Let Us Break Bread Together, Apart at Home
Here is a resource you may use whenever you need this moment of comfort and worship. It is a communion service for you to use at home. Before hitting play, prepare your heart, your mind, and your physical space, as I will outline below some of the practices you may do to orient yourself to prayer and reflection.
First of all, the Eucharist, the Lord's Supper, is the sign and seal of our communion with Christ. Communion is community and communication: we are drawn into Christ's presence by the Holy Spirit working in our hearts to prepare us to receive the gift of grace. It is not a right bestowed upon the worthy, but an undeserved gift granted to a flawed humanity. We come to the table in faith, love, humility, and recognizing our need to make honest restitution in the world. If we come to the table thinking that we deserve to approach, or it is our right to partake, then we have missed the point and our hearts are closed to God's grace. Before you click play on the video, examine your heart and your motivations for reserving your place at this table.
Now, after you have examined your heart and mind, it is time to prepare the worship space. Begin with prayer, a simple prayer that you can reduce to a short mantra as you assemble the pieces of the worship space. Here is a prayer example:
Loving God,
you have so made us that we cannot live by bread alone,
but by every word that proceeds from your mouth.
Give us a hunger for your Word,
and in that food satisfy our daily need;
through Jesus Christ. Amen.
The mantra derived from this prayer could be, "Give us a hunger for your Word." Repeat the mantra of your choice in your head as you physically prepare for worship.
In preparing the worship space, there are necessary items, and optional items.
In order to follow along with the meal itself, you will need bread or bread substitute and grape juice or appropriate substitute. These items should be common consumables in your life, and preferably things that you know are shared by others in your community. Bread and wine were a staple of Jesus' culture. They were common items, and especially at Passover, which is when Jesus instituted the first Lord's Supper with his instructions of remembrance to the disciples, prayers over the unleavened bread and wine were already part of the meal.
You can choose bread, english muffins, rice cakes, crackers, pita bread, naan, anything that is a staple in your life. Use the same awareness in choosing what to have in the cup: juice, water, wine, grape soda, etc. Part of the imagery of the cup derives from Jesus' message that he is the vine, the disciples are the branches. That is the reason behind the emphasis on products from grapes, but strangely we do not use raisin bread for the Lord's Supper. When you are ready to choose what you will use for bread and "fruit of the vine", if, for example, french toast and coffee fit within your life as common elements, then by all means, use french toast and coffee.
For the worship space itself, you want a clear space, where you can still reach, hear, and see your computer screen to follow along with the service. In this clear space, you may light a candle, you may have your Bible (I read from Psalm 145 in the service), and if there are any other meditative elements that help you feel calm and centered, have those around you as well. Place the meal elements within the space, in easy reach. Be in a chair that is comfortable, but will not put you to sleep. Set your phone on silent (unless you are using your phone to follow the service), take a couple moments to be at peace in the space before beginning the service. Be aware of any discomforts that might intrude, and either consciously accept them as part of the space, or make any necessary adjustments to your space before starting the video.
Now, finally, you may press play on the video. Let us break bread together.
~Rev. Andrea Joy Holroyd
