The Minutia

I started hunting around for inspiration for tonight's communion. It’s been a while since I’ve done one, mostly because I felt like the words wouldn’t come to me.

And they weren’t coming to me today, either.

So I did what a good technologically savvy people do and I looked up “communion meditation” on the internet. I found some interesting things, like the thoughts on taking communion the night before an important battle in the revolutionary war. And helpful tips on how to explain to non-believers that this was a time for them to stay in their seats. And lists of relevant scripture for quick reference. But none of those things  brought me closer to my goal: finding the inspiration and respect for the sacred act of communion.

So I did what struck me next: I started looking for recipes to make communion bread. I spend a lot of time in the kitchen, creating nourishment for my family or friends. I’ve made communion bread before, once, a long time ago and don’t remember much about it. So I sorted through recipes. I thought: Yes! I’ll make bread! Unleavened bread, matza, communion bread - it’s all the basic same recipe and since it doesn’t need any rise time I should get this done just before people walk in for service tonight. So I started writing down ingredients.

The basics were all there: flour, oil, salt, water. Some recipes encourage honey, rose water, or other sweetening components. Others claim salt should be left out. All claim they are delicious.

Time was getting away from me and I hadn’t even turned on the oven.

And then I found it. Perfection. A skillet recipe. I could mix together four ingredients, heat it in a pan, and viola! Inspiration!

And so, with less than an hour to service, I found  myself in the kitchen making little communion pancakes. Typing my notes on the laptop precariously perched next to the stove. Wondering: how crisp should these be? did I use enough salt? Should I have cut back the oil the way I did? Will my church family be horrified by my last minute uninspirational choice? Once the first piece is out of the pan and cooled slightly I could tasty it. Is this good enough to serve tonight - and if not, what am I going to do? I’ve used up all my time here.

Then, with the last few pieces in the pan, it struck me. I forgot, for a few minutes, that this isn’t about the bread.

In my head, I repeated this sentence. It isn’t about the bread.

I had, in these moments, forgotten everything. In my quest for inspiration, for words to inspire you to reflect and prepare yourself for the sacrament of communion, I got caught up in the symbol. A sacrament is defined as: a religious ceremony or act of the Christian Church that is regarded as an outward and visible sign of inward and spiritual divine grace, in particular. The sacrament of communion is something we do here every week. Because we have to be reminded. We aren’t good enough. This flesh and bone we try to bend to our will day in and day out is nothing. It is broken and dying. No matter what we try to mix in from the world, we will never have enough of it or enough time to perfect the balance.

It is through the Grace of God we come to his kingdom. The bread just reminds us that we must accept and be nourished by Him.

6/9/2013

Get comfortable. Shift around and find the right spot. Close your eyes. Take a deep breath.

Think about your feet. How often do you consider your feet? When you get up in the morning and get ready for the day, do you choose your shoes with care or in a rush? Do you relish the chance to run barefoot, do you change shoes when you come home?

Push your feet into the floor. Let go. Push your feet into the floor again. Let go.

How did it feel? Is the floor firm under your feet?

Now curl in your toes. Flex them a few times. How does it feel inside your shoes? Are you glad to be wearing sandals, or do your socks bunch up?

Now consider this: how far have your feet walked today? How much have you relied on your feet today? What about this weekend? The month? The year?

Have your feet carried you through storms? Through sand, pushing and fighting for each step? Through the peaceful meadow? Through the long days of winter, the impatient days of spring?

How far have you walked in your journey?

Jesus walked by the sea of Galilee and gathered the fishers of men.
Jesus walked out on the water and calmed the seas.
Jesus walked through the temple and taught God's word.
Jesus walked past the jeering crowd and became our salvation.

How far have you walked in  your journey?

Let your feet carry you forward, to the table. Set your feet upon the path Jesus has prepared for each of us. Remember the mercy we have been shown, the grace we have been given, the joy that greets us with each step we take.

3/17/2013

What brings you here, my brothers and sisters?
Where did you find the energy today to come through the door?
What knowledge are you seeking,
What sustenance saves you from starving,
What hope wakens you each day?

The King was promised
The Kind has come
The Kingdom grows around us
We are fed.

