Thursday, April 17th, "Come to the Table"

In the singing, in the silence,
in the hands expectant, open
in the blessings, in the breaking,
in your presence at this table,
Jesus Christ, be the wine of grace;
Jesus Christ, be the bread of peace.

            In the question, in the answer,
           in the moment of acceptance,
            in the heart’s cry, in the healing,
            in the circle of your people
            Jesus Christ, be the wine of grace;
Jesus Christ, be the bread of peace.
~ Shirley Erena Murray from “In the Singing,” Evangelical Lutheran Worship

                              Breath Prayer:
                                      “wine of grace”
                                      “bread of peace”

     For centuries we have gathered round a table, listening for the story that has been heard anew for each generation, “On the night that Jesus was betrayed, he gathered with his friends…” This story calls us again this day to remember.

     As they had been doing for months Jesus gathered at the end of the day with his friends for food and drink. We now can only imagine, but I can hear sharing of stories of what they had experienced during the day. Stories of surprises, of disappointments and celebrations, of ah ha’s and uh oh’s. Men and women coming together at the end of the day to regroup with, renew with and remember with this man the stories of living love.

     But this night in Jerusalem was not the same as the nights before. Everyone was on edge. Tensions were high; nerves frayed. And in the midst of that, Jesus gathered them close. And on this night everyone knew that what had been would never be the same. After taking the bread, and giving thanks for it, he broke the bread and gave it them. He spoke to his friends, saying, “Take and eat; this is my body, given for you. Do this for the remembrance of me.” And he took the cup, gave thanks, and gave it for all to drink, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood shed for you and for all people for the forgiveness of sin. Do this for the remembrance of me.”   

     And this night we, too are remembering in our singing and in our silence, in our hands expectant for your presence at this table, for your presence in our hearts.

Prayer: Loving Christ, you have gathered us one by one and two by two. We are remembering your words of blessing of the bread and cup. We are remembering your love for us all, and your sacrifice for it. We are remembering your words, “taste and see,” and your encouragement to believe. For you and your love for us, we are grateful this night. Amen.

 

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