WELCOME TO FIRST CHRISTIAN CHURCH, 9/16/07.

 WE ARE DELIGHTED THAT YOU ARE HERE TO WORSHIP WITH US THIS MORNING.

FIRST IN THE PEW ON THE BACK OF THE PEW DIRECTLY IN FRONT OF YOU ON THE INSIDE AISLE IS THE RED BOOK OF FRIENDSHIP.

WE ASK THAT YOU ASSIGN THAT AND PASS IT DOWN TO THE OUTSIDE AISLE WHERE WE WILL COLLECT IT SHORTLY.

IN YOUR BULLETIN THIS MORNING YOU WILL FIND A LIST OF PEOPLE THAT NEED PRAYER CONCERNS.

THESE ARE PEOPLE THAT NEED TO BE IN YOUR THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS THIS WEEK AND PLEASE KEEP THESE FEEL IN YOUR THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS.

ALSO YOU WILL FIND A SCHEDULE OF THE CHURCH ACTIVITIES AND ANNOUNCEMENTS OF THINGS HAPPENING IN THE LIFE OF THE CHURCH THIS WEEK.

ALSO IN THE NEXT COUPLE OF WEEKS WE WILL WHETHER KICKING OFF OUR YEARLY STEWARDSHIP CAMPAIGN.

WE WOULD ASK THAT YOU CONSIDER THIS AND PARTICIPATE AT WHAT LEVEL THAT YOU THINK IS APPROPRIATE TOW YOU.

THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT TO THE LIFE OF OUR CHURCH.

OF THE WORSHIP SERVICE TODAY IN THE BACK THERE WILL BE PUNCH SERVE AND WE WILL HAVE A TYPE OF FELLOWSHIP.

NOW JOIN US AS WE WORSHIP.

PLEASE JOIN ME IN THE CALL TO WORSHIP.

LET US STAND AND SING HYMN NUMBER 65.

YOU MAY BE SEATED.

IF THE CHILDREN WILL COME FORWARD FOR WIGGLE TIME.

CHRISTINE HAS WIGGLE TIME THIS MORNING.

GOOD MORNING.

HAVE YOU GUYS EVER LOST ANYTHING?

DID YOU LOSE SOMETHING.

I WILL PICK ON MY KIDS THIS MORNING.

LAST YEAR ONE OF THEM LOST A JACK T AT SCHOOL.

THEY COULDN'T FIND IT, COULDN'T TIDE IT.

SO I DECIDED I WOULD GO FIND IT.

SO I WENT TO THE SCHOOL AND ASKED FOR THE LOST AND FOUND.

DOES EVERYONE HAVE A LOST AND FOUND?

I LOST A PENNY ONE TIME.

YOU KNOW SURELY IF YOU LOST SOMETHING YOU WOULD WANT TO GO FIND IT.

WELL I WENT TO THE LOST AND FOUND AND WHICH WAS A HUGE BOX AND IT WAS SO BIG AND SO FULL.

AND I THOUGHT ALL THESE KIDS CAME AND LOST STUFF.

I WENT AND LOOKED FOR A JACKET AND WHICH MUFF A HUNDRED JACKETS.

IN THAT BOX WAS A LUNCHBOX ‑‑ HOW COULD YOU LOSE A LUNCHBOX?

I LOST ONE BEFORE.

YOU KNOW WHAT ELSE I FOUND?

A PAIR OF GLASSES.

HOW WILL YOU SEE TO DO YOU HOME WOKE IF YOU DONE HAVE YOUR GLASSES?

I FOUND MY CHILD'S COAT BUT I WONDERED ABOUT ALL THE OTHER STUFF.

THAT IS A LOT OF LOST AND FOUND SO WHEN YOU LOSE SOMETHING DO YOU GO LOOKING FOR IT?

YOU LOOK AND LOOKING  IN YOU FIND IT, RITE?

IN THE BIBLE THERE ARE TWO STORIES THAT  JESUS TELLS ABOUT SOMETHING HE HAS LOST.

THE FIRST MAN IS ABOUT ONE  HUNDRED SHEEP.

