the gathering

We had a unique opportunity today. Worship centered on the Lord's Supper - it's history through the Passover and Seder meal, the gospel shift, and closing with Revelation 5. Ben and Rumiko worked for hours to prepare a document in Japanese that people could read today and take home with them.
I helped prepare the bread. While working the dough, I recalled as a child standing beside my mother as she prepared the bread for the church at Ontario Street. She would lightly crease the bread's center in the shape of a cross - easy to break - but also symbolic of Jesus' own experience. With a fork, she poked holes in the top of the bread. "This is like Jesus' body being pierced by the sword and his skin being broken by the whips." As I made the bread, I began praying and realized I was having a time of communion with the Lord while preparing for the communion with the church. My mother must've had some rich devotional time as she repeatedly made the bread herself.
Gathered around a table, facing each other, people were obviously disoriented by the different seating arrangement. As we eased into the time of worship, we flowed through hymns and prayers and a series of scriptures from John, Exodus, Luke, Psalms, Titus and Revelation. Each person received a quarter of a loaf and a full glass of grape juice and we shared in the Lord's Supper together. It was a rich experience. Somehow, I felt more connected to the church that began almost 2000 years ago.