A Place at Christ's Table

  

The Lord's Table at Louisville Presbyterian Theological Seminary

Scripture

Luke 22: 19-20
¹⁹ Then he took a loaf of bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” ²⁰ And he did the same with the cup after supper, saying, “This cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood.(NRSV)

Devotion

On Sunday (May 3), First Presbyterian Church of Wadesboro will hold our first virtual Communion service.  Communion is more than just eating some bread and drinking some juice/wine.  It is a moment when the gathered community experiences the real presence of Christ among us.  As we do so, we remember all that Christ has given to us...both as individuals and as a community of faith.  As pastors often remind our congregations, this Lord's Table does not belong to us.  It belongs to Jesus Christ, who joyfully invites us to come and dine with him.

As we prepare to partake of the joyful feast in our separate homes, an important question springs to mind: How do we truly live into the experience of Christ gathering us together and making us one in him?  In a typical church service, we acknowledge Christ's presence in a number of ways. We sing and pray together.  We share the loaf and pass the cup.  In this new way of coming to Table, that physical experience of being with one another is missing.  We must work with Christ to find new ways of connecting with him and one another as we eat and drink together.

Jesus did not give us hard and fast rules about how to partake of his supper.  He just tells us to eat, drink, and pray, in remembrance of him.  Churches and denominations determine what is the best way to honor these instructions.  Both The Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) and the United Methodist Church are temporarily giving churches leeway to decide how we may best come to Christ's table during these exceptional circumstances.   Here are a few basic guidelines that can help us experience the presence of Christ and one another as we virtually share in the Lord's Supper.

First, we can live into the opportunity to choose "breads" and "cups" that are personally meaningful to us.  Around the world, people use everything from tortillas to cornbread to celebrate communion.  In places where juice is scarce, Christians have been known to use Kool-aid and even soda pop.  No matter what the "elements" are physically made of, they are still the spiritual body and blood of Christ.   We do not need to bake the perfect loaf of bread or purchase a container of grape juice just so we can take a small sip.  Instead, we can find bread and drink that suit who we are.  As we partake of our different breads and juices, we can remember that Christ loves us in all our diversity.  He comes to each of us just as we are.

Second, we can bring objects that remind us of our community of faith to Christ's Table.  For instance, I intend to use a tiny chalice that my sister made and a plate provided by a friend.  I'll also wear a cross that was left to me by a former parishioner who has joined the Church Triumphant.  You may want to include pictures of Christians who are important to you or a religious item that has a special meaning for you.  These tokens can help us remember that Christ has knitted us into one spiritual body.  We share in his bread and cup together.

Third, we can set aside time to physically and spiritually prepare to come sit at Christ's Table.  When I was younger, I used to love getting to church early and helping my father prepare the communion elements.  Filling each tiny communion cup and prayerfully arranging the bread on the plate helped calm my spirit and made it easier for me to experience Christ with me during Communion itself.  I urge each of us to take some time before the service starts to prayerfully arrange our Tables in the way that feels right to us.

Fourth, we can minimize distractions.  This includes everything from silencing our phones to making sure the dishes and laundry are out of sight.  The easier it is to focus on what we are doing, the more likely we are to feel the real presence of Christ among us. 

Fifth, we can participate.   Our new "Communion" Tab include the Order of Worship and the sung responses we will use during the service. The sung moments give us a way to spiritually pass the bread and cup to one another.  If you feel comfortable breaking your own bread in half as I break it online or pouring juice from a pitcher into a cup, you are welcome to do so.  You can also write a word of praise into the service's comment box or pause the service long enough to offer a personal word of prayer.  However, we choose to participate, let us remember that Christ is there to gather us together into one body as we share in the joyful feast of the people of God.

Finally, we can remember that no matter who we are or where we may be, Christ welcomes us to his Table.    Happy or sad; excited or nervous; brimming with assurance or full of questions, we belong here.  As we eat and are filled, Jesus will remind us of both who he is as our Savior and who we are as God's beloved children.  Let us stay secure in the knowledge of Christ's presence as we break the bread and drink from the cup.  And let us always remember that when we eat and drink with Jesus, we partake of his grace.

Prayer

 Jesus, help us feel your real presence with us as we find new ways of taking part in your joyful feast.  We trust that you come to us as we are and that you will help us feel our connection to the other members of your vast body, which we call the Church.  We trust you when you say that we belong at your Table, and we will praise your name forever.  Amen.