AND ONE DAY THEY ALL CAME BACK AND HE WAS COUNTING THEM AND THEN THERE WAS ONE LOST.

SO DO YOU THINK HE SAID, I HAVE 99 SHEEP I DON'T NEED THAT ONE?

NO HE WENT LOOKING FOR THE ONE SHEEP THAT WAS LOST AND HE FOUND IT AND REJOICED ABOUT HIS LOST SHEEP.

AND WHICH WAS ANOTHER STORY ABOUT A LADY THAT HAD TEN COINS.

SHE LOST THE TENTH COIN BUT SHE WENT LOOKING FOR THE COIN AND WHEN SHE FOUND IT SHE CALLED ALL HER FRIENDS AND SAY REJOICE WITH ME I FOUND MY COINS.

JESUS TELLS US TWO STORIES IN THE BIBLE BECAUSE GOD IS ALSO LOOKING FOR US WHEN WE ARE LOST.

GOD DOESN'T GIVE UP ON US WHEN WE ARE LOST

HE WANTS US TO COME BACK TO HIM.

THERE IS REJOICING IN THE ANGELS OVER ONE SINNER WHO REPENTS.

EVERY TIME THAT SOMEONE ASKS FOR GOD TO FORGIVE THEM , ALL THE ANGELS SING.

GOD IS VERY HAPPY WHEN YOU DO SOMETHING WRONG BUT THEN YOU REALIZE YOU DID IT AND YOU SAY GOD FORGIVE ME, HE IS HAPPY WHEN YOU COME BACK TO WHAT YOU SHOULD DO.

SO THIS WEEK REJOICE.

DEAR GOD, THANK YOU THAT YOU LOVE US SO MUCH THAT YOU NEVER GIVE UP ON US.

EVEN WHEN WE MIGHT BE LOST FROM YOU YOU KEEP SEARCHING FOR US.

IN YOUR NAME WE PRAY, AMEN.

GOOD MORNING.

ARE THERE ANY JOYS ANYONE WOULD LIKE TO SHARE THIS MORNING?

WELL, I WANT TO SHARE, I ACTUALLY WANT EVERYBODY TO SEE EL, BECAUSE SHE IS SO SWEET AND I JUST FELT SO JOYFUL WHEN SHE CAME IN.

LOOK HOW CUTE SHE IS.

YOU OBVIOUSLY NEED ANOTHER ONE.

QUICKLY BEFORE CHRISTINE GETS ANY IDEAS.

SHE EVER LOOKS LIKE AN ALTO.

TODAY IS JILLIAN'S FIRST SUNDAY.

THIS IS AN ANNOUNCEMENT ‑‑ MORE SO, IT IS A JOY TOO, I HAD  THE PRIVILEGE OF TAKING BRUNCH TO THE BROWN ACADEMY.

THEY WERE SO APPRECIATIVE.

THIS YOUNG PEOPLE AT BROWN ARE SELLING THE COUPON BOOKS.

I HOPE YOU WILL SUPPORT THIS.

I WOULD IMAGINE YOU YOUR CHILDREN ARE SELLING THEM BUT I HAVE SOME HERE TODAY FROM BROWN ACADEMY.

IT WAS A JOY TO SERVE THEM BRUNCH.

OTHER JOYS?

DORIS?

WE ARE GLAD YOU SHAVED YOU CAN BEARD OFF, WE CAN SEE YOU NOW.

ANY CONCERNS?

THE YOUNG MAN THAT I MENTIONED LAST WEEK THAT I WILL HELP OUT [INAUDIBLE].

I AM NOT GOING TO HAVE THAT INFORMATION ON IT.

I WILL THUS THAT GOD WILL TAKE CARE.

ANY OTHERS?

LET'S BOW OUR HEADS FOR A MOMENT OF SILENT REFLECTION AS WE GO TO THE LORD IN PRAYER.

LET US PRAY:

GRACIOUS GOD WE GIVE YOU THANKS FOR THE WONDER OF NEW LIFE.

WE ARE SO GRATEFUL THAT ANOTHER ONE OF YOUR CHILDREN HAD BEEN BROUGHT INTO THIS WORLD DEMONSTRATING ONCE BEGIN YOUR JOY.

