Water "Communion" and summer review

“The Waters of Our Lives”

Rev. Alison Longstaff, Sept 28, 2014

Psalm 37:23-29, Luke 9: 1-6; AE 453:11

This morning we celebrated our travels and activities over the summer.  I chose readings, prayers and hymns focused on water and travel, trust and community.  Overall, the focus was a celebration of our accomplishments so far, as we gird our loins for the upcoming year. The readings reminded us to trust in the Lord’s leading.  To trust, and trust some more, and keep on trusting.  They also speak of how we travel through life in community.  We need each other to get through.  God works through us and we can be God's presence for each other sometimes, while God is also directly with each one of us.


Instead of a children's talk we celebrated a "water communion"---a lovely ritual brought to us from the Unitarian Universalist tradition.  In it, we each came up and poured water into a common container, our baptismal font, naming the places we have been and what they meant to us.  We had vessels of all shapes and sizes, and water from near and far pouring into our common bowl.  It was beautiful to hear all the stories of where we have been and what we have celebrated.  It makes a special space to hear and see each other, which helps us to feel more connected and know more of each others' lives.
Then we watched a slide show of all the various activities and events that we have been part of as church members this summer, including the many pictures of the renovations to our building.  With a musical accompaniment, it celebrated all that we as a community are doing and how we are growing and loving each other along the way.  In creating it, I worked with the pictures I was able to find. Some events are better represented than others.  Some pictures are not from this year.  But overall, the presentation tried to capture the spirit of our group and of the many individuals who contribute to making BCNJ a vibrant spiritual community.
(Click on this link for the slide show)
Our Summer, 2014
This is BCNJs story for the summer.  May we go forward from here, strengthened in courage and hope, continuing to grow in love and wisdom and service to our community.
The Readings
Psalm 37:23-29 (ESV)The steps of a person are established by the Lord, when we delight in His way;though we fall, we will not be cast headlong, for the Lord holds us up by our hands.I have been young, and now am old, yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken     or his children begging for bread.He is ever lending generously, and his children become a blessing.Turn away from evil and do good; so shall you dwell forever.For the Lord loves justice; he will not forsake his saints. They are preserved forever, while the issue of the wrongdoers shall be cut off.The upright shall inherit the land and dwell upon it forever.

Luke 9 

When Jesus had called the Twelve together, he gave them power and authority to drive out all demons and to cure diseases,  and he sent them out to proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal the sick.  He told them: “Take nothing for the journey—no staff, no bag, no bread, no money, no extra shirt.  Whatever house you enter, stay there until you leave that town.  If people do not welcome you, leave their town and shake the dust off your feet as a testimony against them.”  So they set out and went from village to village, proclaiming the good news and healing people everywhere.

The Apocalypse Explained 453:11  [Regarding portions of Isaiah 33:15,17:] “to walk in honesty and to communicate justly,” means “to behave in all things according to loving-kindness, right-thinking and deep perception.” “To walk” means to live, “in honesty” is describing a person’s goodness, and “to communicate justly,” is describing a person’s truthfulness or thinking.  “The king in his beauty,” is describing each of us as we progress in wisdom, for a “king” means true thinking springing from compassion, and “beauty” means the consequent wisdom. The Divine truth in its most beautiful form is such wisdom. 

Reflections on Communion

Reflections on Communion

In lieu of a sermon last Sunday, (because of the projected storm) we held a "Bible study" around a table of goodies and hot beverages.  It was an experiment, but seemed to go extremely well, and those who gave me feedback appreciated the experience.

I believe strongly in opportunities for us to hear each other as members of one community, and this sort of event gives us that chance.  I get to know my dear congregants better, and they get to know each other better too.  We laugh together, and we become re-humanized in each other's eyes, dispelling any false perceptions or thin layers of fear or judgment that may have settled over some relationships.  It makes things "shiny" again.

So I opened the topic of the meaning of communion. I particularly encouraged any questions, problems, or difficulties anyone might have.  This was the time to air them.  I started by describing my own experience of being taunted for being a "cannibal" by a former Christian.  I had myself always had a bit of discomfort with the "eat my flesh", "drink my blood" language, and this mockery brought that discomfort to the surface for me.  I could explain that I saw it as a metaphor, and that I believe Jesus and the disciples also understood it that way, but if someone wanted to mock, there was only so much defense, because the language is undeniably there.

Besides, if she needed to mock, that was not my problem so much as my own inner discomfort was, and my need was to come to some peace and resolution inside myself.  Her journey is and remains her journey.

"What has your journey with communion been like?"  "How do you understand it?" Were the questions I asked those gathered around the table.  We then went around the table giving each person a chance to respond.

I would like to share some of the observations and insights that came up, in case they add to or inform your own relationship with communion.

No one else had ever considered or been challenged by the "flesh and blood" language nor the idea of cannibalism.  All of the other eight participants, three of whom had not been raised Swedenborgian, had considered the language metaphorical.  One described it as meaning that we must "walk the walk" and "live the life."  Many nodded their heads in agreement with this comment.

One woman (from a minister's family!) said with breathtaking honesty that she had never understood what the communion was about and had a hard time finding meaning in it.  This lightened the room immediately, as it gave everyone permission to admit not understanding, if that was their experience.

One observation that I shared that seemed as helpful to the listeners as it had been to me, when I encountered it (and which came to me from Rev George F. Dole, my predecessor), was this:  That when Jesus commanded that we "do this in remembrance of him.," He was eating a meal with his friends.  He was not kneeling in a special spot in a special place at a special time with a special little piece of bread and little sip of wine.  He was sharing a meal with His friends.  He was communing with them socially and spiritually.

Rev George had observed that the two elements that we consider sacraments---communion and baptism--- are also two essential daily acts necessary for our physical well-being---eating and washing.  Perhaps it is more the remembrance of Him in the most every day and mundane acts that is where the sacredness lies, not in specialized little rituals in specialized little sacred moments.  This has tremendous resonance with me, and seemed to feed many around the table on Sunday as well.

Another person observed that she felt spiritually fed by sitting and conversing over a "meal" such as we were doing almost more than attending church feeds her.  I had to point out that enjoying a meal together is what communion is.  That the preciousness of the bonds built during this sort of "communion" between and among us is what makes it meaningful.  This is what we treasure, and this is why it is sacred.  For me, it illustrates how the sacred has always been "right here, right now" in every day moments.  It is always present, and not meant to be kept in a "sacred" box and brought out only on Sundays.

I know I appreciated this change in our ritual.  It will not happen often.  But I suspect I will do this again. Perhaps once a year I will invite a "communal" gathering with discussion over a meal rather than formal worship.  I like the idea.

What has your journey with communion been like?  How do you understand it?

May you find peace and growing wisdom as you journey forward this week.

Pastor Alison