houghts on the Three Streams Communion Service
      June 10, 2007 – Central Christian Church – Austin, Texas

When you go to church as much as I do, it's not surprising that there isn't a lot of excitement associated with it. Let me clarify: I'm glad to be there. I'm aware of why it is important. It is true, however, that going to church can become a habit, a routine, a check-off item on your To Do list.

This was NOT the case last Sunday evening.

The shared service downtown had been planned for some time. It had been announced from the pulpit. We had been encouraged to attend. It was on my calendar, and there was no doubt that I would be present for the event even though it was a very busy weekend, with many commitments crowded into the days.

But an unexpected thing happened: shortly after lunch I realized that I was excited about going to church that night. I was looking forward to the gathering, to the lessons, to the purpose planned for the evening. I found myself dressing early and wanting to leave the house much sooner than necessary.

And it wasn't just me.... when we arrived at the church building downtown, other people had that same aura of anticipation. There was an air of mostly contained excitement among the people who were filing into the auditorium and respectfully taking seats.

Although I had been in the building only once before and I was acquainted with only a small percentage of the people in the room, it all felt subliminally familiar. I noticed in myself a strong feeling of belonging as we waited quietly, talking in muted voices, for the speakers to begin. There was a spirit of togetherness in the room of mostly strangers.

The speakers, the music, the praise and prayers were excellent, but I had the sense that everyone in the room was waiting expectantly for the last segment of the service. In fact, the service had been advertised as a joint communion service, a sort of redundant phrase, I thought. And so when we got to the Lord's Supper, I felt that each person was unusually engaged in the moment.

We know that taking communion is meant to draw us near to Christ and unite us with each other. We know that. But on this occasion the drawing near, the uniting was almost palpable. The assembled seemed to be purposely partaking to affirm our bonds, our commitment to each other, our resolve to be One. It was an awesome experience.

Later I reflected that what made Sunday evening unique in my own experience is the fact that the purpose of the gathering was acceptance. We weren't just gathering with whoever happened to be there and doing what we always do. Every person had purposefully attended, purposefully partaken. It was communion, not just as a memorial, but as a promise for our future.

We are linked together now in ways that we had not been linked before, and I understand communion in a much fuller way than I did last week. We had, like Jesus, opened our arms and embraced each other, accepting each other as He has accepted us. Setting aside differences, judgments, and fears, we had shared the Lord's Table.

It was communion as a learning experience, as an intentional step, as a true celebration.

Way cool.

Karen Strong, Western Hills CofC 6/10/2007