Thursday, March 06, 2008

The feast of heaven.

so..
it has been a thoughtful week in ministry.
I coordinated the worship service last Sunday to include the participation of children, and it was a big hit. I was chafing a bit, because it was still a traditional service, and frankly too long for children. However, the parts the children did--acting out scripture, leading the Psalm, writing the prayer of thanksgiving was wonderful. I know the adults loved it, but the question is, what did the children experience? How did they feel?

Then, Tuesday, I celebrated monthly communion a the nursing home. The group this month was not as conversant as they can be...more of the people in their little worlds than usual. In any case, it was hard--it made me wonder, what is "age appropriate, developmentally relevant" worship for the nursing home population that I serve?


The best thing, though, is when I was serving communion, and I placed the host on one woman's tongue, and she looked at me and said, "What the hell is this?" and I stopped, and said, "Well, it's the bread of life" and she said, "it has absolutely no taste" to which I responded, "hmmm. Yes. you are right. It is supposed to be the feast of heaven, but I suppose this doesn't taste like it." She spit it out.
It was an honest, alive, real moment.
And,
it made me think.

God of the table,
Love at the feast,
Help me remember
the moment,
the honest truth,
and be faithful
in relevance,
respect,and practise.
Amen.

2 comments:

Peceli and Wendy's Blog said...

What good stories you tell. The nursing home experience was an eye-opener. Yes, why don't we make Holy Communion more palatable? Herbs and butter on the bread!

We had a lovely day yesterday with another luncheon for the whole comgregation - worship, tea, entertainment, chatter, lunch. I organised a small play with seven women - all about hospital visiting. Hamming it up, showing the wrong ways of speaking with sick people,etc. We put it on as part of the entertainment between morning tea and lunch. A fun day and people were really talking with one another as well as learning to work together in the kitchen etc. Those who had been in this church for over 20 years hosted the newer-comers.
w.

Dr. Laura Marie Grimes said...

What a great story!

If you don't want to mess with baking or serving real bread I find that tasty crackers are as convenient and portable as hosts-- but somewhat more convincing as the feast of heaven.