparation? I don't mean the mechanics of supplying and filling trays. I mean our preparation to participate.
Primarily this requires a certain mind-set, anticipation, focusing on our purpose for coming together. As we get ready at home we could say to ourselves, I am preparing to meet with my Lord at the table, and dress accordingly. As we meet and greet one another we could realize that we are expressing the basic theme of one body found in the Lord's Supper. As we sing and pray in worship we could see it leading us to the table. Every Sunday our pastor presents a well prepared sermon. Consequently, his message is meaningful to us. We too should come well prepared to meet with our Lord. It will make the Lord's Supper much more meaningful if we are well prepared.
During Jesus' final week in Jerusalem, after he cleansed the temple of money changers, Jesus knew that his life was in danger. Not wanting to go before he was ready, his usual routine was to spend the day among friendly crowds in the temple area and then move to safe lodging on the Mount of Olives.
"In view of that," Fred Craddock comments, "one could easily read Jesus' instructions to Peter and John in Luke 22 as intriguing prearrangement's, as shadowy moves in a mystery novel" (Interpretation, 254).
"A man carrying a jar of water will meet you; follow him," Jesus said (v.10). It was unusual for a man to carry water; that was woman's work, and he would be easily spotted. Apparently, Jesus knew of a house where they could safely meet and had arranged to use it. He had prepared for this moment.
Then he told his disciples to make preparations for the Passover meal. This required purchasing bread, wine, herbs and a lamb that had been approved by a priest as unblemished and properly slain. It was then roasted whole.
There was a lot of preparation and the amount of preparation signified the importance of the event. When something is important we prepare carefully. Recently I watched the University of Oregon play a football game. At times I would have sworn that the defense knew exactly what the other team was going to do. Later, one of the players was quoted in the newspaper as saying that they had watched so much film and prepared so thoroughly that they did, indeed, know what was coming.
In the case of Jesus and his disciples, as a result of their meeting in that upper room we have this act of communion and remembrance. Wouldn't it be good for us to think more about our preparation? I don't mean the mechanics of supplying and filling trays. I mean our preparation to participate.
Primarily this requires a certain mind-set, anticipation, focusing on our purpose for coming together. As we get ready at home we could say to ourselves, I am preparing to meet with my Lord at the table, and dress accordingly. As we meet and greet one another we could realize that we are expressing the basic theme of one body found in the Lord's Supper. As we sing and pray in worship we could see it leading us to the table. Every Sunday our pastor presents a well prepared sermon. Consequently, his message is meaningful to us. We too should come well prepared to meet with our Lord. It will make the Lord's Supper much more meaningful if we are well prepared.
Sunday, September 6, 2009
FIRSTS OR SECONDS?
Let me ask a simple question: why do we eat? The equally simple answer is that we eat to live. We eat because we get hungry and we need the food to live. There are many places in the Bible where God feeds hungry people. Jesus did this several times. There were a lot of hungry people in his land and he had compassion for them. They needed, literally, the bread of life.
Other important reasons exist of course and one of these has to do with celebrations. Marie Callendar Restaurants recognize this and make it easy to celebrate in one of their places by sending out special offers when birthdays or anniversaries come - if you are on their list. My wife and I are on their list so we get discounts, if we want them, in July, August and September.
Also, in the Bible, there are times when food is not used simply to assuage hunger, but rather for celebration and to remind people of God's blessings. One of these times is in the prophet Joel where we read of threshing floors filled with grain, wine and oil vats overflowing, and the people eating not just to survive but also to enjoy, to celebrate and be satisfied. As Joel 2 puts it, "You shall eat in plenty and be satisfied, and praise the name of the Lord your God, who has dealt wondrously with you." Even when times were tough and food was scarce the people of God always held feasts and festivals of celebration.
Sometimes an ordinary meal has both aspects of nourishment and celebration. Do you remember when you were small, how you learned to ask for seconds? Maybe you still say, "May I have seconds?" If so, I'll bet you are not asking for spinach or broccoli but for something you really like -- turkey, potatoes and gravy, or a special dessert. And that's OK. We eat "firsts" for hunger's sake or for nutrition and "seconds" as a kind of celebration of that which we really like.
Communion is like that. Sometimes we come for "firsts", we come because we really need it -- we are hungry and need spiritual nourishment. But sometimes we come for "seconds" just because we like it here -- the fellowship, the atmosphere, the familiarity, and the assurance we find here. It's a good place to come, and I suspect there is a little of both "firsts" and "seconds" for us here each Sunday -- both spiritual nourishment and celebration.
Here, we have the bread of life ... broken for us ... nourishment for our souls. And here we have the "cup of blessing" ... a celebration of all that his shed blood means for us. Both nourishment and celebration, and for this we give thanks.
