I'm Starting a Wednesday Morning Communion Service
Starting Wednesday morning, September 13, I’ll lead a weekly Holy Communion service in the Mason Chapel at Asbury Church, 7:15-7:45 AM. (I promise—cross-my-heart-and-hope-to-die promise, Scout’s honor promise—that I will have you on your way out the door no later than 7:45 AM each week.)
I personally really looking forward to this. In a big church it can be hard to make connections with folks. Sunday mornings are tightly-scheduled for me, and I’m not always able to visit with folks the way I’d like; one of the things I like about our 6 PM Thursday service each week is that I feel as if I’m slowly getting to know the regulars. I love that.
So, this brief Wednesday service will be a nice opportunity for me to get to know more folks on a weekly basis. In fact, you’re stuck with me: I’ll be the pastor leading each week, except on the rare occasions when I’m out of town.
The Format
We’ll begin at 7:15 AM sharp.
I’ll lead us in a hymn.
I’ll probably end up giving a brief Bible study and talking about the Bible—I just know I won’t be able to help myself!
We’ll pray the communion liturgy and share the elements.
I’ll dismiss us in prayer.
And then we’ll have grab-and-go Chick-fil-A biscuits available on the way out.
You’ll be in your cars by 7:45 AM.
Who Can Attend?
This service is for anyone who wants to be there. Come every week, come once a year—doesn’t matter. I’d love to see kids and families there, if at all possible. (I know mornings can be difficult for families, so no pressure.) Stop by on the way to work, or if you’re retired, use this as a good excuse to get up and get your Wednesday going. And, of course, you don’t have to be an Asburian to attend—bring friends.
The Reason This Matters
Life is hard at times, and it’s hard to remain faithful. So, we all need to structure our lives around the Truth:
Jesus is Risen!
Bad news is temporary!
We have so many reasons for gratitude!
Etc.
The Lord strengthens his people through Holy Communion. Just like going to the gym regularly, if you show up consistently on Wednesday mornings, God will strengthen your spirit and help you persevere with joy.
Let’s GO.
P.S. Live out of town? First of all, go ahead and move to Tulsa. We’d love to have you. If that can’t happen, find yourself some kind of midweek service or encouragement in your city so that you don’t feel as if you have to walk alone.
P.P.S. See you on 9/13.
The Rock
The church is not a charity. The church is not a social service agency. The church is not a fraternal club.
The church is a group of people called and centered around Peter's confessional claim at Caesarea Phillipi:
"You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God."
Matthew 16:16
Now, the church indeed does charitable things, serves the community, and draws people together. But each of those things derives from its identity; none of those things constitutes its identity. It is Jesus himself who gives the church its identity.
As long as we hold onto Peter's claim, the forces of evil and death itself will never prevail over Christ's church.
Herod is dead. Caesar is dead. Pilate is dead.
But Jesus is alive, and his church will never be defeated.
Amen.
As long as we hold onto Peter's claim, the forces of evil and even death itself will never prevail over Christ's church.
Some Quick Notes
- The English word "church" is a translation of a Greek word which means "called out." It was originally a political term that the early church co-opted.
- "Peter" is really just "Rock." Peter's given name was Simon--"Simeon"--but in this passage Jesus gives him his nickname and explains its significance--he will be the "rock" on which Jesus begins to build his church. (By the way, the Aramaic word for "rock" is "cephas," which is why Peter is sometimes called "Cephas" in the New Testament. It seems clear that Aramaic and not Greek was the first language of Jesus and the disciples--Greek was the language of commerce and politics.)
- Jesus's words to Peter are a bit confusing there at the end:
"I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.”
Matthew 16:19
What does that stuff about the binding and loosing mean? I like how Grant Osbourne puts it:
"The church exists on earth but with a heavenly authority behind it. As the church takes the teaching of Jesus and lives it in this world both in terms of opening the doors of the kingdom to converts and opening the truths of the kingdom to the new messianic community, it does so with the authority and guidance of God."
Zondervan Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament: Matthew, pg. 630.
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