THE JOY YOU HAVE IN YOUR CREATION.

WE GIVE YOU THANKS THAT YOU FILL OUR HEARTS WITH JOY.

THE JOY THAT IS CHANGED JOYFUL OBEDIENCE AND SERVICE TO OTHERS.

EVERY TIME WE SHARE A WARM GREETING, HOLD A HAND OR GIVE A HUG, AS YOUR DISCIPLES WE DO IT IN YOUR NAME AND WE BRING JOY, YOUR JOY.

WE THANK YOU FOR THE GOODNESS IN EACH OF OUR LIVES BUT FOR SOME HERE AND ELSEWHERE THERE IS DIFFICULTY, THERE IS ILLNESS, THERE IS STRUGGLE.

REMIND US AND THOSE PERSONS THAT YOU STRUGGLE WITH THEM THAT THEY ARE NOT ALONE, THAT WE ARE ALL YOUR BE LOVED CHILDREN AND YOU CARE FOR ALL AND WE ALSO KNOW THAT YOU HAVE CREATED US TO BE INSTRUMENTS OF GRACE, SO ENCOURAGE US TO REACH OUT TO THOSE WHO ARE STRUGGLING.

WHATEVER THEIR CHANGE, HELP US BE A PRESENCE THE PRESENCE OF GRACE, OF LOVE, OF AFFIRMATION.

WE REALLY DON'T HAVE TO TALK MUCH, IT IS JUST GOOD TO BE THERE.

SO HELP US TO BE THERE.

WE NOT ONLY PRAY FOR OURSELVES BUT WE PRAY FOR THOSE WHOM WE DO NOT KNOW, THOSE IN WAR TORN LANDS, THOSE WHO ARE HUNGRY.

MAY WE BY PRESENCE REACH OUT AND OFFER ASSISTANCE TO THOSE IN NEED.

D TO ESPECIALLY WE REMEMBER THOSE WHO ARE HOMELESS IN OUR OWN COMMUNITY, THOSE WHO ARE HUNGRY, THOSE WHO ARE THIRSTY, THOSE WHO ARE DIRTY, THOSE WHO ARE LONELY.

MAY WE ACTUALLY OFFER SERVICE AND NOT JUST LIP SERVICE BUT REACH OUT TO THEM AS BROTHERS AND SISTERS IN CHRIST.

AS WE WORSHIP, OPEN OUR MINDS AND OUR HEARTS THAT WE MIGHT RECEIVE WHAT YOU HAVE THIS DAY THAT WE MIGHT NOT ONLY KEEP IT BUT SHARE IT AND WE ARE REMINDED BY THE PRAYER THAT JESUS TAUGHT HIS DISCIPLES.

SO BOLDLY WE SAY.

LORD'S PRAYER BEING PRAYED.

NOW IS OUR TIME OF OFFERING.

LET US ALL GIVE GENEROUSLY AS WE ARE REMINDED OF GOD'S GENEROSITY, THESE GIFTS AND TITHES AND OFFERINGS GO OUT TO HELP THE KINGDOM OF GOD, SO LET US GIVE.

THE SCRIPTURE TO IS FROM THE 22 CHAPTER OF LUKE VERSES 1 THROUGH 20.

I AM READING FROM THE KNEW REVISED STANDARD VERSION.

YOU CAN FOLLOW ON PAGE 916.

NOW THE FEAST OF UNLEAVENED BREAD DREW NEAR WHICH WAS CALLED PASSOVER.

FOR THEN SATAN  ENTERED JUDAS.

HE WENT AWAY AND.

SO HE AGREED AND STARTED AN OPPORTUNITY TO BETRAY THEM IN THE ABSENCE OF THE MULTITUDE THEN CAME THE DAY OF THE UNLEAVENED BREAD ON WHICH THE PASSOVER LAMB HAD TO BE SACRIFICED.

SO JESUS SENT PETER AND JOHN SAYING GO AND PREPARE THE PASSOVER FOR US TO THAT WE MAY EAT IT AND THEY ASKED, WHERE CAN WE HAVE IT PREPARED.

