Piglet and Pooh at Communion

If only life could be like Piglet and Pooh, simple friendship, trust, reliance, respect, glad the other is there!

Then we have the news…  Perhaps even we have stopped reacting to things.

That last terrorist act of murdering an elderly priest while a dozen people in rural France were at mass was especially horrific. I’ve received today a letter from the police passed down through the Methodist channels on how to make worship safer and more secure. If the day comes when we cannot be open to everyone, then we shut our doors for ever. But there is a lot of fear out there.  

We shared a communion service tonight at my church in Hastings, and we spent some time reflecting on connected-ness and breakdown of relationships.  

Nadia Bolz Weber is an amazingly quirky priest in America. She does some reflecting on the Lord’s Prayer which is about community:  

"Our Father, who art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, may thy undoing of our ways and the in-breaking of your ways – the way things really are—appear before our eyes. Brother Martin Luther reminds us that your kingdom comes with or without our asking for it but it in this prayer we ask that your dominion, your kingdom come among us. But right now, God, right now we think we might just skip over the asking for it and move right to the begging for it if that’s ok with you.

We beg you to bring more than just a small measure of heaven to earth because this place is a mess. Lord, your people are killing each other and the vulnerable are even more vulnerable and the wealthy are even more wealthy and we’ve developed weapons that do unspeakable things and we’ve developed economic systems than rely on those weapons continuing to be made and protected and it’s hard to see a way out, Lord. So, we need your Kingdom to speed the hell up. And if that’s not possible then open our eyes to where your kingdom already is taking root and growing among us, turn our eyes from our despair to any amount of light your kingdom is spreading, however small."

I find that quote, like every Nadia quote, very powerful. I cannot change the world tonight, but I can try to be different in my bit of it, in my relationships, in my churches, in where I walk. I am not anyone important, but if I can help somebody feel loved and wanted and valued, then I have shown God perhaps and that feels good. 

It felt powerful and right in the context of madness in the world at the moment to break bread tonight and be reminded of Jesus who was broken for us and to pray for those who don't get what is happening and are broken by their own circumstances. That is the call of the Church, not to argue over buildings and other trifling nonsense... (controversial corner there!)

I chose to end the worship tonight with the communion hymn by Bernadette Farrell. I love her work. Jesus broken as bread is broken gives hope for the world, even today. I hold on to that, very tightly when there are so many uncertainties. 

 Bread of life, hope of the world, Jesus Christ, our brother; feed us now, give us life, lead us to one another.

 As we proclaim your death as we recall your life,
We remember your promise to return again.

The bread we break and share was scattered once as grain:
Just as now it is gathered, make your people one.

We eat this living bread, we drink this saving cup:
Sign of hope in our broken world, source of lasting  love.

Hold us in unity, in love for all to see;
That the world may believe in you, God of all who live.

You are the bread of peace, you are the wine of joy,
Broken now for your people, poured in endless love.