Friday, October 3, 2008

Reflections on the Lord's Table

Celebration of the Lord's Supper has become increasingly important to me and the lack of emphasis placed on this "means of grace" among evangelicals is concerning. Lately I have been thinking about the ritual and reflecting on the "Service of Word and Table" in the United Methodist Hymnal and this is my humble attempt at putting into words what I experience when remembering and taking part in the story of Jesus.


"Christ our Lord invites to his table all who love him"

The confession dismantles our pride

Purifying the guilty

Uniting a community under a cloth of grace

"In the name of Jesus Christ, you are forgiven."

Thanksgiving lifts our hearts

Praising the holy

Joining the heavenly company to the Church on earth

"Holy, holy, holy LORD, God of power and might"


The bread breaks in our mouths
Filling the hunger

Dissolving into tiny images of the larger piece

"This is my body, which is for you."

The wine flows through our lips

Refreshing the dry

Descending sweetness and cleansing become a part of us

"This cup is the new covenant in my blood."

The story infiltrates our lives

Reviving the body

Leading us to remember and do likewise
"Go forth in peace"


Amen

2 comments:

Unknown said...

lovely dearest... what a contemplative poet you are.

R.S. said...

I suggest an appendix to the United Methodist Hymnal.