AND HE SAID BEHOLD WHEN YOU ENTER A CITY A MAN WILL HAVE A JUG OF WATER.

FOLLOW HIM TO HIS HOUSE.

AND THE.

AND HE WILL SHOW YOU A LANCH UPPER ROOM FURNISHED THERE MAKE READY AND THEY WENT AND FOUND IT LIKE HE HAD TOLD HIM AND HE PRAYED HE SAID UNTO THEM, I EARNESTLY DESIRE TO EAT THIS PASSOVER WITH YOU BEFORE I SUFFER BUT I TELL YOU IT I  SHALL NOT EAT IT BEFORE IT IS FULFILL INSTEAD THE KINGDOM OF GOD.

AND HE GOT A CUP AND SAID TAKE THIS AND DIVIDE IT AMONG YOURSELF.

FOR I TELL YOU I WILL NOT DRINK UNTIL THE KINGDOM OF GOD.

COMES AND THIS IS MY BODY WHICH IS GIVEN FOR YOU, DO THIS IN REMEMBRANCE OF ME AND LIKE WISE THE CUP AFTER SUPPER SAYING, THIS CUP WHICH WAS POURED OUT FOR YOU IS A NEW COVENANT IN MY BLOOD.

THIS IS THE GOOD NEWS.

THANKS BE TO GODS.

LET US PRAY:

GRACE GOD FOR YOUR WORDS WE GIVE YOU THANKS THAT THEY MIGHT PENETRATE OUR HEART AND TRANSFORM US.

WHO SPOKE THE WORDS AND WHO LIVED THE WORDS.

AMEN.

I DON'T KNOW WHOM PEOPLE HERE HAVE LARGE FAMILIES?

HOW MANY HAVE LARGE FAMILIES?

I COME FROM A LARK FAMILY.

MY GRANDMOTHER HAD 16 CHILDREN SO THERE WAS I DON'T KNOW, A LOT OF COUSIN, EVERY CHANCE TO GET TOT FOR A HOLIDAY, IT WAS A BIG THING NOR OUR FAMILY.

ALL OF US WERE ANTICIPATING THIS GRATE EVENT AND OUR MOTHERS WOULD PREPARE ALL OF THIS FOOD AND WE WOULD GATHER IN OUR AUNTS HOMES AND WE WOULD GET TOGETHER AND PIECE AND IT WAS A WONDERFUL DAY TO A POINT.

SOMEWHERE ALONG THAT DAY, SOMEONE WOULD DROP A BOMB OR MAKE A CRAZY STATEMENT.

AT ONE FAMILY GATHERING THE POLICE CAME.

THAT IS WHAT WE HAVE HERE IN OUR TEXT THIS MORNING.

HERE WE HAVE THESE DISCIPLES, JESUS TELLS THEM GO AND PREPARE, WE ARE GOING TO HAVE PASSOVER, I WILL TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT PASSOVER IN A FEW MOMENTS BUT HERE ARE THESE MEN WHO TRAVELED  TOGETHER THREE YEARS OR SO WITH JESUS, I MEAN, THEY STARTED OUT AS FOLLOWER, THEY GREW INTO BECOMING DISCIPLES AND THEN THEY BECAME FRIENDS SO FROM FOLLOWERS TO DISCIPLES TO FRIENDS.

THREE YEARS TOGETHER, THEY ARE GOING TO HAVE PASSOVER, THEY GET THE PLACE READY AND THEY GET TO THAT PART WHERE HE SAYS HE TOOK THE BREAD AND GAVE THANKS AND BROKE IT AND SAID THIS IS MY BODY WHICH IS GIVEN TO YOU, DO THIS IN REMEMBRANCE OF ME.

AND LIKE WISE HE POURED OUT THE CUP, THIS IS A NEW COVENANT IN MY BLOOD.

BOMB.

WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT?

WE HAVE SEEN YOU PER FORM MIRACLES, WE HAVE SEEN YOU TRAVEL EVERYWHERE, WE HAVE SEEN YOU CALM THE STORM.

WE ARE HERE TO CELEBRATE THE PASSOVER.

WHAT IS THIS BREAD, BROKEN BODY, BLOOD, CUP?

