I have been bothered for a long time by the changes and positioning of the church’s furniture, in many evangelical buildings. Gone is the communion table positioned front and center in the church. In its place, front and center in the church is the podium with its speaker. The communion table is either rolled out, or added on a monthly basis. While we continue to see celebrity pastors failing, we forget we already have our hero who has overcome. Who is remembered and celebrated in his body and blood.
And to answer the question, why are asked to remember, because we to easily forget.
In the Methodist churches I grew up in, and the one I’m in now, the table is the center of the front area, while the podium is to the side. I’m grateful for many things about my Methodist heritage, although I wish we would observe communion every week, since it too often gets sidelined as a memorial only, rather than something more.
I've always had a little bit of a problem with the wording, 'Do this in remembrance of me'. It all too easily becomes a memorial feast, looking back and remembering Jesus death and nothing but Jesus death. I wonder whether its equally legitimate to translate Jesus command as 'Do this and remember me' with the accent not so much on Jesus as a figure we're remembering from the past but on Jesus as the living Lord who has conquered Sin and Death and who is with us even now by his Spirit.
I have been bothered for a long time by the changes and positioning of the church’s furniture, in many evangelical buildings. Gone is the communion table positioned front and center in the church. In its place, front and center in the church is the podium with its speaker. The communion table is either rolled out, or added on a monthly basis. While we continue to see celebrity pastors failing, we forget we already have our hero who has overcome. Who is remembered and celebrated in his body and blood.
And to answer the question, why are asked to remember, because we to easily forget.
In the Methodist churches I grew up in, and the one I’m in now, the table is the center of the front area, while the podium is to the side. I’m grateful for many things about my Methodist heritage, although I wish we would observe communion every week, since it too often gets sidelined as a memorial only, rather than something more.
I've always had a little bit of a problem with the wording, 'Do this in remembrance of me'. It all too easily becomes a memorial feast, looking back and remembering Jesus death and nothing but Jesus death. I wonder whether its equally legitimate to translate Jesus command as 'Do this and remember me' with the accent not so much on Jesus as a figure we're remembering from the past but on Jesus as the living Lord who has conquered Sin and Death and who is with us even now by his Spirit.
A friend of mine describes remembering as being “re-membered” or reconnected into the reality of all that Jesus is and has done for us.
I like that, sums up what I was trying to say. It's the 'celebration' of the Eucharist, not a solemn wake.