My opening sermon thoughts can be found here

Is communion a solemn event?  A joyful one? both???  Is it a memory meal, one we "do this in remembrance of him", a penitential rite, a banquet?

A communion-ish story

Earlier this summer we had a bottle of Grape Juice that had been given in the "welcome basket" from the congregation (actually I think it was Cran-Grape).  Patty asked our eldest if she wanted a glass of grape juice "like we have at church".

Sarah agreed to try it, drank a bit and said "yum, now i just need some bread to dip in it"

In a word?  Yes.

Like a family Thanksgiving dinner, it cekebrates and remembers past and present.  We are reminded of the people around us, and of the people who have gone before us.  We also remember future generastions, those who will follow us.  We remember and celebrate what it is (or who it is) that draws us together and binds us as one.  It is solemn, calling to mind events of the last week; but also joyful, as it points to a promise that the story goes on beyond Good Friday.  It has traditionally included a confession of sins, so, yes, it has its penitential moment, but it also reminds us that we can be renewed, so it is joyful.  Heckuva lot to ask of a bite of bread and a sip of grape juice, but then it isn't so much about biying and sipping, as the spirit (and Spirit) in which it is given and received.

Maybe Communion doesn't mean anything to WC folks?

What if we celebrated it as a dunken Bacchanalia?  Oh wait, it appears some folks in COrinth may have tried that already.  Paul was not impressed

I wonder how many hang around in "Church Life"?

Paul's a bit of a spoil sport.

My Baptist church doesn't participate in Worldwide Communion Sunday.

We Baptists see it as being one of two ordinances, rather than sacraments.

To me it is a symbolic act we perform to remember Christ and His work on the cross on behalf of humanity. The elements remain the bread and the juice that they are. They do not become Christ's body and blood. I enjoy taking part in communion. For me it is a time of quiet reflection and confession.

real presences? Not a memorial?

Communion for me......somewhere in there, it is about community...I am part of a community of Christ..I honour this when I share in Communion.

But a piece of the act of taking part in communion is shaped by where I am...What church...what people...

My church in rural Thunder Bay,(Pinegrove United) is where I most feel the Spirit connecting with me. I think that  taking part in communion with my friends there creates a safety and reassurance for me that I am not alone....That  people I love and trust are sharing in this with me and that I belong . It is less about tradition...and more about honouring our Faith.

I have shared in Communion in the Anglican, and the Roman Catholic (received a blessing instead of the elements) Churches.  In these churches, I generally feel connected to a long history and tradition. ....but that doesn't necessarily leave me feeling connected to the Spirit...

Communion.....community.....

What community of Christ?

We're brutalizing Haiti. We're killing in Afghanistan. We're preparing to formally invade Pakistan and Iran. We live in a society in which the gap between rich and poor has been growing for close to a half century. We're in a hysteria of hatred for Moslems.

Don't cooperate with all this,and then blame it on Christ.

you need to get your teddy bear, curl up and listen to some Louis Armstrong for awhile Graeme.

A Wondercafe quote but I cant remember the poster but it resonates with me.

"table of new beginnings"

meredith -

Yes, that would make the world a much better place. That's what Jesus should have done.

Crazyheart - love that line.

Lynne Browne - I get what you are saying, and feel like that, but not in satisfied history, but shared journey.

Graeme - no kidding, but within our anguish, and along the bloody history there has been a thread of compassion & vision.  Usually squashed by the powers, either political or religious.  No doubt.   But if it wasn't there, then we'd all be just in this life for ourselves and screw the world.  But you're not like that, and I'm not, and nor are many of the others who stand at that table on Sunday.  It might be futile and symbolic, but I bet it changes someone somewhere for the better.  It reminds us to be hopeful.   And it is restful.  Having some rest is ok, if it fuels us for more change.  Skip the bear, take your boys for a walk on the shore, skip some stones and recharge.  Then go make life better somewhere else, with your words & wisdom, but also with an open table heart.

