Write about an experience with communion that is especially memorable or significant to you. Have you taken or given it somewhere unusual? Has something happened during this time that was unexpected? When has a specific time of communion affected your faith?
Somewhere out across the land
ReplyDeleteAcross the mountains and over the sand
There is a town that few have seen
Where people grow up tough and mean
In that hard and lonely place
A man gave up that rugged race
He shared his fortune and his time
And prayed for help from a love device
The men, they mocked this gentle soul
But he let go of the words they told
He fed the hungry and freed the fearful
He clothed the naked and held the tearful
As the years went by and all had had pain
He'd helped everyone,the good and the mean
Finally he left them, one day it is true
But the bakery remains baking bread called 'for you'
We've eaten that bread and felt that love
And we've been called by one above
To say that grace is more us
And make it simple, and not a fuss
a lilting tale well told.
DeleteMy husband loves the taste of communion wine. I don't know what it is that sets it apart for him. I don't taste the difference at all. To me, red wine is red wine. When I ask him what he likes about it, he's not able to put his finger on it. "There's just something about it. It's the best stuff I've tasted." he says.
ReplyDeleteIf we're drinking wine, it's usually a special occasion: a birthday, a anniversary, a long overdue visit with loved ones, a holiday - Easter, Thanksgiving, Christmas. Whenever there's a bottle of wine to be uncorked, he always asks, "Is it Blood of Christ wine? I love Blood of Christ wine!"
There's usually someone at the table who hasn't heard the question before. So what follows is my husband explaining his strange exclamation, and an interesting conversation about ritual, faith, and religion. Most times, the "churchy" talk is brief. But there's always more to share with each other as we continue our meal - new jobs, parenting struggles, fun hobbies, politics, aging parents, and remember when's.
When our bellies are full, our bodies fatigued, and our guests have left, we always say, "That was a good night. We should do more of that." What we are certain of is that whoever we are and wherever we come from, we have been pulled close and joined together on this journey.
There's no pastor and no Words of Institution. For me, it's still communion.
Lovely!
DeleteGrace fills. Spirit surprises. 'Tis a fine reckoning you've shared.
DeleteThe moon, the shining wafer above the chalice of earth's desert ridge line
ReplyDeleteCaused my heart to stop.
Here, in this place, at this moment
The body of Christ, broken for me
The blood of Christ, shed for me
The bread of heaven
The cup of salvation
All life is sacred,
all of eternity before this moment,
and all of that which will follow.
I breathe, and in breathing am filled with life.
I feel the silent ahhhh!
DeleteAnother full moon blessing. thanks.
DeleteEating The Bread, Drinking The Wine
ReplyDeleteA renewal of my belief of Jesus in me,
The Holy Spirit ever present.
A profound mystery of love,
I receive with gratitude
for being made worthy.
Not by confession and absolution
of clergy or rules;
but by the love of one who
is the rule.
Not able to receive it then
until we’d been confirmed.
It seemed like a prize
for the memorizing and
showing up every Saturday morning,
an acknowledgement that we
were grown up.
Signing cards to give the ushers,
acknowledging qualifications of belonging
to the same denomination and synod.
Not consistent, I thought, with Jesus
who fed and dined with everyone.
I was a guest on the list, a member
In good standing, but I’d heard
stories of those denied—
a neighbor (Roman Catholic),
using birth control because
Doctor advised a fourth pregnancy
to be a major health risk.
A Lutheran friend who remembered
when her father knelt at the rail
wearing his Lodge pin and was passed by.
I believe in open Communion, that
we are one in Christ, invited
to partake of His body and blood.
The children too at any age, that they may know
it’s freely given, that they belong to the circle.
The act of offering the Bread or the Wine
takes me into a Holy context which
I can’t find words for. Yes, I’m watching
as a server does toward the tangible practicalities
of availability and ease of reaching,
hoping my clutziness stays doesn’t appear.
But I also feel a connection with each person
as I repeat the words, “The blood of Christ, shed for you”.
And also I hear in my head the words we repeated
at my former church, “The blood of Christ, shed for our reconciliation.”
because I know that is happening anew as we receive it.
blessing has a history. may the blessing write our history.
DeleteLent 2, Tuesday
ReplyDeleteEucharistic Blessings
“Would you like to have Communion?” a frequent inquiry,
“Oh, could I? It’s been so long, couldn’t find it in my diary.”
“Ah my dear, Spirit makes no quota, keeps not any track,
Only asks of your need, wants to supply every lack.”
A quiet visit in a stuffy home, progressed along,
“Have you some wine? A bit of bread? I’ll add a song.”
This meal so simple comes about on the fly,
Can’t think of a time, Creator didn’t supply.
Men gathered for a bit of a break in their usual routines.
At the closing worship, each supplied the hands, words, grace’s means.
Songs of celebration accompanied the meal once again,
Each person met their Savior who supplied the when.
More frequent celebration seems to mark this day,
A fine balance of Word and Eucharist allows Holy One to play.
As a gathering of grace, the community states its need,
“’Tis the table of Jesus; take; eat and drink; go plant truth’s seed.”
Often the spiritually bereft, the parched, the neglected ones,
Come with honest needs, open hearts, sometimes a lack of funds,
“I’ve heard this place is able to give a person a hand.”
“What’s your pressing care? If it’s a sandbox, we’ll find sand.”
Abundant living is marked by lavish meals, often spread.
Our Eucharistic practices are under construction, so I’ve read.
Grace’s table travels from the altar into life’s path.
Adversary grumbles constantly as this meal overwhelms sin’s wrath.
Salvation takes on a tangible presence; body accepts mind’s doubt,
Here’s your morsel of body and blood, hear the angels shout.
Nothing can prevent the blessing ‘cept your hide bound lips.
Reach out your hand, open wide your mouth, into yourself grace slips.
Come my friend to the table well spread.
Let the wonder, need call, onto grace’s path tread.
Only blessing will result, deeper, further in, Spirit knows.
Your every care will be met as Eucharistic flows.
The Rev. Ronald Allen Melver, M.Div.
12 March 2015