Words for Worship
Ministry Today
A man applied
for a job
as a handyman.
The prospective employer asked,
"Can you do carpentry?"
The man answered
in the negative.
"How about bricklaying?"
Again the man answered,
"No."
The employer asked,
"Well, what about
electrical work?"
The man said
"No, I don't know anything about that either."
Finally the employer said, "Well, tell me then
what is handy about you."
The man replied,
"I live just around the corner."
Well a fortnight ago
I was asked
not just to preach
but also to conduct
the sacrament
of Holy Communion
in the Dundee Methodist Church.
Double honour - indeed.
For when we talk
of ecumenism
we tend to think of
the dialogue
between denominations
of more distant theologies.
But in the process
we take for granted
the close bonds
with our nearest neighbours.
Because we
In the reformed tradition
are indeed Christian
brothers and sisters
whose beliefs
are handily next door
to each other.
Indeed, one of the areas
where we
in the reformed churches
make our difference
with other Christians
most strongly felt
is in this sacrament
of communion.
So much so
that communion
with some other denominations is something
we cannot yet enjoy.
Although we are promised it one day as a fruit
of further unity.
Now in the Church of Scotland
a lot of myths
have sprung up
about our communion tradition.
One being
that it is such
an important event
that it should be
a rare event.
Or in current government parlance –
a serious event
for serious times
that we must take seriously.
However, actually,
this is nonsense.
The plain truth is
the early reformed church
in Scotland
simply could not afford
the price
of the elements
all that often.
A problem possibly worsened by shortbread
being used
rather than ordinary bread
in the 16th Century.
It seemed sensible
therefore
as a guest of Methodism
to find out exactly
what John Wesley
their denomination’s founder
said
about the Lord’s Supper.
It was as a result
I came across his writings
on the constant communion.
For he makes clear
it is the duty
of every Christian
to receive the Lord’s Supper
as often
as he or she can.
And his reasoning is clear –
it is assist us
in gaining God’s blessing
here and now –
it is to keep
our spirituality going
through
good times and bad
and to remember
our path
to a better world
and our destiny
in the stars.
There was
one old Presbyterian minister
in the highlands
who until recently
was notorious
for his communion service.
For he invariably
would stand up
and say that
he had adjudged
his congregation’s character over the past months
and found
that only one
was worthy of communion.
And that
of course
was himself.
At which he partook
of the bread and wine alone.
Yet there is a point here
and it is this.
We should indeed
approach the Lord’s Table
after a period of reflection.
For after all
who attends
some great Banquet
without knowing
who the host is
and why
he is giving the feast.
And this is Wesley’s initial line of reasoning.
For he suggest that
before today’s sacrament
we should think through
where we are going
in our faith,
where we need
to do more
and where we need
to do less.
Where we have
gone off the rails
and where we are
on the straight path.
We need also
to find our lives’ sore spots
and seek
Christ’s healing touch.
Moreover, we need
to open up those issues
that previously
we have avoided.
But now,
we need
a very firm boot
upon the posterior
to make
any sort of progress.
And so
as we prepare ourselves
for the Lord’s Table,
may we pray
as Richard Baxter suggests
in his poem –
the good shepherd:
Lord, Jesus take my spirit
I trust thy love and merit
Take home this wandering sheep
For thou hast sought it.
This soul in safety keep
For thou has bought it.
A father once tried to talk
to his son
about how university
was going:
The father said,
"How are things going?"
The son said, "Ok."
The father said,
"And the hall of residence?"
The son said, "Ok."
The father then said,
"How are your studies going?"
He got the reply "Ok."
The father finally asked,
"And have you decided
what to do honours in?"
At which point
his offspring replied,
"Yes." "
Well, what is it?"
asked the father.
The son said, "Communications."
But that story reminds us
of Wesley’s second point.
That is
the actual act of Communion
is also
the sacrament of communication.
For, these elements
talk to us
of spirituality
in the most powerful way.
The spirituality
to find God
when all the efforts
of this age
are intent
in drowning him out.
The spirituality
to hear Christ
clearly
above the internal hubbub
of busy-iness.
That to do list
of chores,
happenings
and demands
that seem
to clog our daily lives.
Even the spirituality
to be genuine Christian
in the constant buffeting
we suffer
from world events
and the 1001 bumps
on our road of life.
For it is in
our constant communication with God –
of which the Lord’s Supper
is the supreme epitome –
that we are
daily encouraged,
sustained
and nurtured.
And as a result
we can get through
the busy times and bad times
the rich and the lean times
the times in Eden and the times in the wilderness.
We can even get through
The noisy and the lonely times.
We can indeed
with all sincerity
ask with the lines
of the Methodist Covenant prayer:
let me be exalted for thee
or brought low for thee.
Let me be full:
Let me be empty
Let me have all things.
One night
a house caught fire
and a young boy
was forced to flee
to the roof.
The father stood
on the ground below
with outstretched arms,
calling to his son,
"Jump! I'll catch you."
He knew the boy
had to jump
to save his life.
All the boy could see,
however,
was flame, smoke,
and blackness.
As can be imagined,
he was afraid
to leap from the roof.
His father kept
yelling:
"Jump! I will catch you."
But the boy sobbed back,
"Daddy, I can't see you."
The father replied,
"But I can see you
and that's all that matters."
Here then
is the most significant point that Wesley
makes of constant communion.
Because in every theology
and denomination,
our Eucharist ceremony
is a reminder
of our Lord as saviour.
A saviour
who can forgive
the unforgiveable,
the saviour
who opens the gates
to heaven
and the saviour
who changes lives for ever.
Yet there are times
when we want
our communion
to remind us
of another
of Jesus saving roles.
And, maybe,
it is his greatest.
For that night
during which
he ate and drank
with his disciples,
he could hardly
have been relaxed.
In fact, he must
have been
worried sick.
And the reason was
he knew he faced
torturous pain and death.
Yet he braved it
and rose again
to be with us
in our dangers hour.
For when everyone else
and everything else
have failed us
and we face
a fate
no longer camouflaged,
our saviour
will be there.
When we stand
in the darkness,
fire and smoke alone,
our saviour
will be there.
When we must
at last jump,
our saviour
will be there
and his strong arms
will catch us
and never ever let go.
At times then,
this about Christ
as saviour,
is all that matters.
In fact
It is entirely
possibly
there is someone
with us
today
that this reminder
from our communion
will indeed
be all that matters
for their survival.
John Wesley prefaced
his sermon 101
by saying –
that many do not eat
or drink
of the lord supper
because
of the dangers
of being unworthy.
But he then points out
the far greater dangers
of not eating
or drinking at all.
Let us then do
as a far wiser man
than I commands.
Let us eat wholeheartedly
as we trust
that he will
take care
of any dangers ahead.
Let us drink humbly,
willingly
and gratefully
for the cast iron guarantees
he has provided us.
And let us remember
in peace,
faith and joy –
for these
indeed
are the vittels
from the duty
of constant communion.
Come on, let’s eat
For aren’t you hungry?
Amen
Constant Communion