Daily Encourager – May 3, 2020

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He himself bore our sins in his body on the cross, so that, free from sins, we might live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed – 1 Peter 2:24

Today’s worship service looks a little different.  I know that may sound like an understatement, since our services have been far from normal or usual for eight weeks.  However, if you watch to the end, what you will find is a time in sharing in a great liturgy of our faith – the Lord’s table, and a type of Communion.

There has been much debate among pastors and scholars about having Holy Communion while social distant, and whether or not the Sacraments can or should be offered online.  For me, Communion is something to be shared in christian community. There is something about being present with the body of Christ, that makes that time special, meaningful, and where we can know the deep forgiving love of Christ in the bread and wine (or juice). That being said, there are times, like now, when we are not able to be in Christian community, nor are we able to gather around the Lord’s Table.

A couple of years ago, when the new book of Common Prayer was published, they included a prayer for what is called spiritual communion.  This prayer, at the end of the Table liturgy invites us to remember that we are not with the body, nor are we at the table, but that does not mean we have been abandoned.  The prayer invites us to welcome in the presence of the Lord where we are.  So, as we share in the liturgy of the Table, the Epiclesial (I know, fancy word) prayer is not over the bread and wine, but for each of us to know the presence of an Almighty God in our hearts.

 I will share, that my favorite part of the liturgy, is knowing that when we confess together, and know that “while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us,” we are forgiven and free to live joyfully in Christ’s family.  It’s the reminder for Isaiah, in which Peter shares in his letter here, “by his wounds you have been healed.”  May we cherish the healing that happened so many years ago, as we celebrate the living Lord, who has invited us to worship together, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.  Amen.

Grace & Peace,
Sam