Reflecting on World Communion Sunday

There is a tendency in human nature to be more comfortable around those with whom we are alike than those who are different. This tendency when played out in history has produced oppression and manipulation and worse… In reality, the possibility that the world will ever become homogenized is next to impossible.

Perhaps you recall the story about the little girl and her father. After a long day at the office the father wanted nothing more than to rest and relax as soon as he got home. He had just gotten comfortable when his daughter rushed in and said, “Come play with me daddy.” “How about later?” said her dad. “Mom says I’ve got to go to bed later. Come play with me now!” The father knew there would be no rest until he took time to play with his daughter. Suddenly an idea struck him. He had seen a complex picture of the earth in the newspaper earlier that day. “I’ll tell you what, we’ll make a puzzle out of the world and cut it into little pieces and when you put it back together, we’ll play.” “Hey, that’s great!” said the daughter, as she ran off to put the world together. Surely I’ll get some rest now, thought the father. But in practically no time at all, his daughter was back with the puzzle complete. “Sweetheart, how did you ever get the world put back together so quickly?” “Well, you didn’t see it dad, but on the backside of the picture of the world was a picture of a little girl. And I thought if I could put the girl together right…the world would work out as well.”

This past Sunday was world communion Sunday, the day when Christians the world round shared in the sacrament of Holy Communion. Communion, on the one hand, is very personal - as words cannot fully express what goes on in the life of a believer during special moments of healing and wholeness while partaking of the bread in the cup. On the other hand, communion is communal - as it is shared in community. As I commented on Sunday, it was so good to be back together in person sharing communion together for the first time in over a year and a half.

In our tradition we celebrate individual freedom and diversity-- there’s no homogeneity sought here. We also recognize that our personal lives are tied to the world and that our unity in Christ is a powerful bond. It did my heart good to know - that both through our online service and in person worship - we were able to share together with brothers and sisters as part of The Neighborhood Church and with God’s family everywhere…in communion!

And…in community,

Rev. Dr. David D. Young
Senior Minister

This piece originally appeared in The Wave on October 6, 2021.