Gathering at the Lord's Table

Our Pandemic Chapel

Jesus said to them,

“I am the bread of life.

Whoever comes to me will never be hungry,

and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty."

John 6:31

I am looking forward to gathering at the Lord's Table again.

I miss Holy Communion. I miss the pastor taking the bread, blessing it and giving it. Sure, during the pandemic, communion is served in wafer/juice cups. The Great Thanksgiving is said with appropriate responses and prayers. But this is like a slim-fast communion. 

In attending a memorial service recently, the altar was set, the bread broken into small pieces, and the cup present for dipping. The next day, a Sunday, I attended worship at a church where the congregation came forward to receive the wafer/juice cups. After both services I was able to catch up with friends from each church. 

I felt a strong presence of the Holy Spirit as we gathered at the Lord’s Table. The pastor saying, "pour out your Holy Spirit on us gathered here, and on these gifts of bread and wine... make us one with Christ and one each other". This was very moving for me.

After seeing the miracle of the bread and fish, Jesus has left the scene. The crowd goes looking for him. They follow him around the lake to the other side. They are demanding bread so Jesus tells them he is the bread of life. Jesus is saying the only food that can last for all time is the bread that Jesus himself is, the true gift from God. 

There will come a time when we gather with Jesus, the bread of life, and with the Holy Spirit, and will never be hungry or thirsty again.

This is my source of hope that having endured with Jesus and come this far, we will gather again around the Lord's table and share the bread of life.