Tuesday, December 16, 2014
Communion was different at Southern Hills Sunday
I had a unique experience last Sunday. I got to lead our communion time both in our morning assembly and then again at our Candlelight service. Both times we did things a little different.
At our morning assembly we combined a baptismal blessing with our Communion time. We are following the Advent tradition this year and Sunday's theme was joy. So we rejoiced with one of our young high schoolers, Gabby Soria. Gabby is one of ours, part of one of our Southern Hills families. A few weeks ago, she was baptized. We make a big deal out of our first generation converts, but we also think it is important to make it a big deal when one of our own decides to follow Jesus, It is a time of great celebration when our kids move from family faith to personal faith. We had her birth family on stage with her as we welcomed her into her "new birth" family. We thanked youth ministry leaders and the elders and wives.
We talked about what it meant to celebrate the family meal together. We smiled at each other, we hugged each other, we celebrated Gabby's salvation and we celebrated our salvation. We stood together as family and prayed for God to bless Gabby, to protect her, and to use her. We thanked God for the gift of his Son. And we ate together. Homemade bread made with love. Grape juice. Body and blood of Jesus. Our one body sharing again in his death. Declaring our belief in the gospel. Gabby, her family, and her now really big family.
Our Candlelight service was what you would expect in many ways. Kids sang. Adult groups sang. Congregation sang. Kids and adults sang. A manger story. Scripture reading. Candles lit. Prayers. Precious children involved. Grandparents too. Celebrating the birth of the Christ.
And right in the middle of it, we shared communion. Partly because we have an evening assembly every week and they were there. But also because that is what God's people do when they are together. So we talked about the gift of God in baby Jesus. And we celebrated the good news that baby Jesus grew up to die for our sins. And that he was raised from the dead. And that he is coming back.
But we also believe communion is not just about me and God. It is about us and God. That's why we do it together. And we believe we receive that gift so we can be givers in our world. So there were various tables set up were we could go do communion together. Lots of hugging, smiling, sharing.
But we also invited everyone to make their way to two other tables where there were ribbons and markers. Everyone was encouraged to write gifts they wanted to give someone and tie them onto the trees nearby. I saw some of the gifts listed: sing a song, cook a meal, free plumbing service call, tell a neighbor the good news, live forgiven, give a smile.
Experiencing the gift of God's love. Committing to give gifts of love in the name of Jesus. It was loud, sweet, loving... and holy.
Different but in many ways the same as it has been since Pentecost.
God, Jesus, their people, Holy Spirit, joy, praise, thanksgiving, and commitment.
Thanks God for letting me be a part.
At our morning assembly we combined a baptismal blessing with our Communion time. We are following the Advent tradition this year and Sunday's theme was joy. So we rejoiced with one of our young high schoolers, Gabby Soria. Gabby is one of ours, part of one of our Southern Hills families. A few weeks ago, she was baptized. We make a big deal out of our first generation converts, but we also think it is important to make it a big deal when one of our own decides to follow Jesus, It is a time of great celebration when our kids move from family faith to personal faith. We had her birth family on stage with her as we welcomed her into her "new birth" family. We thanked youth ministry leaders and the elders and wives.
We talked about what it meant to celebrate the family meal together. We smiled at each other, we hugged each other, we celebrated Gabby's salvation and we celebrated our salvation. We stood together as family and prayed for God to bless Gabby, to protect her, and to use her. We thanked God for the gift of his Son. And we ate together. Homemade bread made with love. Grape juice. Body and blood of Jesus. Our one body sharing again in his death. Declaring our belief in the gospel. Gabby, her family, and her now really big family.
Our Candlelight service was what you would expect in many ways. Kids sang. Adult groups sang. Congregation sang. Kids and adults sang. A manger story. Scripture reading. Candles lit. Prayers. Precious children involved. Grandparents too. Celebrating the birth of the Christ.
And right in the middle of it, we shared communion. Partly because we have an evening assembly every week and they were there. But also because that is what God's people do when they are together. So we talked about the gift of God in baby Jesus. And we celebrated the good news that baby Jesus grew up to die for our sins. And that he was raised from the dead. And that he is coming back.
But we also believe communion is not just about me and God. It is about us and God. That's why we do it together. And we believe we receive that gift so we can be givers in our world. So there were various tables set up were we could go do communion together. Lots of hugging, smiling, sharing.
But we also invited everyone to make their way to two other tables where there were ribbons and markers. Everyone was encouraged to write gifts they wanted to give someone and tie them onto the trees nearby. I saw some of the gifts listed: sing a song, cook a meal, free plumbing service call, tell a neighbor the good news, live forgiven, give a smile.
Experiencing the gift of God's love. Committing to give gifts of love in the name of Jesus. It was loud, sweet, loving... and holy.
Different but in many ways the same as it has been since Pentecost.
God, Jesus, their people, Holy Spirit, joy, praise, thanksgiving, and commitment.
Thanks God for letting me be a part.
