Today - Sunday, October 4, 2009 - marks the 73rd year that Christians around this planet earth have celebrated a common day we call World Communion Sunday… Originating in the Presbyterian Church (USA) in 1936, with the hope that other denominations would join in, it took only a few years before the celebration of a World-Wide Communion day spread far beyond its origins.
We hope that on every Sunday, as we prepare to share in the Lord’s table, that we are reminded of our oneness in Christ… It is especially on Worldwide Communion Sunday each year at the start of every October that we emphacize the celebration of this sacrament as one we share with our fellow believers of faith around the globe and the work of the worldwide Church…
There are many ways to celebrate the unity we share in Christ. On this Sunday we try to remember that in spite of the many differences that separate us that we Christians do get together around the table for a worldwide family meal…
The words of Jesus this day remind us that there needs to be an essential child-likeness about our faith… We are encouraged to remember that wide-eyed wonder about the marvel that is our planet earth on this day and to open our hearts to the God who created it all...
We look around us and we see one another – brothers and sisters in faith… Just as no single person symbolizes the discipleship of equals, no single bread can feed our hunger. Our table is spread with many different kinds of bread this day as a sign that the discipleship of equals savors the variety of women, men, children and youth who make up this community of faith.
Our communion table has on it this morning Sour dough bread – which rises because into each new loaf is placed a small amount of dough left from the last batch. This morning let this bread remind us of our mothers, our grandmothers, our female ancestors, those whose life we have in our veins. And may we pray that we keep rising too!
We have on the communion table in front of us today rice cakes made from a grain that in antiquity was rare and treasured in many places, thus kept for medicinal purposes. Let the rice cakes call to mind men and women who are ill, especially those living with HIV-Aids, and those who suffer mental illness. May we pray that each of us might engage in the work of healing.
We might have unleavened crackers on the table this morning, which calls to mind refugees and exiles, those who have been forced to leave their homes and even to flee their homelands. Let these crackers, reminds us of our Jewish brothers and sisters, who survived the holocaust. Let these unleavened crackers nourish all who work with refugees and exiles. May we too pray that we have the courage to begin anew…
On the communion table this morning there are tortillas – a staple for many families in Central America – a place where political violence continues to rage in recent years. Let these tortillas symbolize all people who suffer in war. And may we all be free to say, No more!
There are salty crackers on the communion table this day, which represent the elders, the “salty ones”, this church’s own owls and crones… Let these salty crackers remind us of those who have endured and those who have offer us the wisdom and learning of their long years. Let these salty crackers remind each of us to age gracefully.
There is corn bread on the table this morning, corn bread which gives us the vitality of our sisters and brothers of many races who work to over come racism and unjust structures. Let the corn bread help us recall those who have been enslaved because of their skin color… May we be strengthened to work against racism and unjust structures of all kinds…
There are breads from many different countries on the table this day reminding us of the diversity that is welcome here and the diversity among us. May we continue to learn to live and grow into our diversity.
And yes, there are even animal crackers on the communion table this morning to remind us of our children and youth. Let these animal crackers signify all little ones and these concerned with their welfare – mothers and fathers who parent, expectant mothers, teachers, and midwives… May we recognize how vital our children and youth are for this church.
Today we recall the unity of the Christian church around the world… We have more than our share of embarrassing fractures – yet we come together this day to celebrate our unity in Christ… In spite of our great diversity we can celebrate with renewed hope that on this day we come together around the world, as one body of Christ. In spite of wide variations in our faith communities, in spite of historic divisions and ongoing debates and issues on which we differ, on this Sunday we celebrate the great unity that we experience in being part of the worldwide body of Christ…
This church welcomes all of the church family to share in this family meal together… This church welcomes and affirms all and practices Open Communion. This church’s liturgy for Holy Communion includes a Prayer of Confession and an Assurance of Pardon so that we come to the table as a forgiven people. We include an explicit Invitation to the table so that we are reminded that we come at God’s bidding… We share a Prayer of Consecration where the power of God’s Spirit is invoked or invited to enter into the elements of the meal which is before us… … As the liturgy proceeds we remember how Jesus offered us this simple meal as a memorial meal and as a means for us to remember his sacrifice… We sing an ancient song, the Sanctus, which has long been part of the communion liturgy. As we prepare to receive the elements of bread and cup we recall how we too have become a part of a great and ancient saving story to God’s glory and praise… When we take into ourselves the bread and when we drink the cup, symbols of Jesus’ body and lifeblood in our tradition, we commune together and we celebrate that God offers us these as a powerful gift to each one of us…It is important that we offer the elements to one another, that we recognize that we commune together in this meal… As we each partake of these elements we take into ourselves God’s power as a gift to transform our lives and in turn to transform the world…
As one wise colleague has stated it the sacrament of communion is a “meal of many meanings” (Betty Crowell) … Do you remember when you first started received communion? Do you remember how you may have thought about communion at that moment in time? Do you think that you still interpret communion in the same terms as you used to?
One wise person has said this about our experience of communion, “As we each come to worship and partake in the communion we bring with us a lifetime of understandings, experiences, and words to describe this sacrament. It is important to understand two kinds of meanings, those that evolve from our biblical & theological roots, and those that emerge out of our communal experience of Christ’s table. These meanings are not discrete, but rather, taken together, they help us to understand this meal and to share its meaning with the youngest ones in our midst.” (p. 59-60 Rethinking the Sacraments for Children by Elizabeth Francis Caldwell) I know that for me with each occasion the Sacrament of Communion means many different things… I like the understanding that this is a family meal of many meanings, and meanings that come not only from “head” knowledge but “heart” knowledge as well…
The United Church of Christ and other denominations changed their policies about Communion through the years and as part of the transformation of liturgy that came about in the late 20th century... Our denomination is solidly committed to welcoming children to Christ’s table for the Sacrament of Holy Communion… These changes in thinking have enabled a more honest recognition and a true affirmation of the many meanings of the Sacrament… Welcoming all to Christ’s table helps us to talk about this important and vital sacrament with our children and around our own family tables at home…
Jesus used quite common elements – bread and wine – that appeared at usually every meal of his day… He wanted us to remember him and to help us celebrate our faith story together. Since this Sunday is also Neighbors in Need Sunday we also recognize on this day that this family meal, this Eucharist, also reminds us of our human brokenness and our lack of solidarity with our neighbors – near & far…
At this family meal we are reassured about God’s ongoing and reconciling work in the risen Christ. We gather at this table and we remember that the Still Speaking God who is actively at work among us empowering us to do good work and to reach out to those in need where ever that need arises. We gather at this table to be re-energized and empowered to do the work God wants us to do for a hurting world… Amen