What brings you to His table, my brothers and sisters?
Cast out your worry so that it may not drain from today.
Cast out your fear so that it may not chain you to your ignorance.
Cast out your ambition so that this humbly given gift will not be overlooked.
Cast out your doubt so that you may believe.

The King was promised
The Kind has come
The Kingdom grows through us
We are bound.

What brings you to your knees, my brothers and sisters?
When you are driven low, who hears your cry?
When you are lost, who seeks you?
When you are weeping, who holds you in peace?
When you are spent, who renews you?

The King was promised
The Kind has come
The Kingdom grows with us
We are carried.

What brings you forward, my brothers and sisters?
Breath into silence so that you may hear His words
Open your heart so that you may be found
Throw away your grief so that you may feel his comfort
Take in His offering so that His work may continue.

The King was promised
The Kind has come
The Kingdom grows in us
We are called.

Seeking


A crowd gathered seeking miracles and reassurance. The crowd hungered for a Feast, empty hands and empty hearts.
Loaves and fish were few but fed many, allowing the crowd to eat their fill with much leftover.
A Prophet. Turning his back on an earthly kingdom. Seeking solitude among the multitude, for miracles are often overlooked and turned aside from God's purpose.
The Bread of Life and Blood of Life given freely to those who seek Him.

The wind blew and the sea rose and faith was tested and the crowd gathered seeking miracles and reassurance. The crowd hungered for spoils, empty hands and empty hearts.
Words were few but the meaning was deep: God provides the nourishment to your soul.
The people refused their feast, looking for signs among the heavens.
Words were few and the meaning clear:
'I am the bread of life. He who comes to Me shall never hunger. Everyone who sees the Son and believes in Him may have everlasting life.' (from John 6:35-40)
The Bread of Life and the Blood of Life given freely to those who seek Him.

The crowd questioned. The disciples questioned.
The words were hard though the meaning was clear.
Empty hands and empty hearts are being filled with the Bread and Blood of Life, given freely to those who seek Him.

We are cast to fill the seats at the table. We are called to witness the miracle of the nourishment of our souls.
We come to the gathering with empty hands and empty hearts, finding fullness in the sacrifice of Christ.

-An interpretation of John 6.

Study Unit: Baptism

My daughter has become very interested in being baptized. After poking around in various places, I couldn't find the kind of study program I was looking for to meet her needs. I may have just spent my time reinventing the wheel, but I put one together for her myself. I think it covers the bases, and works pretty well to prepare her for making a conscientious and intentional decision about baptism. In case someone else it looking for a similar resource, here it is:

[I should say my daughter is in 3rd grade with an advanced reading level and accustomed to independent work. I gave her the questions for each unit with the appropriate scripture reference, then handed her a bible and let her go to town. But since all children learn differently, you can easily adapt this to any child.]

Study Unit: Baptism
Unit One
1. Who is John the Baptist?
Read: Luke 5-7 and Luke 11-15
a. John is the son of Zecharia and Elizabeth. The angel Gabriel appeared to Zecharia to tell him of God’s promise. J

2. Gabriel told Zecharia that John would do what in his life?
Read: Luke 17-17
a. John would be filled with the Holy Spirit, turn people to the Lord, and prepare people for the Lord.

3. How is John related to Jesus?
Read Luke 1:26-27, Luke 1:36
a. Mary (Jesus’ mother) and Elizabeth (John’s mother) are cousins

4. Tell about the first time Jesus and John meet.
Luke 1:39-44
a. John recognizes Jesus while they are both still in the womb - before they are born. John jumps for joy when he meets Jesus, knowing that Jesus is his Lord.

Unit Two
1. Define Baptism.
a. an act, experience, or ordeal by which one is purified, sanctified, initiated, or named ; being dedicated to God

2. What was the ministry of John the Baptist?
Read Matthew 3:1-6
a. He called the people to repent because the Lord was coming, and he baptized them in the Jordan River as they confessed their sins.

3. John warns the people that he baptizes with water, but the coming Lord does more. What does John say the Lord will baptize people with?
Read Matthew 3:11
a. Holy spirit and fire.

4. Does John baptize Jesus?
Read Matthew 3:13-15
a. Yes. John says he’s not worthy to baptize Jesus but Jesus asks for John to baptize him.