Other important reasons exist of course and one of these has to do with celebrations. Marie Callendar Restaurants recognize this and make it easy to celebrate in one of their places by sending out special offers when birthdays or anniversaries come - if you are on their list. My wife and I are on their list so we get discounts, if we want them, in July, August and September.
Also, in the Bible, there are times when food is not used simply to assuage hunger, but rather for celebration and to remind people of God's blessings. One of these times is in the prophet Joel where we read of threshing floors filled with grain, wine and oil vats overflowing, and the people eating not just to survive but also to enjoy, to celebrate and be satisfied. As Joel 2 puts it, "You shall eat in plenty and be satisfied, and praise the name of the Lord your God, who has dealt wondrously with you." Even when times were tough and food was scarce the people of God always held feasts and festivals of celebration.
Sometimes an ordinary meal has both aspects of nourishment and celebration. Do you remember when you were small, how you learned to ask for seconds? Maybe you still say, "May I have seconds?" If so, I'll bet you are not asking for spinach or broccoli but for something you really like -- turkey, potatoes and gravy, or a special dessert. And that's OK. We eat "firsts" for hunger's sake or for nutrition and "seconds" as a kind of celebration of that which we really like.
Communion is like that. Sometimes we come for "firsts", we come because we really need it -- we are hungry and need spiritual nourishment. But sometimes we come for "seconds" just because we like it here -- the fellowship, the atmosphere, the familiarity, and the assurance we find here. It's a good place to come, and I suspect there is a little of both "firsts" and "seconds" for us here each Sunday -- both spiritual nourishment and celebration.
Here, we have the bread of life ... broken for us ... nourishment for our souls. And here we have the "cup of blessing" ... a celebration of all that his shed blood means for us. Both nourishment and celebration, and for this we give thanks.
Friday, July 17, 2009
Strength In Unity
I have heard it said that the church is like a chain, having many individuals linked together. I don't like this image of the church because of its implications. A chain is only as strong as its weakest link. What happens in the church when the weakest link breaks? Are the rest able to continue their work? I don't like this image because it negates the strength of the other links. Elton Trueblood suggested a better image would be that of a cable, consisting of many wires. If one wire becomes frayed or weakened in some way, and even if it should snap, the other wires with their combined strength would still carry on their work.
Actually, each strand is weak in itself, just as individual members of the body have their weaknesses. But, as Ecclesiastes says, "two are better than one ... and a threefold cord is not quickly broken" (4:9-12). The cable, with many strands making it stronger than any one strand, is a more scriptural image of the church. It speaks of the unity of the church, of each member supporting the others, and of the church banding together to accomplish God's will.
An example of this can be seen in Galatians 6:1-2 -- "Brethren, even if a man is caught in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness; each one looking to yourself, lest you too be tempted. Bear one another's burdens, and thus fulfill the law of Christ."
The Lord's Supper symbolizes this nature of the church as it pictures unity -- the oneness in which we support each other. The Apostle Paul put it this way in 1 Corinthians 10:16-17 -- "Is not the cup of blessing which we bless a sharing in the blood of Christ? Is not the bread which we break a sharing in the body of Christ? Since there is one bread, we who are many are one body; for we all partake of the one bread."
The very manner in which we observe the feast can speak of this unity. Today lets do it as some churches do, taking the bread and the cup and holding it and waiting until the signal is given to partake. Before doing that we will say our confession of faith in unison as another expression of our unity in faith.
(The elements are distributed and then the leader gives the signal to partake): "The body of Christ, given for you." (Silence) ... "The blood of Christ shed for you." (Silence) -- followed by a closing prayer.
Actually, each strand is weak in itself, just as individual members of the body have their weaknesses. But, as Ecclesiastes says, "two are better than one ... and a threefold cord is not quickly broken" (4:9-12). The cable, with many strands making it stronger than any one strand, is a more scriptural image of the church. It speaks of the unity of the church, of each member supporting the others, and of the church banding together to accomplish God's will.
An example of this can be seen in Galatians 6:1-2 -- "Brethren, even if a man is caught in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness; each one looking to yourself, lest you too be tempted. Bear one another's burdens, and thus fulfill the law of Christ."
The Lord's Supper symbolizes this nature of the church as it pictures unity -- the oneness in which we support each other. The Apostle Paul put it this way in 1 Corinthians 10:16-17 -- "Is not the cup of blessing which we bless a sharing in the blood of Christ? Is not the bread which we break a sharing in the body of Christ? Since there is one bread, we who are many are one body; for we all partake of the one bread."
The very manner in which we observe the feast can speak of this unity. Today lets do it as some churches do, taking the bread and the cup and holding it and waiting until the signal is given to partake. Before doing that we will say our confession of faith in unison as another expression of our unity in faith.
(The elements are distributed and then the leader gives the signal to partake): "The body of Christ, given for you." (Silence) ... "The blood of Christ shed for you." (Silence) -- followed by a closing prayer.
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