Communion is a basic element of Christian life and worship. For a while I have been concerned about how we pass on the importance of communion to our children. So in our 10:30 am Sunday service I am leading kidztime, talking with our children about what communion means. Morning church services on March 1, April 5, May 3 and May 31 will focus of four different Bible passages that make sense of communion.
Having studied these Bible passages, and in preparation for the series, I am suggesting the following guidelines for the way we practice communion at Opawa.
Making a meal of it: Where communion at Opawa is ....
- a feast more than a funeral, a celebration more than a memorial. Practically this shapes our attitudes and our prayers, as we remember the whole of Jesus life, looking back and forward.
- a gift. Practically this means we take communion prayerfully and respectfully, for we are sharing a meal with Jesus in a way that defines who we are with God and with each other.
- a gift to the body of Christ more than to the individual. Practically, this means we welcome families around communion and encourage our kids to receive with their family and friends. In doing so, we look to the guidance of parents and caregivers as to whether their children should be blessed in the form of a prayer, or should be blessed in being offered the communion elements. Practically, this will add another dimension to the task of servers, who now must be alert to not only offer the elements, but at times also pray a simple blessing.
- a focus on Christ’s worth and the offer of redeemed and forgiven relationships between God and humans and humans with humans.
- an invitation to active participation in the work of God. As Jesus broke bread with Judas, so we invite those who know they are broken and the betrayers to the table. Equally, we expect God’s Spirit to be present to transform lives. Practically, healing prayer will be available with communion.
- a celebration of real elements, including the sense that it is one loaf, shared together
- memorable rather than a rushed add-on. Practically we encourage worship and preaching to integrate with communion and welcome creativity around the table
This is just a starter, and as we explore the Bible together over the next few months, I welcome feedback, suggestions and alterations.
Here are the lectionary readings from the book of John...
Thursday 26-Feb John 2:13-25
Friday 27-Feb John 3:1-21
Saturday 28-Feb John 3:22-36
(Sunday 1-Mar Jeremiah 31:27-37)
Monday 2-Mar John 4:1-42
Tuesday 3-Mar John 4:43-5:18
Wed 4-Mar John 5:19-47
Thursday 5-Mar John 6:1-21
Friday 6-Mar John 6:22-40
Saturday 7-Mar John 6:41-71
(Sunday 8-Mar Jeremiah 7:1-15)
Monday 9-Mar John 7:1-13
Tuesday 10-Mar John 7:14-30
Wed 11-Mar John 7:31-52
Thursday 12-Mar John 8:2-11
Friday 13-Mar John 8:12-30
Saturday 14-Mar John 8:31-59
(Sunday 15-Mar Jeremiah 8:18-9:11)
Monday 16-Mar John 9
Tuesday 17-Mar John 10:1-21
Wed 18-Mar John 10:22-42
Thursday 19-Mar John 11:1-44
Friday 20-Mar John 11:45-57
Saturday 21-Mar John 12:1-11
(Sunday 22-Mar Jeremiah 18:1-17)
Monday 23-Mar John 12:12-19
Tuesday 24-Mar John 12:20-36
Wed 25-Mar John 12:37-50
Thursday 26-Mar John 13:1-20
Friday 27-Mar John 13:21-30
Saturday 28-Mar John 13:31-38
(Sunday 29-Mar Jeremiah 20:7-18)
Monday 30-Mar John 14:1-14
Tuesday 31-Mar John 14:15-31
Wed 1-Apr John 15:1-17
Thursday 2-Apr John 15:18-27
Friday 3-Apr John 16:1-15
Saturday 4-Apr John 16:16-33
(Sunday 5-Apr Romans 5:1-11)
(Monday 6-Apr Lamentations 1:1-14)
(Tuesday 7-Apr Lamentations 3:1-9, 49-66)
(Wed 8-Apr Lamentations 5)
Thursday 9-Apr John 17
(Friday 10-Apr 1 Corinthians 1:18-25)
(Saturday 11-Apr Job 14:1-14)
(Sunday 12-Apr 2 Corinthians 5:14-6:2)
(Monday 13-Apr Exodus 5:1-9, 19-6:1)
(Tuesday 14-Apr Exodus 12:21-36)
(Wed 15-Apr Exodus 12:37-13:2)
(Thursday 16-Apr Exodus 13:17-14:14)
(Friday 17-Apr Exodus 14:15-31)
(Saturday 18-Apr Exodus 15:1-21)
(Sunday 19-Apr Exodus 16:1-3, 13-18, 31-35)
Monday 20-Apr John 20:1-18
Tuesday 21-Apr John 20:19-31
Wed 22-Apr John 21:1-14
Thursday 23-Apr John 21:15-25
“That was great” commented a first timer as they left Thursday night’s Annual Meeting. Minutes are on the church noticeboard.
