The World @ Communion
March 24, 2010
It no longer come as a surprise that the “@” is everywhere. The “at” sign. I looked it up, thinking that it had a fine name like “ampersand” for the & sign. But it’s just “at.” So now when I’m looking for someone, I can say, “Where you @?” Okay, maybe not.
The far larger point is that next Sunday, October 5, thousands of the churches of the world will gather “@” the table, worshiping around the “World Communion” theme. It’s an awesome thing. So many churches use the lectionary, the three year cycle of weekly readings, that our unity is in place as me move toward the table: we are hearing the same word read and proclaimed around the world.
Have you ever wondered if the sounds of worship reaching God’s ears (does God have ears??) is a cacophony of noisome practices. There’s a great scene in “Bruce Almighty,” where Bruce (Jim Carrey), who has taken over for God, is hearing all the prayers of the world – simultaneously. (Let me just say it was not conducive to restful sleep.) As we uplift the same texts and claim the unity of the whole church, perhaps the sounds that arise to God do so more harmoniously than that.
Several important things will happen @ our communion table. The first is the musical leadership of Sango Malamu, a group of Congolese musicians. They will fill several of the musical slots of the service, including the prelude – so come a little early to enjoy that! Sango Malamu means “Good News Singers.” I am really looking forward to hearing them!
The second is our World Communion offering, one of six “special Sunday” offerings each year. Proceeds provide scholarships for international and US racial- and ethnic minority students and minority persons seeking second careers in church-related vocations. Half of the offering goes to World Communion Scholarship.s. So help as you’re able.
The most important thing that will happen is that we will claim once again the signs of Christ in our midst. Beyond the texts, the songs, the prayers and practices, it is the sacrament of holy communion that unifies believers as the body of Christ now dwelling upon the earth. That is a profound and humbling, powerful and glorious act of worship.
I look forward to seeing you @ the table!
Pastor Steve