AND TO TOP IT OFF, IF YOU READ IT A LITTLE FURTHER, THERE IS SOMEONE WHEN HE WILL BETRAY, A FRIEND WILL BETRAY JESUS.

WE WERE JUST HERE TO CELEBRATE PASSOVER.

I THINK COMMUNION DOES A FEW THINGS FOR US ‑‑ I AM SURE IT DOES MORE BUT I WANT TO TALK ABOUT A FEW THINGS.

THE FIRST THING IT DOES IS IT LINKS US TO THE PAST.

JESUS AND HIS PASSOVER SELL BRACES WANTS TO REMIND HIS DISCIPLES AND US THAT THERE IS THIS TRADITION OF GOD FREES GOD'S PEOPLE.

THAT THE ISRAELITES WERE SLAIN, TRAPPED, AND THAT GOD TOOK THEM FROM THAT SLAVERY TO FREEDOM.

NOW IT WANT EASY.

I MEAN THERE IS SOME ISRAELITE THAT IS SAYING, DOES IT HAVE TO TAKE THIS LONG?

I MEAN YOU ARE GOD, 40 YEARS SNAP IT UP A LITTLE.

AND SOME SAID WHY DON'T WE GO BACK TO SLAVERY.

WE KNEW WE HAD THREE MEALS A DAY IN SLAVERY, BUD R BUT GOD SAID TRUST ME, I AM LEADING YOU SOMEWHERE.

COMMUNION LINKED TO THE PAST REMINDS US NOT ONLY HOW WITH ISRAELITES WERE TREE BUT HOW WE AS GOD E'S PEOPLE ARE CAPTIVE TO GREED AND THINGS.

THAT LINK TO THE PAST REMINDS US THAT GOD CAN STILL FREE US THAT WE MIGHT BE THE BELOVED CHILDREN HE HAS CREATED US TO BE.

IT DOESN'T MATTER HOW LONG YOU HAVE BEEN ENSLAVED OR HOW HARD IT HAS BEEN.

GOD IS WANTING TO LEAD US FROM CAPTIVITY TO FREEDOM.

MAYBE IT IS A SHAWL THING, MAYBE IT IS A LARGE THING, HALF IT IS GOD CAN HASN'T L IT AND JESUS IS REMINDS HIS DISCIPLES, THAT GOD CAN HANDLE IT THAT GOD CAN TAKE YOU FROM CAPTIVITY TO FREE DOME.

THREE TIMES A WEEK WHEN I WAS GROWING UP I WENT TO MY GRANDMOTHER'S HOUSE.

ONE REASON I LOVED GOING THERE WAS THAT SHE MADE BREAD.

AND YOU WERE NOT EVEN IN THE HOUSE, YOU WERE JUST WACKING IN THE PATH WAY AND YOU COULD SMELL THAT BREAD.

KIND OF LIKE SOME OF YOU COULD SMELL THE BREAD WE BAKED TODAY.

HOPEFULLY YOU COULD SMELL IT WHEN YOU CAME IN.

NOW THAT MIGHT NOT SEEN VERY IMPORTANT BUT IT WAS IMPORTANT TO MY GRANDMOTHER.

SHE GREW UP VERY POOR AND SHE ISN'T HAVE ENOUGH TO MAKE BREED WHEN SHE WAS GROWING UP AND ONLY WHEN SHE CAME TO THIS COUNTRY FROM PORT YOU GAL THAT SHE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE BREAD FOR HER CHILDREN.

SO THREE TIMES A WEEK, MAYBE FOUR, SHE WOULD MAKE THIS BROAD PA SCRATCH AND IT WAS KIND OF A LINK WITH HER PAST.

THE IDEA WAS I COLD NOT DO THIS BEFORE BECAUSE OF MY OWN CAPTIVITY BUT I AM TREE TO DO THIS NOW.

AND I WANT TO DO IT AS OFTEN AS I CAN FOR MYSELF AND FOR MY CHILDREN AND FOR MY GRAND CHILDREN.

SHE WAS TREE TO DO IT FINALLY, TO MAKE BREAD FOR THE PEOPLE SHE LOVED.

