Pastor’s Message for October 2024

“And he took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, ‘This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me.’” -Luke 22:19

Greetings, Friends!

     The first Sunday in October is known as World Communion Sunday in many portions of the church around the world. As the harvest season approaches, it is good to have the reminder of God’s gracious provision as we share in the meal which Jesus instituted so long ago. Communion, also known as the Eucharist or the Lord’s Supper, is one of the two sacraments celebrated in the Methodist tradition along with baptism.

     A sacrament is an outward and visible sign of God’s inward and spiritual grace. We celebrate the two sacraments because Jesus not only participated in them, but also instructed the Church to do them. Denominations may have differing theologies about the sacraments, but all churches have some form of communion and baptism. Some churches celebrate communion every week. Some use a full liturgy, and others simply offer the words of institution Jesus gave to the disciples. In the Wesleyan tradition of which we are a part, communion used to be celebrated quarterly because that was the time when the ordained elder of the church would be present at the church. The reason for the quarterly communion went away, but the tradition long outlived its purpose. (Something many churches have experience with!) As a sort of compromise between weekly and quarterly communion, most Methodist churches settled on monthly celebrations.

     In our tradition, sacraments are something more than mere tokens or symbols. While we do not believe the bread and the wine (or Welch’s grape juice) become something other than bread and wine, we believe that God is somehow present in the power of the Holy Spirit through the elements of communion and through the waters of baptism. John Wesley believed the sacraments are a means by which God’s grace is given to God’s people. We believe that communion and baptism are spaces where we encounter God. And because God’s grace is open to all, we celebrate what is called an “open table,” where all who are present are invited to receive the elements of communion. And we believe that “all” means “all.” God’s grace is open to everyone, from all nations, ages, genders, races, statuses, sainthood, or sinfulness. One does not need to understand communion to participate in communion. I’ve offered communion to children who are just learning to walk and to people of very advanced age who couldn’t remember their own name. And yet, that same grace of our Lord Jesus Christ is given to each.

I hope you will come to celebrate with us for World Communion Sunday on October 6th. You are welcome at Christ’s table!

God loves you, and so do I,
Pastor Jim