A Virtual Sunday Love Feast

May 3, 2020

 

Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ,

Ok, we are going to try this again, especially given that the first Sunday of the month is when we would normally include communion in our worship.

As the COVID-19 pandemic swept across parts of our nation, on the United Methodist Clergy Facebook page a conversation was happening. “Can we have communion online?” Not surprisingly, the thinking on this was all over the place, from “That would be an absolute travesty!” to “People have their bread and juice or wine with them as they worship, the pastor blesses it as she or he might on any other Sunday. What’s the problem?”

Some Bishops took positions in favor because of the “exceptional times” in which we are living. Other Bishop’s let their clergy know in no uncertain terms that they did not think it should be done, because Communion is rooted in Community. I’ll turn my cards and note that while Communion and Community both have the same root word, who says a family, or even a single person, can’t be considered a community when the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are present with them?

Fortunately, one of the things John Wesley did that remains a part of our Wesleyan tradition is the “Love Feast” which looks very much like communion, but doesn’t involve the same liturgical formality as Communion. Bread is still present and recognized as a staple of life. Wine, juice, or even water, coffee or tea, may be present because drink is necessary for life as well. The table(s) may also be full of other food which we will be sharing around the table. (I once did this for a Thanksgiving Ever potluck).

In the Love Feast we recognize that our food and drink, whether literally only bread and water, or a Sunday brunch buffet with champagne, is all a life giving, life sustaining gift of God, which makes it a gift of Christ and the Spirit. So we remember it is a blessing, we give thanks for it, we eat knowing they are present, but we stop short of the words that some of us believe make it fully sacramental.

So, with that background, your worship team and I looked at the scripture texts for this Sunday, particularly Luke 24:13-35, and we decided we would invite you all to share in a Stay at Home Love Feast, using some resources that had been made available to us in Lent, but hadn’t found the right time or way to share.

Here is how we invite you to prepare for our Virtual Sunday Love Feast:

1. Prepare a simple meal or feast, even just a muffin or toast if you will have eaten earlier.
2. Have OJ, Coffee, Tea, Grape Juice, or any beverage you prefer, ready as well.
3. Set the table – be it your dining table or a coffee or even a card table near your computer.
4. If you are having something hot, you will want it to be done around 10:30, or you can get it done earlier and let it rest in a warm oven until the time comes.
5. When the time comes near end of worship, we will give you a couple of minutes to prepare, then we will pray together, bless the feast of love before us, bless one another, and I will offer the benediction & blessing.
6. One more thing…. You are encouraged to use the comment box on Facebook to share what you are having. You can even upload pictures if you want!
7. May this be a foretaste of God’s Kin-dom Banquet, and sustain us until we can share communion together in our sanctuary.

WEEKEND UPDATE AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
APRIL 26, 2020

Ashlei will be posting weekly children’s church videos on the SUMC Kids Facebook page Sunday mornings. Be sure to get the kids together to check those out and have them comment on what they liked most about the videos. If you are looking for some free printable resources for the kids go to https://tinyurl.com/yaquxefu

A weekly Adult Bible Study will be taking place on Zoom starting Wednesday, April 22 at 7:30pm. Participants will get their weekly readings through email and will discuss them when we gather via Zoom. You can access Zoom by internet, Smartphone, or dial in from a regular phone line to participate. Email Ashlei with any questions at AshleiUMC@yahoo.com

Caring Ministries Thought

We are now entering week 5 of our Stay at Home order. Please remember we are in this together and are here for you. You can send Nancy Mead an email at caring.stevensvillechurch@gmail.com and she will gladly respond to you. The office hours for the church are currently M,W,F -9:00am-noon. You can call 429-5911 or email the church at stevensvillechurch@gmail.com

Blessings To Everyone!

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A PRAYER FOR ANXIOUS TIMES

Dear God, In these trying times, be with each of us and show us your presence and give us strength and keep us all safe. In your name we pray, Amen