Tag Archives: Eucharist

December 26, 2021 · 11:18 am

A Spot of Tea or the Cup of Christ

Perhaps I should have felt disappointed.  Our tea with Archbishop Desmond Mpilo Tutu was canceled.  I had looked forward to this visit.  We were to meet him and to share tea with him at his home on Bishop’s Court.  However, his schedule became very hectic during the days when we were in Cape Town.  Or perhaps it would be more accurate to say that the Archbishop had to change his hectic schedule.  I complain about how full my calendar gets – imagine what his looks like!  At any rate, the tea with our group from Cleveland was dropped from Archbishop Tutu’s schedule because he had to go to Johannesburg during that time.

This photo, by Benny Gool, is in the public domain, according to the Archbishop’s personal assistant.

On Thursday, November 2, we rose early.  We arrived at St. George’s Cathedral in Cape Town for the 8:00 am All Soul’s Day mass.  Archbishop Tutu was the celebrant.  Brightness and life beamed from him as he prayed his way through the mass.  When the time came to pass the peace, he came among us and wished the peace of Christ upon us.  The service continued.  The moment of the Eucharist arrived. We made our way forward. From the hands of Archbishop Desmond Tutu, we received the host.  From his eyes, loved shone on each person. From his face, welcome emanated, surrounding us each and all and embracing the world.  

As the service ended, Archbishop Tutu asked that we be introduced to the congregation of about thirty or so.  He greeted us warmly.  We presented him with a “Rainbow Children” stole.  In joy he put it on.  We could sense his excitement although he did manage to refrain from dancing!  It took an effort.  Then he asked if we were really from the United States – because no one was ready to take pictures.  The cameras came out and, with gracious exuberance, Archbishop Tutu posed with the group and with each of us individually.  Then he was gone.

Perhaps I should feel disappointed.  But I do not.  If you had a choice between sharing with Archbishop Desmond Tutu either a spot of tea or the cup of Christ – how would you choose?

For the life and faith and love of witness of Archbishop Desmond Mpilo Tutu, thanks be to God.

Cape Town, South Africa
2 November 1995
revised
North East, Maryland
26 December 2021

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April 9, 2020 · 9:34 am

All distance falls away

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All distance falls away at the Lord’s table.

Today, with the First Presbyterian Church of Whitestone, I will celebrate and participate in virtual communion. We will spiritually connect as we physically distance.

To prepare, I offered the invitation to explore the meaning of communion by reflecting on past experiences of the sacrament. What did they have to teach us? What might we learn for today’s service?

Listening to myself for once, I did that. While I was washing the dishes, I recalled a communion service ten years ago.

During Holy Week of 2010, I took part in a meeting related to the Accompaniment Program of the Presbyterian Church in Colombia, the Presbyterian Peace Fellowship, and the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.). Leaders in the Presbyterian Church of Colombia are taking great risks in their human rights work and their support of the communities of Colombians who have been displaced by the over forty years of violence in their country. They have asked Presbyterians from the United States to act as international accompaniers in order to provide a measure of safety—international eyes—for their work. The program started in 2004 and continues today. Over 100 accompaniers have served to date. Learn more about the program here:.

Since it was Holy Week, I had the privilege to worship with the Communidad del Camino in Barranquilla. The community honored me by inviting me to preach. Germán Zárate translated my words.

With the Rev. Adriano Portillo and the Rev. Dayro Aranzalez, I helped celebrate the sacrament of the Lord’s Supper.

The precious memory flooded over me as the water flowed over the dishes in my sink.

And I knew that whenever and wherever bread is broken and the cup is shared (in whatever form they take), the people of the Communidad del Camino, the people of the church in Colombia, the people of the church around the world, the people whose names I know, whose names I have forgotten, whose names I never knew, they all meet at the table. Miles apart, in Christ we are together.

Tonight, we gather at separate tables, scattered around Queens and Manhattan in my case. But in Christ, those tables become one—Christ’s table. Though physically distant, we gather in spiritual solidarity. And we gather with the church in all places and all times. One body. As we share in the meal Christ has prepared for us this night, I will remember that and smile.

All distance falls away at the Lord’s table.

 

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November 15, 2018 · 6:33 pm

A mystery I am thankful for

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World Communion Sunday.
7 October 2018
First Presbyterian Church of Whitestone

Traci Smith, author of Faithful Families: Creating Sacred Moments at Home has provided a gift of the November 2018 Gratitude Every Day calendar. I am using it as an opportuity to revisit photos and post them as they speak to gratitude.

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