Highlights included:
- a harmonious and prayerful feel
- learning about the various congregations and appreciation of how our diversity as a multi-congregational church is enabling us to connect with many different types of people
- a very slight surplus for 2008, due mainly to a slight (1%) decline in offerings being matched by a decrease in staffing levels
- update on the church building project, with four tenders expected and likely to come in at the fundraising target of $495,000 (Yah!). A special meeting will be needed to approve the tender, clarify the cashflow and gain members' approval in regard to borrowing.
- our current world financial times makes setting a 2009 budget a challenge. We have reduced ministry expenses and kept offerings at 2008 levels. Debbie Jaegar (church treasurer) challenged us to keep the faith.
- Steve spoke about some of his dreams for 2009 including Bible days and mission collectives
- Deirdre Wilson was thanked for her role as office secretary for the last 25 years and commissioned into her new role as a Crafts Chaplain
- the reappointment of Sylvia Koppes for another term as Board member
- the search is underway for a Church Manager. The Board was asked to form a call committee who would interview candidates and make a recommendation to the Board. Members are encouraged to suggest names to the Board for the call committee.
- with the church 100 years old in 2011, Allan Goulstone was appointed to be our researcher, with the aim of helping an historian put together a story, written and oral, of the church.
Thanks to all those who work so hard to ensure a smooth and well-run meeting.
Sometimes you read something and it makes you stop. Last year the Bible Society surveyed over 3,300 Kiwis about their Bible reading habits. They found that only 11% of Christians read the Bible daily (13% weekly), and only 23% of New Zealanders regularly discuss the teachings of the Bible with others. Which got me thinking about how we at Opawa could be part of reversing the trend.
Hence "Bible days". Seven times in 2009 we want to encourage Bible reading at Opawa. We emailed some excellent Kiwi Bible teachers and asked them for two hours of their best on their favourite Bible book: to give us a helicopter overview, to get us excited and help us link it to our everyday life.
The Bible day books are chosen based on the daily Bible reading plan published in the church newsletter. In other words, in the week the Bible reading plan switches to the gospel of John, so comes the Bible day - Saturday, 21 February. In the week the Bible plan switches to 1 Peter, so comes the Bible day - Saturday, 25 April. And so on.
We are going to place in the 24/7 prayer room some resources to allow further study and encourage ongoing daily discussion. We are going to provide cell phone and internet options to encourage further discussion. In doing so, the hope is that we could become better Bible readers at Opawa. So I hope to see you next Saturday, 21st Feb between 3:30 and 5:30 pm.
But before that, I hope to see you on Thursday, 19 February 7:30-9:30 pm, at the Annual Meeting, as we celebrate a year gone, taste the sweetness of our congregational diversity and share some dreams about the year ahead.
It is nice to be back after a very refreshing and full holiday. The Taylor family have relaxed, read, renovated, kayaked, tramped, driven and played.
At a Board retreat in 2008, we reflected on the various congregations at Opawa. One outcome was the desire to better resource Grow, our evening congregation. To this effect, at a recent Board meeting we decided to pay Lynne Taylor for an additional four hours per week, giving her time to take primary responsibility for our Grow (Sunday evening) congregation. Lynne has been involved with Grow from its beginning, and, aware of the gap that was left by Craig’s resignation, and deeply committed to both what is in Grow and what it could become, offered to be involved in this way. (This takes her paid employment with us to 10 hours per week). Like Paul McMahon’s additional one day per week, this is a temporary appointment which will be reviewed in July.
This week is a big week for our school age children at Opawa. Pray for them that they will quickly settle into new routines and develop strong and healthy friendships. Pray too for our ministries and small groups that are beginning again over the next couple of weeks: that they will be places where people find grace and truth.