Communion
October 04, 2019
in Pastor's Weekly Message
Thoughts on two subjects this Friday morning:
I’ve had the privilege of receiving Holy Communion in many places around our globe. Over the last 35 years, this has happened as I’ve traveled for vacation, leading tours, attending workshops or studying. Travel with me for a moment. I’ve been part of communities celebrating Communion in Germany, Israel, South Korea, the Philippines, Mexico, various places in California, and across the rest United States to North Carolina and Florida. How about you? Have you received Communion while in other parts of the U.S. or world?
This weekend United Methodists, along with other Christians, will observe World Communion Sunday, joining with one another to remember that the love and presence of Jesus is at the heart of our faith. We’ll also remember that we are joined together in that faith, communing around the table with the bread and cup. At St. Mark’s we’ll be part of that worldwide celebration of Christ’s love.
In worship at St. Mark’s we’ve just finished a sermon series on “Making Our Way in Our United Methodist Tradition” and will begin a series on October 20th called “What the Bible Says About Love”. This year our focus is “What the Bible Really Says About…”, so for the next two weeks we’ll take a brief and lighthearted look at two “Odd Things” in the Bible — “Long Lives” and “What About Giants?”.
So, did Methuselah truly live to be 969 years old? Was Noah 500 years old when his sons Shem, Ham and Japheth were born? For that matter, was Abram 135 years old when his father Terah died at age 205? We’ll take a look at some possible meanings of these numbers as we consider these questions on Sunday, 10/6.
As the weather is turning cooler in Arizona, some of you are returning to Tucson. Welcome home! If you are not here, join us for worship on the livestream at 9:45 a.m.
Blessings, Sharon