So Abraham hurried into the tent to Sarah. “Quick,” he said, “get three seahs of the finest flour and knead it and bake some bread.” Then he ran to the herd and selected a choice, tender calf and gave it to a servant, who hurried to prepare it. He then brought some curds and milk and the calf that had been prepared, and set these before them. While they ate, he stood near them under a tree. (Genesis 18:6-8 NIV)
Most people sitting in church on a Sunday morning have the luxury of not even having to question how the Communion Meal came to be on the altar. As far as they are concerned, God reached down with the bread and the wine and set it there moments before they entered the sanctuary.
In reality... a committee had to be formed (Worship & Music) and then a subcommittee (Altar Guild). Guidelines whether written or orally communicated have to be taught to each member. The vessels have to be purchased. The elements also must be purchased on a regular basis. The linens must be purchased and cared for with regular laundering. The appropriate colors must be hung for each season or special Sunday of the year. Brass must regularly be polished to a high shine. Flowers for the altar need to be purchased and changed weekly. Candles need to be changed or filled with liquid wax. The lector Bible needs to be turned to the right page for that Sunday with the readings appropriately marked. The baptismal water needs to be freshened up. And then someone must pour the wine into each of those tiny little cups and place the wafers into the appropriate vessel. They need to know about how many will be served. These people also need to know about special needs such as grape juice and gluten-free wafers and how to handle them. They need to know what to do with the host wafer. They need to set all these things up in a specific way on the altar.
This is all in preparation for the meal. There is so much more that goes into a weekly worship service... music preparations, bulletins, Powerpoint slides, cleaning, maintenance of musical instruments, computers, projectors, etc. A sermon has to be prepared. And hey... who cleans out all the candy wrappers, crumpled up bulletins and half-chewed gum from the book racks in the pews and keeps them stocked with special giving envelopes, prayer stars, prayer request cards and pastor communication cards?
A lot of this is done by paid staff. But very much of it is done by volunteers. If it weren't for church members who know that THEY are the church, we wouldn't have Communion on Sunday. We wouldn't have worship... or even a church.
In your prayers, please often remember those who serve in your church. Remember the paid staff and especially remember those who give their time to be sure you have The Meal whenever it is scheduled. How do you serve in your church? There is plenty to do!
Father,
Thank you for those who are willing to serve in humble, behind-the-scenes ways. Thank you for the love and care that they show as they prepare the Table and every other aspect of our weekly worship experience. Amen.
Joys: altar guild members; finally... green on the trees and warm, beautiful weather; sleeping in
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