"Happy Endings"

Monday, March 06, 2006

True Communion

Imagine if you knew what communion should look like for a group of people... Now imagine that you somehow manage to get that group of people to particpate in an unlikely event such as communion (see Bible: Luke 22)... Specifically they participate in a fashion of that infamous event that is not mystical niether is it temporalized or localized to a church architecture...

***Interruption***
I witnessed a leader today nearly cry his face off in front of his wife, brother, closest friends, pupils and leadership team in an exasperation to explain how amazing it would be to have true communion. But, not just to have it as it is, to have true communion where small community (see cell groups, life groups, small groups etc.) is based on this idea of what Jesus actually said to remember Him by... Where small community sets out a "extra" chair not for Christian symbolism of hinting at bringing a new person but rather rather for the empty chair awaiting Christ's second coming when we will once again dine with Him... Small communtiy generated around the simple response to Jesus' statement of remember me by... eating, drinking and having honest conversation...
*** End Interruption***

Now back to imagining implementing a strategy for authentic communion and having it become a weekly meeting where people get saved by grace, taught grace, transfer grace to other human beings and accept that grace covers all our journeys... now imagine the "Leader" above this leader who is doing this great job with the most difficult of people being told to STOP this form of communion solely because it is "different" and not-traditional...

[ex. I had us meet at Pub & Eatery for wings every wednesday night and the owners fell in love with us so much that they gave us free drinks (non-alcoholic only) several times and starting being involved with our small group meetings to the point of crying openly with us]

But the plug was pulled because it looked so invariably different from classic misrepresented Sunday morning once-a-month watered-down-welches-grape-juice & stale-Premium Plus-unsalted-crackers...

I envisioned a people group of Canadian Christians re-developing the way community is done in a smaller capacity and I think I may have witnessed a foundational block of its beginnings today...

Just thought you should know - whoever you will be...

hugs and kisses

7 Comments:

  • dave.

    i love you.

    i think it's sad that the plug should get pulled on such a real ministry.

    i won't bother going into the need of the church to get their hands dirty... but we are the up-and-coming generation of ministers. let us not be shaped by traditionalisms and comfortabilities. let us be shaped by the ministry of Jesus instead.

    atleast two years ago, you said, "Man, it's scary. Around here there aren't many people who are into the Word." It's still true to this day (i struggle also). but you made an impact here, during your short stay, so much that as often as i hear "know the word of God" i hear in my head your words and am encouraged to persevere.

    keep making a difference.

    By Blogger Andrew, at 1:21 AM  

  • love you too.
    thanks for the post and encouragement...

    you make me miss everyone out west something fierce... wish I could afford a fly out there and I wish it could have been this year...

    my blogs will be eradic but keep going... let everyone know i sent hugs and kisses all around..

    i'll keep checking up on your ranDOMinion posts...

    jah love

    By Blogger DSW, at 2:18 AM  

  • Dave,

    I have always apprecaited your thoughts and isights and how they are lined with your willingness to listen to opinions of others...regardless to "where they are at". It is that very attitude that will seve you so well and that God will most cetainly use to make an everlasting impact wherever he leads you.
    Know that you are missed and that you played a key roll in my life first year and that I have referred back to late night conversations in room 302 of the Holdcroft...MANY TIMES!
    I pray for you daily and trust God will continue to reveal Himself to you in news ways!

    Writen Respectfully & With Love,
    Clark Moran
    dynamite_77@hotmail.com

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 4:39 PM  

  • so ahh... dave.
    we never met.

    im roomates with clark, josh, and matt p.

    and.. well.. aparently.. your famous.

    i enjoy reading your.. comments.

    peace.
    jef.

    By Blogger Jeffrey, at 11:37 AM  

  • Dave...

    I have a belly button.

    By Blogger Jonas, at 2:57 PM  

  • Dave....

    I have a belly button.

    By Blogger Jonas, at 2:58 PM  

  • Im so inspired Shawn... four years of Bible College and the belly button revelation comes... i might just cry for this beautiful moment or cry because YOURE A SICK [this word has been deleted by your friendly thought-police]

    hugs and kisses,
    DSW

    By Blogger DSW, at 7:00 PM  

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