I THINK THAT IS THE SAME WITH COMMUNION AND THIS MEAL THAT JESUS HAD WITH HIS DISCIPLES, CONNECTING THAT PAST, GOD HAS DOWN THIS AND GOD WILL CONTINUE TO DO THIS.

GOD WILL LEAD YOU OUT OF CAPTIVITY TO FREEDOM.

THE SECOND THINGS IS THAT COMMUNION LINKS US TO THE PRESENT AND CHRIST'S PRESENCE RIGHT HERE AMONG US.

SO IT IS NOT ONLY THAT HE DOES IT IN THE PAST AND LEADING US, BUT HE IS RITE HERE AND THAT SOMEHOW CHRIST IS IN THE MIDST OF OUR LIVES.

I REMEMBER IN SEMINARY IT WAS MY FIRST YEAR.

AND FRIDAYS WERE MY FAVORITE DAY, NOT ONLY BECAUSE IT WAS THE LAST DAY OF CLASSES.

IT WAS A COMMUTER SCHOOL.

THE STUDENTS THAT STAYED ON CAMPUS FRY HAD A COMMUNION SERVICE.

WE WOULD SING SOME SONGS, WE WOULD READ SOME SCRIPTURE, WE WOULD GATHER IN A CIG L AND SOMETIMES WE WOULD SERVE EACH OVER AND SOMETIMES WE WOULD HAVE A PROFESSOR TO SERVE.

ONE BRING IN THAT SICKLE AS THE COMMUNION WAS BEING PASSED AROUND, AND HALF WAY DOCK THE CIRCLE WAS AN OLDER SICKLE WAS A STUDENT WITH ARTIFICIAL LIMBS WITH A HOOK AT THE END.

AND I THOUGHT HOW WAS HE GOING TO TAKE COMMUNION, HOW CAN HE DO THAT FOR HIMSELF?

I NEVER NOTICED THAT BEFORE.

HOW CAN THIS BE?

AND SO A PROFESSOR AND ANOTHER PERSON WENT AROUND AND THEY GOT TO DAVE AND THEY TOOK THE BREAD FOR HIM AND THEY PLACED IT IN HIS MOUTH AND THEY LIFTED THE CUP UP AND TIPPED IT INTO HIS MOUTH SO HE COULD DRINK THE CUP.

AND THE COMMUNION KEPT GOING AROUND.

THAT IS HOW I SEE CHRIST AS PRESENT IN OUR LIVES THAT SOMETIMES WE CANNOT DO THINGS FOR OURSELVES, MOST TIMES PROBABLY, WE CAN'T DO IT FOR OURSELVES AND CHRIST'S PURPOSE AND PRESENCE IS TO HELP US DO IT AND SOMETIMES TO DO IT FOR US BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE THE COURAGE OR THE STRENGTH, OR WE ARE TIRED OR ANGRY, WHATEVER IT IS, BUT CHRIST IS PRESENT, AND WHEN WE TAKE THE BREAD WE ARE REMINDED THAT CHRIST IS HERE TO HELP US LIVE TODAY AND TO HELP US DO THE THINGS THAT SOMETIMES WE CANNOT DO FOR OURSELVES.

IN COMMUNION, IT IS A LINK TO THE FUTURE.

GOD'S KINGDOM.

AS ONE FAMILY.

THAT IS THE FUTURE.

I SEE IT HERE AMONG US, DIFFERENT LOOKS AND SIZES AND SHAPES AND FACIAL HAIR.

I JUST DO IT TO KEEP YOU GUESSING.

BUT BY TAKING COMMUNION, BE PARTAKING THE BREAD AND THE CUP, WE USHER IN GOD'S KINGDOM THE WAY IT IS SUPPOSED TO BE TODAY.

IT IS NOT SOMETHING FAR OFF, BUT WE STARTED TO WHEN WE PARTAKE OF THE BREAD AND THE CUP THE WAY IT IS SUPPOSED TO BE.

I HAD THIS WONDERFUL EXPERIENCE IN TORONTO ONE TIME AND DOWNTOWN TORONTO, ALL THESE LARGE BILLINGS, BUT IN THE MIDDLE OF DOWNTOWN, THERE IS A STONE CHURCH.