Graeme - Jesus made the world a better place and I have faith that God is working through us to do the same.  If I am in despair over the state of the world I'm not much good to God or anyone else. 

I'm afraid you are missiing my point. The church is made up of people. So is the membership of the church. I live in a province where the people are passive and submissive. So are there churches.

I could say the same for Canada. I can't take abstractions from the pulpit seriously when it largely ignores what is really happening.

Jesus did not make the world a  better place. That was up to us. We didn't do it. God doesn't work through us unless we allow God to do so.

so ...  and trust me, I'm not arguing, just pondering...  you feel when you stand up for WWC or something like that, the lack of action and lack of willingness is more acute, more horrendous because people are so obviously not changing.  I can see that. 

In truth, at all times we are going forward and backward at the same time.  We can celebrate and curse ourselves at the same time, and Heaven is being lived out just as someone's Hell is immediate.  

A question - is it ok to pause and celebrate?  Does the Spirit ever bring you joy and hope, and therefore endorse some contentment?   Is it your gift of the Spirit to effect change on such levels as you see it necessary?  

I wish I knew how to post pictures.     http://www.stencilrevolution.com/photopost/showphoto.php?photo=3522&ppuser=658

I should change my avatar back to this one...

That's my theological point of view as well. Have you ever read any of the writings of Dorothee Sölle ?

I agree that many of us have failed miserably to take up the gauntlet Jesus threw down to us to love our neighbours, resist evil, seek justice, and do good in this world. But I also don't think giving up should be an option either. And I think as the going gets tough, as much as the value of Communion is 99.9% symbolic, and it won't in itself cure cancer or bring about world peace, I think it can serve as a tonic to the deep frustration and malaise you express and many of us feel - a reminder we are a community, in this together, and a chance to reinvigorate from that passivity you refer to. I for one find myself a much more benevolent and considerate person, looking more proactively for opportunities to do good, after a moving and inspiring time at church, which I find Communion often is (although granted I can only speak for myself on that one and not the Christian community writ large).

I have trouble with ritual. I don't feel part of a Christian community unless it is at least trying to be Christian. I can't tolerate ritual and symbolism when there is so little Christian behaviour for the community to symbolize.

I have no problem with my faith. I have trouble with Christians who have torn the guts out of their faith to make themselves socially and politically respectable. I would gladly rejoice with a community that takes pride in its social unacceptability. I have no desire to desert my faith in order to be accepted by anybody.

Recently, I have been profoundly disappointed by the churches in Moncton, notably the United Church who have so far not even responded to a matter I brought to their attention as a severe abuse of children being carried out by private business with the collusion of most of the local news media.

As a person with over forty years experience in education and with thousands of radio, TV, and print items - as well as two terms in Hong Kong teaching Journalism ethics to journalists - I think I can be reasonably confident of my knowledge of these fields.

I know it will offend some very wealthy and powerful people and many news media and many politicians.  But this is a serious moral issue.

And I have no response from them at all. I have never much cared who I was acceptable to. Now, I care very little about whether I am acceptable to the churches.

If the churches in Moncton are typical, I'll stay with God; and skip their rituals.

Graeme - and that is absolutely fair enough. In that case, beyond the ritual, it sounds like those you would be 'communing' with are some with whom you do not feel a great deal of fellowship right now - and the symbolism would be an empty one, as opposed to an inspiring reminder to live up to genuinely-held ideals. That is a different kettle of fish, and I'm deeply sorry over the situation you speak of - you are right, that is disappointing, and not Godly whatsoever.

Communion to me is an event in which Jesus in a real way feeds my spirit as I share this meal with the rest of a worshipping community.  I have just started part-time ministry where I am now, and we had communion last Sunday. the last Sunday of the month.

agreed. 

I like world wide communion Sunday-I feel connected to others.

Communion can vary-sometimes it is a celebration-something a moment of sober reflection.

Our congregation serves it monthly.