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COMING TO THE LORD’S TABLE

August 30, 2020

By our normal schedule, it has been a long time since we last came to the Lord’s Table. In fact, it will be just shy of six months when we share the Eucharist on Sunday August 30. We last shared the Lord’s Supper on Sunday, March 1, 2020. Normally, we would have had at least two, if not three, occasions to partake of the bread and the cup within that period. The coronavirus has disrupted our worship calendar and the way we normally do worship. So how will we partake of the sacrament amidst the masks and social distancing?

For those choosing to worship in the sanctuary at 9 or 11 am, upon entering the narthex you will be able to pick up a self-contained unit holding a small piece of bread and a small amount of grape juice in sealed compartments. Gluten free available too. You will be invited to partake of the bread and the juice together as is our custom at the appointed time in the service or you may take the container to your home and then share the feast there in solitude or with your family. Masks will remain in place throughout the service, except while eating and drinking the bread and cup.

If you join us for virtual worship at either the 9 or 11 am service, you may purchase some bread and juice at your local grocery store, portion these out and partake of these elements at the appointed time in the service. If you do not want a large loaf and more grape juice than you wish to buy, you can come to the church office this week, Monday through Thursday 8 am – 5 pm or Friday 8 am – 2 pm, to get the pre-packaged communion elements that will be used in worship on Sunday. These are stored in the kitchen refrigerator and will need to be kept in your home’s refrigerator until the hour of service. Someone has said, “Necessity is the mother of invention.” While COVID-19 may have forced compliance to some guidelines, you can worship here or at home to receive the spiritual food we have hungered for these nearly six months. In a World Communion Service some time ago, Dr. Negley spoke of the Lord’s Table extending around the world. The Lord’s Table of our sanctuary extends outward to the places where we live so that we can partake of this special meal that binds us together with Christ and our brothers and sisters in faith. Please join us for worship as we look forward with excitement to sharing the feast our Lord has prepared.