Come to the Table - Luke 22:14-23

We take a break from our verse-by-verse study so we can break bread together. Break bread? Receive communion? Share an agape meal? The Eucharist? Celebrate the Lord's Supper? Are these all the same thing? What, exactly, will we be doing?

One of the things I thoroughly enjoy about our church is the wonderful, and occasionally challenging, variety. There are a variety of ages, economic situations, and most definitely religious backgrounds. Worshipping together are people from Anglican, Presbyterian, Lutheran, Baptist, Catholic, Methodist, Brethren, and even Mormon backgrounds. And some have no church background at all!

What unifies us is not our personal religious history and traditions, but the Word of God. I recognize that many of you may have a familiar tradition, firm conviction, or preconceived notion connected to this thing I will call "communion". It is easy to take the simple matters of worship and make them areas of division and contention and strife. How often should we do this? What is the right procedure? Is it joyful or sorrowful? What should I be feeling?

I am praying that tomorrow -- as we participate in a 2000 year old church practice that has roots thousands of years before that -- we can capture the heart of the experience and not get lost in the details of the ritual or tradition. In the end, we are remembering why we do what we do, and at the center of everything is the son of God who loved me and gave his life for me. He is our Passover Lamb!

I also want to extend a special invitation to the Live Stream community. If you are able, please consider coming in person to break bread with us. And to everyone....I invite you to...

...COME TO THE TABLE!

Steve