A New Spin on An Old Tradition

A New Spin on An Old Tradition

For the last five years, Sardis has reframed Maundy Thursday, traditionally a somber service, into an evening of joy. Yes, it was the last supper for friends, but it was also the first Communion. And Communion, a radical welcome to table, is the thing that binds us together, and reminds us of our value.

In pre-pandemic times, we would recreate the meal in our meetinghouse. We shared a simple meal of soup and bread, on earthen ware, and read the Gospel accounts of the Passover meal. It has been a highlight of our fellowship together, and helps us to imagine what that first supper would have been like.

In 2020, we persevered virtually, but it’s hard to recreate the same feeling via Zoom. In 2021, we are still unable to meet in our meetinghouse, so we decided to improvise. We’re going to have a parking lot tailgate. We’ll still share bread and soup. We’ll still hear the sacred words. We’ll still leave this place singing.

And sure, a tailgate may not be the first theological connection you make to Maundy Thursday, but we think there’s resonance. Jesus gathered his friends together in a shared space, and they shared what they had at supper time. Tailgates, food trucks, picnics, and other gatherings embody the same spirit: we gather together to feed on the things that sustain us: beloved community and daily bread.

And we believe, it’s the spiritual manna of table – the combination of bread and community – that will steel us for the disappointment of Friday, and embolden us to embrace the joy of Sunday.

Click here for details about Thursday and the rest of our 2021 Holy Week events. We’d love to have you, and we hope you know there is always room at our table!