AND THEY SERVE LUNCH THERE.

AND PEOPLE, ALL KINDS OF PEOPLE GO THERE, EXECUTIVES, CUSTODIANS, HOMELESS PEOPLE, TAXI DRIVERS, YOU NAME IT AND THEY CAN HAVE LUNCH.

IT WAS USUALLY SOMETHING SIMPLE, IT IS SOUP AND BREAD AND THERE IS A DO NATION BOX AND EVERYONE EATS.

SO I WENT IN AND HAD LUNCH AND THEN SOMETHING STARTS TO HAPPEN AFTER LUNCH.

THE CHAIRS START TO GET BACK AND ANYONE WHO WANTS TO STAY FOR A COMMUNION SERVICE CAN SIT.

SO HERE ARE ALL THESE PEOPLE IN THE CIRCLE.

HOMELESS MEN NEXT TO AN EXECUTIVE, NEST TO A TEACHER NEXT TO A MECHANIC.

THE REALLY INTERESTING PART WAS THE TIME OF COMMUNION.

EACH PERSON SERVED THE PERSON NEXT TO THEM.

I WAS AT THE OTHER END AND AS I SAW IT COMING AROUND EACH PERSON WOULD TAKE THE BREAD AND DRINK THE CUP AND IN SOME PLACES SOME PEOPLE WIPED THE CUP BECAUSE OF JURY ROOMS AND IN OUR TRADITION WE JUST DIP BUT NOBODY WAS WORRIED ABOUT GERMS THERE AND WE ALL WENT AROUND THE ROOM AND MOST OF US TOOK THE BREAD AND DRANK OUT OF THE CUP AND I ALSO LIKE TO SAY THAT NO ONE GOT SICK.

AS A MATTER OF FACT, WE ALL GOT WELL.

SOMEHOW ALL THESE DIFFERENT PEOPLE, WITH DIFFERENT GERMS AND DIFFERENT PLACES PARTOOK OF THE SAME CUP, OF THE SAME LOAF, AND AT THAT MOMENT I FELT, WE REPRESENTED THE KINGDOM OF GOD THE WAY IT WAS SUPPOSED TO LOOK.

NO FEAR, NO ANGER, NO ANGUISH, JUST WASN'T BODY PARTAKING OF THE BREAD AND THE CUP.

THE KINGDOM OF GOD NOW, REAL, ALIVE.

I WANT TO SAY ONE THING ABILITY THE POWER OF THIS MEAL.

THERE ARE ALL DIFFERENT KINDS OF THEOLOGIES WHEN IT COMES TO COMMUNION, THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO LIKE TO TAKE IT A CERTAIN WAY, ONLY.

SOME LIKE IT ONCE A MONTH, ONCE A QUARTER, FOR US IT IS EVERY WEEK, IN SOME WAY, SHAPE OR FORM.

BUT FOR SOME IT IS A REMEMBRANCE, FOR OTHERS IT IS THE ACTUAL BODY AND BLOOD OF CHRIST.

I WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT NOR ME NONE OF THAT REALLY MATTERS, BECAUSE I THINK THERE IS POWER IN THIS MEAL, AND I THINK THAT WHATEVER THIS MEAL NEEDS TO BE FOR YOU, THAT IT WILL BE, WHETHER IT IS REMEMBRANCE, WHETHER IT IS THE ACTUAL BODY AND BLOOD, THAT IT IS SO POWERFUL, THAT CHRIST IS SO PRESENT THAT IT IS SO ABOUT THE KINGDOM OF GOD, ALL THAT POWER IS RIGHT HERE AND SO IT IS WHATEVER YOU NEED IT TO BE SO THAT IT CAN CHANGE YOUR HEART SO THAT WE MIGHT BE MORE LIKE JESUS AND EVEN IF YOU ARE NOT A BELIEF, I BELIEVE THAT IT IS SO POWERFUL THAT YOU CAN BE DRAWN TO THIS BREAD AND THIS CUP AND COME TO KNOW CHRIST.

THAT IS HOW POWERFUL THIS MEAL IS.

