Another Sunday, another communion
I have somehow become the communion guy at church. They don't even ask anymore. The speaker finishes his sermon, goes to sit down, and everyone just sits there waiting for the communion guy. You think I'm kidding? Seriously...I waited it out today. I sat there for about 30 seconds...everyone silent...waiting to see what would happen. And sure enough, someone comes up and says "you're leading communion, right?"
Well, I went crazy today. I even issued a public disclaimer that "what we're about to do is my idea and my idea only" in case I offended anyone. I didn't want someone blaming Tomek or any of the other leaders for the crazy American missionary's new-fangled ideas to shake things up.
Wondering what I did? Well, a bit more background. As you might know, we take communion every week (aka the Lord's Supper). I see absolutely no problem with this although it's not the norm for the Baptist churches I've attended in the states. I think that they do this because it makes peoples' transition from the Catholic church easier (where they take communion at every mass...could be several times daily if you'd like). At least that's my theory. The only challenge is making sure that you provide an atmosphere that does not allow for people beginning to see it as a habit or just "what we do".
So, today I shook things up. And in this culture you just don't do that. But hey, I'm the communion guy. As such (and I did point that out to them - LOL) I felt I had the right. So, I asked everyone to stand and form a big circle...something easily done as we had around 20 people there today. The sermon today spoke much about our unity in the body of Christ...and I added some comments about this idea, drawing their attention to each other. It's all too easy to come to church and do "your thing" without giving much attention to everyone else there. I wanted to make sure that wasn't the case today.
Standing in our circle, I took the bread and wine (yes, it's real wine), turned to the person next to me and explained to him that he was my brother in Christ and, as such, I loved him...that I wanted to serve him in that way. And so it went around our circle.
At the end I once again called everyone to look around our circle. I told them that when they think of our church that those faces should be in their mind...as that is the church (or better, the Church)...and that is precisely where our unity lies. It's source is not found in leadership, vision, or strategy...it's in our hearts which become united as we give ourselves fully to Christ.
I think people responded well to my shake-up today, although only time will tell. I told Vicki that maybe today would be my last day as the communion guy. Don't know if they can handle further shaking.
Well, I went crazy today. I even issued a public disclaimer that "what we're about to do is my idea and my idea only" in case I offended anyone. I didn't want someone blaming Tomek or any of the other leaders for the crazy American missionary's new-fangled ideas to shake things up.
Wondering what I did? Well, a bit more background. As you might know, we take communion every week (aka the Lord's Supper). I see absolutely no problem with this although it's not the norm for the Baptist churches I've attended in the states. I think that they do this because it makes peoples' transition from the Catholic church easier (where they take communion at every mass...could be several times daily if you'd like). At least that's my theory. The only challenge is making sure that you provide an atmosphere that does not allow for people beginning to see it as a habit or just "what we do".
So, today I shook things up. And in this culture you just don't do that. But hey, I'm the communion guy. As such (and I did point that out to them - LOL) I felt I had the right. So, I asked everyone to stand and form a big circle...something easily done as we had around 20 people there today. The sermon today spoke much about our unity in the body of Christ...and I added some comments about this idea, drawing their attention to each other. It's all too easy to come to church and do "your thing" without giving much attention to everyone else there. I wanted to make sure that wasn't the case today.
Standing in our circle, I took the bread and wine (yes, it's real wine), turned to the person next to me and explained to him that he was my brother in Christ and, as such, I loved him...that I wanted to serve him in that way. And so it went around our circle.
At the end I once again called everyone to look around our circle. I told them that when they think of our church that those faces should be in their mind...as that is the church (or better, the Church)...and that is precisely where our unity lies. It's source is not found in leadership, vision, or strategy...it's in our hearts which become united as we give ourselves fully to Christ.
I think people responded well to my shake-up today, although only time will tell. I told Vicki that maybe today would be my last day as the communion guy. Don't know if they can handle further shaking.
posted by Michael Shattuck at
12:07 PM
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