Dear Congregation,
August blessings to you! I hope you are doing well. On this upcoming first Sunday of the month, you are invited to share in the sacrament of Holy Communion, either in-person in the Sanctuary or virtually through Facebook from wherever you may be. We will continue to use the individually pre-packaged communion elements as we follow pandemic safety protocols. I confess that I do miss tearing a tasty piece of bread off the one loaf and dipping it into grape juice in the common chalice!
The wafer and juice, packaged so cleverly together in plastic and foil, serve the purpose symbolically but just don’t taste the same. They also offer challenges to getting the package open! I know that some of you at home use various types of drink and carbohydrates like orange juice and crackers, and that’s okay. I can remember once being at a hospital and grabbing Doritos and Gatorade from a vending machine to use in what turned out to be a very meaningful communion service with a patient.
The symbolism of the sacrament is actually more important than what food or drink we use, as we recall Jesus’ words, “Do this in remembrance of me.” As we remember Jesus—what he taught in word and deed, and how he mandated that his followers love and serve — we are brought back once again to what is most important in the living of our one precious life. In the words of the hymn, “You Satisfy the Hungry Heart”.
“You satisfy the hungry heart with gift of finest wheat,
come give to us o saving Lord, the bread of life to eat.
You give yourself to us, O Lord,
Then selfless let us be,
To serve each other in Your name
In truth and charity.”
Come and be fed.
In Christ’s love,
Pastor Candy
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