Connection with the Larger Church (World Communion Sunday)

Focus Statement

Communion is the living stream within our faith forest,

nourishing our connection to Christ

and intertwining our roots with each other.

Point of Relation

As a Protestant, I've experienced many Christian traditions, including Catholic Masses.

While I don't subscribe to transubstantiation,

I admire Catholicism's reverence for communion as the centerpiece of worship.

In our tradition, sermons often take focus,

but Holy Communion's power surpasses my words.

When I partake,

I feel our faith's living stream flow through me,

connecting us to Christ and each other.

This sacred meal reveals what it truly means

to be part of Christ's body.

It reminds me that in breaking bread and sharing the cup,

we join a greater ecosystem of faith that Christ planted.

Things to Consider

Our faith journey has led us through

diverse expressions of communion

within the vast forest of Christianity.

From towering oak congregations

to intimate wildflower gatherings,

each experience nourishes our spiritual growth.

Reflect on the various ways we share this sacred meal:

the joyous feasts of celebration,

the quiet sustenance of remembrance,

or the unexpected sharing with a stranger.

These moments cultivate deeper connections in our shared garden of faith.

As we've encountered different branches of Christian tradition,

our understanding has flourished.

Today, on World Communion Sunday,

we focus not on the varied foliage of our practices,

but on the common root of Christ's love that sustains us all.

What Scripture Says

In the rich ecosystem of early Christian life,

Paul's words flow like life-giving water,

nourishing the intricate web of unity and shared experience.

We've discussed building connection among Christians

through worship,

small groups,

fellowship,

and mission.

We've discussed discovering and building upon our connection with God.

We've discussed our connection with community,

as well as how we make

and maintain connections across barriers.

Now, as we turn our attention to today's scripture,

we see how these themes of connection and unity

are embodied in the act of communion.

The bread broken, the cup lifted -

these aren't mere isolated elements

but vital nutrients

connecting us to the very essence of Christ.

Imagine, if you will,

the early believers gathered not just for solemn ceremony but for a symbiotic exchange.

The Greek language blossoms with double meaning here:

"sharing in" flourishes both as the sacred act of Communion

and the natural cycle of breaking bread together.

In this fertile ambiguity,

we unearth a profound truth:

the sacred and the everyday intertwine,

each sustaining the other.

Paul's voice resonates through the forest of time,

urging us to see beyond our individual roots.

"We," he proclaims, not "I."

In this simple pronoun lies a biological revolution—

a call to understand our faith

not as a solitary plant

but as part of a vast, interconnected biosphere.

When we partake in communion,

we don't just nourish our own spirits;

we contribute to the nutrient cycle of the entire body of Christ.

The bread and the cup become more than mere sustenance.

They are the soil and sunlight of hope,

the pollination of forgiveness,

the photosynthesis of love.

As we share in these elements,

we share in the very ecosystem of Jesus—

his promises, his peace, his transformative energy.

Yet in this unity,

our biodiversity is not erased.

Like a thriving rainforest,

each species distinct yet part of a greater whole,

our differences become a celebration of abundance

rather than a competition for resources.

In the act of coming together to share this spiritual meal,

we are compelled toward ecological balance

and reconciliation.

How can we,

with the taste of grace still on our tongues,

poison the waters with bitterness?

How can we,

nourished by love from God,

withhold that same sustenance from others?

The table of Communion becomes a fertile ground of vulnerability

where we are all organisms in the divine garden—

equal in our need for mercy.

This is not a call for superficial harmony or easy coexistence.

No, it's an invitation to the complex work of true community—

acknowledging environmental stresses,

seeking balance,

and finding a way to thrive together.

In breaking bread together,

we find strength to break down barriers,

heal damaged ecosystems,

and build bridges across diverse habitats.

Paul's words remind us that in this simple act of eating and drinking together,

we proclaim a profound ecological truth—

that in Christ we are one interconnected system:

diverse yet united;

fragile yet resilient;

each playing a vital role in this divine ecosystem of faith.

What This Means for You

In Paul's rich soil,

communion grows as the sap of our connection to Christ and each other.

This sacred meal roots deeply in our lives,

calling us to action.

Cultivate gatherings that invite new shoots to your table.

Plant yourself in food-centered ministries

or nurture fellowship through other means—

each a unique bloom in our faith garden.

Engage fully in communion's cycle:

receive its nourishment,

serve as its conduit,

or bring its fruits to others.

Every connection echoes communion's symphony.

As you leave,

consider how to extend this table's canopy

into your daily forest,

embodying Christ's flourishing unity

and love.

What This Means For Us

As we conclude our journey through this series on connection,

we've seen how communion serves as the living stream within our faith forest.

This sacred meal nourishes our connection to Christ

and intertwines our roots with each other.

Let's carry the spirit of communion into our daily lives.

We can extend Christ's table beyond these walls.

In doing so, we'll nurture our ecosystem of faith,

allowing God's love to flow through us and into the world.Amen? Amen.

Written by Rev. Todd R. Lattig with the assistance of Perplexity AI, based on a series developed by GNJUMC’s Breakthrough: https://breakthroughseries.org/.