On My Mind...
I just want to take a minute to remind you that Sunday is our First Sunday Lunch, so bring some food to share and plan to join us for a blessed time of fellowship following the the morning service. We will also be observing the Lord’s Table in the morning worship service. This marks a new beginning for us. We will be observing the Lord’s Table the first Sunday of every month starting this week. The Table is one of the two ordinances our Lord has given us as a means of proclaiming the gospel together. Baptism is our initial public declaration of our faith in Christ and our union and his church. The Table is our on-going declaration of our union with Christ and his church. While we believe that the Table is a symbol and not a sacrement, we do not mean it is a mere symbol. It is a spiritual act of worship. By partaking we are declaring faith in Christ, his life, his crucifixion, and our union with him. We also are declaring our union with those brothers and sisters gathered around us. That is why we partake together, as a family. Both baptism and the Lord’s table are public declarations not personal and private matters. Because it is an act of worship, we are not to partake thoughtlessly or in a dismissive manner. Paul is quite clear on this in 1 Corinthians 11. I would encourage you to read the gospel accounts of our Lord’s institution of the ordinance and Paul’s admonishment in 1 Corinthian 11 in preparation of Sunday.
Sunday will be a little different in the way we administer the Table. We will distribute the elements together. As you take from the tray, there will be two cups, one inside the other. The bottom cup will have the bread, the other will contain the juice. To partake, you will take the top cup out and use the bottom cup to take the bread, then place the top cup back inside the cup. Then we will drink following a second prayer of thanksgiving for the blood of Christ. This allows for a quicker, easier distribution of the elements. We will give instruction before we serve on Sunday. Our goal is to serve with as little distraction as possible, allowing us to give our focus and attention to the contemplation of the wonder of what our God has accomplished for us in the Lord Jesus. His body, given for us. His blood, the propitiation for our sin. Join us this coming Sunday as we, together, proclaim the gospel through the Supper.
I’m looking forward to worshiping with you and your family, as we gather this coming Lord’s Day. Have a blessed week, and I’ll see you Sunday.
Rod
Sunday will be a little different in the way we administer the Table. We will distribute the elements together. As you take from the tray, there will be two cups, one inside the other. The bottom cup will have the bread, the other will contain the juice. To partake, you will take the top cup out and use the bottom cup to take the bread, then place the top cup back inside the cup. Then we will drink following a second prayer of thanksgiving for the blood of Christ. This allows for a quicker, easier distribution of the elements. We will give instruction before we serve on Sunday. Our goal is to serve with as little distraction as possible, allowing us to give our focus and attention to the contemplation of the wonder of what our God has accomplished for us in the Lord Jesus. His body, given for us. His blood, the propitiation for our sin. Join us this coming Sunday as we, together, proclaim the gospel through the Supper.
I’m looking forward to worshiping with you and your family, as we gather this coming Lord’s Day. Have a blessed week, and I’ll see you Sunday.
Rod