Dear Church:

This Sunday morning, we gather around the Lord’s Table as part of our worship experience.  Whether we call it communion (emphasizing the vertical aspect of relationship between God and us), or the Lord’s Table (emphasizing the horizontal aspect of relationship between each other), or the Eucharist (emphasizing the aspects of celebration and thanksgiving for the redemptive work of Jesus), what is ultimately important is that we gather and remember Jesus.

 One of the historic challenges of being a Christian community together across several generations is that we may know each other’s story a little bit too well.  We are well acquainted with each other’s brokenness and sin.  As a result, we may find ourselves tempted to be judgmental and critical in spirit toward one another.  We may want to set up boundaries and rules that restrict who can come to the communion feast. 

 At the risk of confessing heresy, I believe in the principle of open communion.  I think the table we gather around this Sunday belongs, not to me, or Mennonite Church USA, or Mosaic Conference, or Blooming Glen Mennonite Church.  The table belongs to Jesus, and because it belongs to Him, I don’t need to bother with “policing” the table (A term once used in my ordination interviews).  All are welcomed at the table of the Lord.  Jesus opened the table to those who would, later that night, abandon him, deny him, and betray him. 

 In the simplest terms I can use, the service of communion is a place for sinners (a.k.a., me and you) to step forward and through a symbolic meal of a morsal of bread and a dollop of grape juice, we remember that the grace of Jesus Christ has already entered our lives. But all of us come to the table of the Lord as broken, sin-trodden people.  None of us leave the table of the Lord magically made completely whole.  Communion does not fix us as individuals or as a community.  All the Eucharist does is reminds us of Jesus. 

I pray this Sunday, as we come together as the church to remember Jesus, that we will do so in a spirit of joyful hope.  Yes, we are sinners, but we are saved by the grace-filled faithfulness of Jesus.  We can choose to remember our sin – which is exactly what God has chosen to forget.  Or we can remember Jesus, who does not shame us, blame us, or name us.  He remembers us.  And He loves us. 

 Let’s go (to the table), church!

 Pastor Jeff

jeff@bgmc.net

P.S. | If you get this by Friday, August 2, please note that the Broad Street Grind is closed this week for vacation.  I’ll make coffee for anyone who wants to come by the Blooming Glen meetinghouse on Friday, 3:30-4:45pm, and I’ll be happy to listen to whatever is on your mind.  Monday, August 5, I’ll be at the A&N Diner from 7:30-8:45am to listen to whatever is on your mind.  And I’m pretty sure Broad Street Grind is open again on Friday, August 9.  I hope to see you at one of these conversation points.