Dear Church family,

Last Sunday recorded a number of firsts: it was the first full service to be live streamed in real time from the main Church building – you can join us live at home any Sunday at 10:45 now –  but it’s always best being there in person. And it was the first time we’ve gathered around the Lord’s table this year; and also it was the first time we’ve met around the Lord’s table in the main Church building for 15 years.

Something of the significance of the ‘Lord’s supper’ is summed up in 1 Corinthians 11:26

‘For as often as you eat the bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.’

There’s a present, a past, and a future aspect to sharing the bread and wine together:

In the present, the Lord, our host, invites us to come together as His family around His table: ‘for as often as you eat and drink …’. Ours is the joy of knowing that for his own purposes He has chosen to make us His Sons and daughters. In the words of the song: we who were ‘once his enemies, are now seated round His table.’ We look around the table and see our rescued brothers and sisters, our new family, and we rejoice that even death will not separate us.

In the past, our King and elder brother made this meal possible by sacrificing Himself on the cross for us: ‘you proclaim the Lord’s death,’ means that, at this meal, we look back and remember with gratitude and praise, what Jesus has done to make it possible for us to be at this table. We bask in the love that paid the ultimate price to bring us into His family.

In the future, we look forward to the time we’ll be part of the great banquet in heaven: ‘until he comes,’ refers to the glorious return of Jesus as Judge and ruler of this world and the next. At His coming He’ll give those who are at His table a share in His rule, a share in His glory, and a share in His life with the Father. Then we’ll have new bodies, free from suffering and sin and, suitable for heaven.

We plan to celebrate the Lord’s supper on the first Sunday of the month. Do let Ian or Celeste know if you have any suggestions for making this important meal better.

The children and young adults of the Church family can’t join us at the table yet for Covid reasons, but we hope soon that all of the Church family will be able to be with us.

Your brother in Christ,

Ian