There is no norm when our gatherings gather. That reality is comforting to me and I think that it is attractive to others.
We are willing to submit to the leading of the Spirit and--and, I think this separates us from typical Christendom churches--also to submit to the needs of each other, even the less prominent among us. That's why it is so important that there is no parish priest to run things.
Last night, weather was an issue. It was already snowing when we began and the forecast was for snow to continue into the early hours of the morning.
So, we threw out our norm and ate our meal, including the taking of the Lord's Supper, and then went to our homes.
The meal lasted about an hour. We spent a lot of time reflecting on the sacrifice of Jesus, not in dying on the cross, but in becoming flesh in order to die the horrible death He died AND in our sin of taking those things lightly.
While doing that, we were sharing ways He has been blessing us day by day.
Then we went home.
Interestingly, the taking of the Lord's Supper became central to us even before Ed published the CGGC Mission Statement with its focus on churches being established on "the New Testament plan."
ReplyDeleteThe practice began in a men's Bible Study group which itself was less interested in doctrine than it was in discovering and practicing a New Testament lifestyle.
It was a part of that central focus of the group that we began to believe that disciples take the Lord's Supper whenever they meet. And, because of that, we began to do it.
The blessings of that practice have been indescribable to anyone who does not take the Lord's Supper so regularly.
Interestingly, not all the groups that gather as a part of Faith's ministry take the Lord's Supper as a part of every meeting. It is my expectation that they all will within a year.