5. What happens when John baptizes Jesus?
Read Matthew 3:16-17
a. The spirit of God comes in a dove and a voice from heaven declares Jesus as God’s son.

Unit Three
1. Why did Christ suffer for our sins?
Read 1Peter 3:18
a. To bring us to God.

2. What does it mean that Christ is resurrected?
Read Matthew 28:5-8
a. Jesus is brought back to life and has gone ahead of us.

3. What does the bible tell us about choosing to be baptized?
Read 1 Peter 3:21
a. Baptism saves us through the resurrection of Jesus Christ

4. Can you think of another time when God used water to save his people?
Read Genesis 6:11-13 and Genesis 6:17-18
a. God floods the earth but saves Noah and his family
Read Exodus 14:5-7 and 14:21-23 and 14:27-30
a. God parts the Red Sea so that the Israelites can flee through dry land, then the sea rushes back in to drown the Egyptians

Unit 4
1. What gifts do we receive with baptism?
Read Acts 2:38 and 1 Peter 3:21
a. We receive the gift of the Holy Spirit and salvation

2. How does baptism connect us to Christ?
Read Romans 6:3-5
a. We are united with Christ through his death, burial and resurrection.

3.Why do we practice immersion baptism (where you are fully laid into the water)?
a. It represents our connection. Being laid into the water indicates burial and the acceptance of Christ, being risen up represents our connection to his resurrection and salvation.

Unit 5
Write a letter explaining to God why you want to be baptized.

May 27, 2012 Pentecost Sunday

The Lord’s Supper

¹⁴ When the hour had come, He reclined at the table, and⁾the apostles with Him. ¹⁵ And He said to them, “I have earnestly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer; ¹⁶ for I say to you, I shall never again eat it until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God.” ¹⁷ And when He had taken a cup and given thanks, He said, “Take this and share it among yourselves; ¹⁸ for I say to you, I will not drink of the fruit of the vine from now on until the kingdom of God comes.” ¹⁹ And when He had taken some bread and 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 in the same way He took the cup after they had eaten, saying, “This cup which is poured out for you is the new covenant in My blood.

Can you hear it?
In the distance, the knocking, the waiting.
Do you hear it?
Do you listen?
Come to the table of mercy.

Pslam 51:17: 'My sacrifice is a broken spirit and a contrite heart.'
Come to the table.

Can you feel it?
In the pit of your stomach, from the soles of your feet
The pounding, the waiting.
Do you feel it?
Are you moved?
Come to the table of grace.

Dueteronomy 7:9: ⁹ Know therefore that the Lord your God is God; he is the faithful God, keeping his covenant of love to a thousand generations of those who love him and keep his commandments.
Come to the table.


We are being called.
You are being called.
I am being called.
The rhythm of my name comes up through me and in me and around me, placed by the Lord, whispered by the Spirit, shouted by the Savior.
Come to the Lord's table.



In sinlessness, He answered
In faithfulness, He gave
In humbleness, He moved
Matthew 20:28:²⁸ just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
Bread broken and blood spilled on the Lord's table.
Clear your thoughts, cleanse your distractions.

He is calling you to come. He has commanded you to keep the table.

5/15/2011

You do not have a body with a soul,
You are a soul encased in a body.
This body is weak. It is flawed. It will change, become damaged, eventually give everything then
Stop.
Where do we go when we have fallen? To whom do we turn when we cannot go on?

You don’t have a mind and a soul,
You have a soul limited by your mind.
This mind is weak. It is flawed. It will change, become damaged, eventually give everything then
Stop.
Where do we go when we have lost our way? From whom do we seek wisdom?

From the highest mountaintop to the lowest gorge,
In our joy and in our sorrow,
In the light and in the darkness;
Only God can save us now.

Through His grace He has gifted us a Savior,
We are told:
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”
We are told:
He saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life.

Only God can save us now.
This body is weak. It is flawed. It will change, become damaged, eventually give everything then
Stop.
This mind is weak. It is flawed. It will change, become damaged, eventually give everything then
Stop.

And we are called.
Through Christ our soul rejoices.
Through Christ we find salvation.
Today and everyday we must take up His cross, we must take His yoke upon ourselves, we must remember and give honor.

Matthew 11:28-30
Titus 3:5-7