No, not a greeting, a description. We had a good morning today at the Gathering Place - even if I managed to totally muff reading the institution narrative for the communion from 1 Cor 11! As I say to other people, Jesus made it up the first time, so you can't actually do it 'wrong' in a logistical or liturgical sense (even if you can in terms of intent, attitude, etc.)
Our three year-old infant obliged by being held at the required part of the blessing/dedication obviating the need for me either to chase him round the room or go all Presbyterian in order to do the Aaronic blessing for him. It was lovely to have the song that he had, at one remove, chosen himself (he had been heard singing it at home after we used it on Palm Sunday)...
Who spoke words of wisdom and life?
Only the one they call Jesus.
Understood what people were like?
Nobody other than him
Who performed miraculous signs?
Nobody other than Jesus.
Healed the sick, gave sight to the blind?
Nobody other than him.
Hosanna, Hosanna,
Praise him come praise him
Hosanna, Hosanna
Lift up your voices and sing!
Who took children into his arms?
Only the one they call Jesus.
Spoke to storms and made them be calm?
Nobody other than him.
Who raised Lazarus up from the dead?
Only the one they call Jesus.
Made a feast of fishes and bread?
Nobody other than him.
Who made friends with people despised?
Only the one they call Jesus.
Turned the water into good wine?
Nobody other than him.
Who got people following him?
Only the one they call Jesus.
Changed thier lives forgave all their sin?
Nobody other than him.
Mark & Helen Johnson (c) Out of the Ark Music
From Kid Source or Really Good Songs for Junior Church
After the children had left for their own activities, we followed a theme of 'lows and highs' using parts of John 20 and Psalm 126, along with a few lyrics from Ronan Keating and Sandy Shaw, to centre our thoughts. The essence of what I said was at any one time in a community of faith there are people experiencing highs, people experiencing lows and people somewhere in between and that we are in it together. We recognised some of those among our fellowship who have a tough time just now - an overseas student recently bereaved, a family watching and waiting at the bedside of a loved one - and reminded ourselves of the promises that close Psalm 126 and that end Mathhew's gospel.
Sharing communion was, as always, special, and whilst I was annoyed with myself for muffing the institution narrative, it seemed a fitting culmination to our worship.
If I'm completely honest, I'd have loved to be in Blackpool at the (English) Baptist Assembly this weekend, but I wouldn't have missed this morning for anything - it was a Good Morning, and theirs cannot have been better, no matter how good it was. (Plus of course theologically we were all together anyway!!)
Comments
I now find the periodic sharing of communion odd. Coming from an Anglican Communion background, I was brought up with Matins as the regular Sunday morning service, and communion - or Eucharist or Mass (depending on what it is called at particular church) at major festivals - Christmas, Easter, Pentecost, Harvest. And this was periodic.
At the church I attended as a child, this evolved into major festivals and 1st Sunday in the mid 1970's. When I moved in 1977 to a church which has three Sunday services - the main one being Matins (except Major Festivals) and the others being communion. By the 1985 when I changed church again, Matins was a rarity (being a larger church) only said on weekdays, with Communion every Sunday (including the main family service).
It has always puzzled me as why some churches (specifically CofS) have "statutory" communion as a special Sunday afternoon service 3 or 4 times a year, at a time which does not tie into any major church festival.
I did attend a communion service at a CofS church in Aberdeen in the late 1980s, and found the words of consecration familiar, however the rest of the liturgy rather mixed up (to my mind).
Of course we are remembering the words and actions of our Lord at the Last Supper, which we celebrate on Maundy Thursday (foot washing included - in some places symbolic, in others the whole congregation).
These days I find is strange not to share bread and wine on a Sunday, remembering the words and actions of our Lord at that first Last Supper.
Hi Stewart,
It's one of those oddities where some people can be parodied as saying 'it's so important we should only do it on special occasions' and others as saying 'it's so importnat we should do it every time we meet.' I think it is possible to make theological arguments either way whether you have a 'high' or 'low' theology of communion. Most Baptists, at least in England, have communion once per month in the morning and once per month in the evening (on different Sundays). In my old church the constitution said the above (and which Sunday was which!) and added 'and at other times as the minister or deacons (leadership) shall decide.' I think that's pretty typical Baptist when push comes to shove.
Of course if you have a very low/high theology, every meal is an act of communion...
And this sassenach cannot get her head round the (old and defunct) Presbyterian practice of communion tokens!!
Not totally defunct, Catriona. I was at a C of S communion service in the far north of Scotland yesterday (for the first time ever) and people were still putting their communion cards into a dish in the entrance hall, even though it's no longer officially required.