Message from our Pastors

Communion

What do you think of when you hear the words: "The body of Christ given for you." "The blood of Christ shed for you"? How does your spirit respond to these words?

I remember the first time I received communion, it was confirmation Sunday and everyone in my class was so nervous. We weren't sure what it meant to receive the body and b1ood. We didn’t know if we had properly prepared for this momentous occasion. In fact, my entire class was so much on edge that one of my class mates fainted just before receiving communion.

I remember celebrating communion on other occasions: I was at camp, gathered around the campfire and our camp pastor stood with a loaf of bread in one hand and a chalice in the other hand. He told the story of how Jesus fed the hungry crowd with bread and fish, of Jesus caring for the lilies of the field and the birds of the air. And then he told us that when we eat and drink of these special elements, we will also be fed, cared for, and clothed with all that our souls need The pastor encouraged us to sing out in thanksgiving for the beautiful gifts we receive in the bread and the wine, the body and the blood of our Lord.

And then I remember celebrating communion as a young pastor. A little boy was at the communion rail, I blessed him, smiled and marked him with the cross of Jesus. He responded with this question: "How come I can't have Jesus, when will I be big enough for Jesus". My heart sank. At another church, the church council was animate that the children must "jump through the hoops" before receiving communion, and they said "no communion before the right time". Wooh!, I thought. Who am I to say who can and cannot receive Jesus?

The sacraments are so very special for us. They are holy and sacred, they are God's way of conveying grace and blessing to us through physical elements such as water, bread and wine. The sacraments first receive us into the family of God, then nourish us in that family. My dear friends, when we receive a sacrament, we need to do so with respect, we need to do so with an open heart, and we need to open ourselves to the working of the spirit of God. When we receive the sacrament of Holy Communion we do so with a believing heart. Do we need to tremble in our boots about making ourselves right before God as my confirmation class thought? I don't think so. Does Jesus require that we jump through hoops to get to him? Many times Jesus looked at the individual and said "come with me"; or he said "go give your riches to the poor and then come follow me". Who should receive communion? All believers, I believe. The sacraments are a gift from God to us. There is no test. There is no requirement other than to believe in Jesus Christ.

The most important facet of Holy Communion is to know that we are special; that Jesus loves us, cares for us, and will continue to be with us; and when we receive the bread and the cup we are receiving Jesus. When anyone of us receives Jesus it is time to celebrate, it is time to say 'thank you,' it is time to ten the story about how Jesus is active in our lives. Holy Communion instruction is available. We have home instruction booklets for pre-school, early readers, readers and 5th graders. Following home instruction either or both a session with the Pastor is available or a class with other students and their parents.Have a blessed and safe summer.

With Joy in being your Pastors,

Jim & Jean

Previous Messages

May, 2006
April, 2006
March, 2006
February, 2006
January, 2006