SO WHEREVER YOU ARE ON YOUR JOURNEY, JUST KNOW THAT WHATEVER THIS MEAL NEEDS TO BE FOR YOU THIS MOMENT, THIS TIME, THAT GOD CAN PROVIDE IT, GOD WILL MAKE WHATEVER NEEDS TO HAPPEN, HAPPEN.

BECAUSE THIS IS THE LORD'S TABLE, NOT THE PREACHER'S TABLE, NOT THE CHURCH EAST TABLE AND THE LORD IS THE ONE THAT CALLS YOU TO PARTAKE OF HIS KINGDOM, TO BE TRANSFORMED AND TO BE REMINDED THAT EVERY ONE IN THE PLACE IS A BELOVED CHILD OF GOD.

SO WE WILL NOT SING OUR HYMN OF REFLECTION TODAY BUT WILL GO TO OUR INVITATION.

SO I INVITE HAUL HOR HERE TO PARTAKE OF THIS BREAD AND THIS CUP IF YOU WISH, TO EXPERIENCE THE POWER THAT IS IN THE BREAD AND IN THE CUP.

TO TASTE GOD'S GOODNESS THAT IS IN THIS BREAD AND IN THIS CUP AND AND AS WE DO LET US RELEASE OUR TRESPASSES, ALL THAT HAS KEPT IS IN CAPTIVITY BY SHARING IN OUR PRAYER OF CONFESSION.

LET US PRAY.

 LET US REMAIN SEATED AS WE SING OUR COMMUNION HYMN, NUMBER 408.

FOR I RECEIVE FROM THE LORD WHAT I ALSO THIS THE LORD JESUS ON THE NIGHT THAT HE WAS BETRAYED TOOK THE LOAF OF BREAD AND WHEN HE HAD GIVEN THANKS HE BROKE IT AND SAID THIS IS MY BODY FOR YOU, DO THIS IN REMEMBRANCE FOR ME.

IN THE SAME WAY HE TOOK THE CUP ALSO AFTER SUPPER SAYING THIS CUP IS THE NEW COVENANT IN MY BOOK DO THIS AS OFTEN AS YOU DRINK IT IN REMEMBRANCE OF ME.

OUR HEAVENLY FATHER WE COME TO THE TABLE THIS MORNING TO PARTAKE OF THIS BREAD.

IT IS ORDINARY BREAD, IT HAS NO MAGICAL PASSOVERS BUT WE DO SO BECAUSE IT SYMBOLIZES FOR US CHRIST.

AND BY TAKING IT WE REMEMBER NOT ONLY HIS SACRIFICE BUT WE REMEMBER EACH DAY THAT HE IS HERE FOR US, THAT HE FORGIVES US THAT HE BRINGS US SALVATION SO WE BRING THIS MORNING OUR CONCERNS AND OUR SINS AND ASK FOR FORGIVENESS.

LOVING FATHER WE COME TO THIS TABLE TO GIVE THANKS TO YOU FOR THE LORD'S SUPPER.

HELP US TO FEEL YOUR PRESENCE, HEAR WITH US AS YOU COME TO THIS TABLE.

LET US BE REMINDED THAT THIS WINE REPRESENTS SPILLED BLOOD OF OUR LORD JESUS WHO DIED ON THE CROSS FOR ALL OF US THAT WE MAY HAVE ETERNAL LIFE.

THANK YOU FOR THIS.

AMEN.

THIS MORNING WE WILL BE SHARING COMMUNION BY THE METHOD OF INSTINCTION  .

IF YOU CANNOT COME FORWARD IT WILL BE THE PRIVILEGE FOR OUR ELDERS TO COME AND SERVE YOU WHERE YOU ARE SEATED.

PLEASE JOIN ME IN THE PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING.

LET US STANDS FOR OUR CHORAL BENEDICTION.

HYMN NUMBER 556.

RECEIVE THE BENEDICTION: 

LET US GO FORTH WITH PEACE AND POWER, UNAFRAID REMINDED OF THE GRACIOUS WORDS OF OUR LORD JESUS, BE NOT AFRAID, BE NOT AFRAID FOR I AM WITH YOU ALWAYS EVEN UNTO THE END.

AMEN.