“And he took 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.” And likewise the cup after they had eaten, saying, “This cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood.
Luke 22:19-20
I will admit it. I am a worship nerd.
During this pandemic I have found myself watching multiple worship services every Sunday. I normally start with ours from Port Williams United Baptist Church, at least I did back when we were virtual. Now we are in person (thanks to the wonderful job done by the health authorities and people of Nova Scotia.). But afterwards I usually watch several other services—mainly those of my Preacher Camp friends. It is wonderful to see how other deal with text, how worship is constructed. It is a continuing education experience.
This morning was a bit different. Having just returned from the US I am on a 2-week “quarantine/vacation. Today was also “Time Change Sunday,” a Sunday not found on the liturgical calendar, but a special day nonetheless. It is that Sunday when you are either really early or really late. This morning I was early, so being in quarantine with nowhere I could go I decided to begin my day by joining my friend Andrew Henton-Pusey at Walworth Road Baptist Church in Hitchin, England. It just happened to be the 18th Anniversary of his induction as their pastor.
Like many churches, they celebrate communion on the first Sunday of the month. We were invited to have elements so that we might share communion together. By the time that part of the service came around, I was having breakfast (something you can’t do in a sanctuary I might add.). So when it came time to break the break, I broke off a piece of toast. It is my Sunday morning breakfast—bacon, eggs, toast. The cup was my second cup of coffee, my every morning breakfast drink, in my Grand Canyon mug that I use every Sunday. It was a beautiful service.
My next service was at Port Williams. Rev Ron Baxter was the preacher today. Ron is one of those individuals who has a voice that is so soothing, so comforting that you just want to curl up and take it all in.
(Just listen to him and see!). He spoke about All Saints Day and the those who are our “Saints, Elders and Heroes.” He invited us to remember, especially as we shared communion together. By this time breakfast was over. I had a piece of bread—the end piece of the load, that part that often gets overlooked, like the saints of our lives. The cup was the orange juice that I also used to take my morning meds.
Finally it was off to Woodbrook Baptist Church in Towson, MD. It was a toss up, with many of my friends preaching, but Audra Ballenger asked if I was going to join them on Zoom, so we could pass notes on the chat! Personal invitations work!
Her father John Ballenger preached on the stones the Hebrew children took from the Jordan as they crossed into the Promised Land. I remembered that on the first Sunday in the sanctuary at Providence Baptist we also placed stones on the altar so we would remember the stories that had led us to that place. By the time we go to communion I was finishing lunch and the bread was actually Ritz Crackers with Peanut Butter, with water for the juice.
It got me to thinking.
Toast and coffee.
The end piece and orange juice
Ritz cracker and water.
Nothing sacred about any of them. Just my ordinary meals.
What if that was Jesus point! What if communion isn’t something “sacred” but a reminder that all of life is sacred if we are just paying attention. On Sunday morning; at lunch on Tuesday; at dinner on Friday night.
This is my body. Just remember.