A particularly special communion shared...and another ahead!

No liturgical practice feeds my spirit more than the Lord's Supper/Eucharist/Holy Communion. I enter a thin place at every gathering with the broken bread and shared cup. Like John Calvin, I wish we would come to the Lord's Table every week. In other words, Holy Communion always blesses me. Last Sunday the blessings flowed with particular abundance.

Since MWPC and Christ Church Cathedral co-sponsored the Jenkins Lectures with Marcus Borg, I received an invitation to participate in the Sunday service at the cathedral. Nancy, my bride, presided at Table and I helped to distribute the bread. Nancy and I rarely worship together. We had not yet married the last time we stood at the Table together. So when we assembled there with the other participants, emotion rushed over us. Nancy's voice quivered and memories of and thanksgiving for the life and vocation we share immersed me in light. As I listened to the Great Thanksgiving in her voice, knowing how much the Eucharist means to her, the embrace of the eternal became as real as my bride and my colleague between whom I stood. Fortunately, I did not have to speak. For a while I had no voice - only love, gratitude, and awe.

Then came time to serve the bread. At Christ Church the saints come to the communion rail and a pastor places the bread in their hands. I regularly comment that the people of God are never more beautiful than when celebrating Holy Communion. That beauty nearly overwhelmed me last Sunday. As I placed the bread in the hands of a grinning little boy, his mother's eyes called him to be more serious. Then we all smiled as I noted, "It's alright, mom; it's a joyful feast." A woman bent with age knelt before me and softly said, "Thank you" as I placed the bread in her hands. She knelt, but I was the one humbled. A few searched my eyes for acceptance, and the Author of All whispered, "Welcome, my child." I did not deserve the privilege of standing there, but deep gratitude flowed from the chancel into the nave and beyond.

Standing at the altar at Christ Church, you can see not only the gathered saints but also city streets. During our celebration of the gifts of God for the people of God, the homeless, young couples, city buses, and busy people passed by. The feast God provides at Table strengthens us to serve them. As Nancy prayed for the world God loves, we at the altar glimpsed into it. God whispered again, asking, "Do you see me?"

That whisper intensified as the faithful came forward. Some were my people, saints from Mount Washington continuing their weekend with Marcus Borg. Some were Nancy's people, gathered as usual for worship. Some belonged to neither of us but all belonged to God. They came forward to receive the loaf and cup, and as they returned to their pews, they could see the glimpse at the world into which our true host sends us to serve. God blessed us with an opportunity for communion. The one in whom all exist joined us with each other and with those around us whether or not we or they realized it. We tasted in the bread and cup the feast in which God makes a place for all.

This weekend we will celebrate World Communion Sunday. I cannot promise that everyone present will enter a thin place. I will. More importantly, God will welcome all who come, Christ will preside, the Spirit will dance, and we will be fed gifts we cannot provide for ourselves. Please come to the feast. We can never anticipate how blessed we will be. God's presence is like that. Thanks be to God.

Grace and Peace,

LP