Centerpieces
I would like to share one of my most favorite practices of our young community of faith: communion. Each week, we share communion together as a part of our house church gathering. Here’s how it unfolds: our time together begins by sharing a meal. At some point during the meal, someone will interrupt the conversations and offer a more formal welcome to our home. One part of this welcome is an explanation of the communion meal and an invitation to participate. Our attention is drawn to the centerpieces on all the tables in the room--beautiful displays with bread and wine. The welcomer will pray for the food we’re sharing--particularly giving thanks for the death and resurrection of Jesus. As the prayer is concluded, our conversations continue, and someone near each centerpiece will distribute the contents to those around them.
Allow me to point out some observations I’ve made having experienced this for about two months now. First, I’ve been struck by the hands that have served. I have seen first-time guests distribute the items without hesitation. Individuals who haven’t been to church in a long time have helped as well. We’ve even had a two-year-old carry around the loaf of bread as people tear off their portion. These happenings paint a beautiful picture of an open table--where all are welcome, all are served, and all are equal.
In addition, I’ve noticed a change in our conversation tone once we have shared. As in any dinner gathering, our opening conversations inform each other about the activities keeping us all busy. But after communion, our questions of each other are deeper. Our topics are more significant. Our concern for each other is more evident.
The centerpiece of our gathering is the Lord’s Supper. Even after the meal is complete and we enter our time of worship, the communion display remains in the center of our circle. And this is powerful. After all, the death and resurrection of Jesus are of first importance in our faith. While we may disagree on other matters of spirituality, the centrality of His death and resurrection is strong enough to keep us together. The power of these events is why we gather in the first place.
