Three years on Iona

Normally, our Thursday night communion services are led by one of our two ordained members of staff. For some reason this week they asked me to help out.

Planning was a bit last minute, and I ended up writing and delivering the ‘reflection’ which come in the service just before the magic happens. Here’s what I said:

In a world church today with a rich and broad variety of worship, why do we still do communion – the Eucharist – the lord’s supper? When we have the freedom to sing, to preach, to dance, to have multimedia presentations, conversation, dramatic reading or this and that symbolic action as parts of our churches’ worship – why to we still re-enact just one meal of Jesus’ life?

Of course it’s one of those things where many reasons come together to justify the whole.

One reason: We were told to by Jesus himself: “Do this in remembrance of me”. Christians can be an obedient lot – so we do as we’re told.

Another reason: We can literally grasp the elements of communion. It isa symbolic action that really works – as it’s appeal is beyond the cerebral – beyond words. It is a reminder of God in the broader creastion, not just withing scripture.

And one reason which appeals to me most – it is an action which we can do together – as community – seated around a table. Eating a meal with others is stil part of our culture – just as it was for Jesus.

So this is something we have in common with Jesus,  his disciples, and now his followers around the world. That’s why we celebrate communion.

To put this into context, this service happened at the end of a week where the WGRG were with us, leading sessions and worship with the theme “Voices from the Edge”.