Christ has died; Christ is risen; Christ will come again.”

I recently learned a lesson on hospitality, one that doesn’t usually affect me very often especially since becoming a pastor. People, especially church people, are quick to include me at the table. This wasn’t always the case. School was particularly difficult at times but since I’m an introvert it didn’t usually bother me as much as being excluded did my sister. However, I had an experience the other day that reminded me of the feeling of being excluded. I’m sure the person didn’t mean to do it. A group of us were going to eat at a restaurant after class, or I thought a group of us were going to eat together but there wasn’t enough room at the table. Instead of moving to a larger table, one of the ladies just said there wasn’t room for me. I left the restaurant and started writing this article in my head.

It was an important reminder for me of why the United Methodist Church invites everyone to the table during Holy Communion and why that is one of the reasons I fell in love with the United Methodist Church. I grew up as a child visiting Catholic Churches where you have to go through their Catechism Class to take communion or as a teenager in Baptist Churches where you had to be a member of that particular church to take Holy Communion. The UMC is different. We have an open table. You don’t have to be a member of that church, a member of the denomination, a Protestant, a Catholic, or even a Christian. Saints and sinners are welcome to God’s Table. John Wesley saw the Eucharist as a means of grace. A way that God to work on a person’s spirit and heart to draw them closer to the heart of God, I hope that as you take Holy Communion on Sunday you will think of this as a chance to grow closer to God and to each other.

Blessings,

Rev. Candace