Communion at Sardis

We’ve been programmed to remember the Last Supper as the First Communion. And it was in a formal sense.  But in reality, that kind of meal was nothing new.  Jesus offered Communion everywhere he went.

Jesus saw every gathering as a potential table. And he understood humanity’s need for constant refueling. I think what separated Jesus from others, was his concern for marginalized persons — Where were their tables? Where were their sources of community? Where was their source of refreshment for the heart, for the soul, for the body, for the sense of “blah” they may have felt?  Jesus knew that the breaking and sharing of bread was a tangible way to tell neighbors they had value, and that they mattered.

At Sardis, we seek to honor the Communion Jesus offered. We view Communion as an expression of radical hospitality. Every human being needs to be fed, and needs to experience community. All are welcome at this table: believer, doubter, seeker, no matter, you are welcome!!! Catholic, Protestant, Baptist, recovering Baptist, no matter, you are welcome!!! Old, young, rich, poor, happy, sad, grieving, confused, no matter, you are welcome at this table!!! And you are welcome, each and every time we gather.

This coming Sunday, Sardis will partake in our annual Communion Brunch. It’s a simple service. We gather a little earlier than normal (10:30 am). We set up the meetinghouse banquet-style, with long tables so that everyone has a place. We share a potluck brunch full of sweetbreads, quiches (vegan and gluten-free, too!), juices, and other breakfast items. And we chat. And we enjoy catching up.  Then we sing. The “good” hymns by request, and some that are Hilary’s favorites. We offer a prayer expressing our joys and concerns.  We hear a brief (very brief!) homily. And we partake in the Lord’s Supper. Everyone serves and is served by their neighbor — the elements are passed just like you’d pass dishes at your family supper table.  And then we leave the meetinghouse singing.

We hope you can join us.  And we hope this simple meal will remind you to seek out other forms of Communion in the week ahead: school lunchrooms, office watercolors, park benches, or your household tables just to name a few.

As a congregation, we’ll give thanks for those who have gathered.  But we’ll also take note of neighbors who are missing.  And hopefully, we’ll leave with the resolve to seek new and innovative ways to invite them to our table.  Lord knows we’ve got plenty of extra chairs, and plenty of fixin’s to go around, and plenty of room in our hearts.  We ought to use these resources to make a bigger, better, more inclusive table.