Our Eucharist

"But what if Jesus meant something else-something beyond the ritual? What if he was talking about our actually enacting what the ritual is all about over and over, again and again, year after year? What if the 'do this' he primarily meant wasn't the ritual he was leading his disciples through at that moment. What if the 'do this' was his whole way of life...Maybe that's what he means when he says, 'Do this in remembrance of me.' The 'do this' part is our lives. Opening ourselves up to the mystery of resurrection, open for liberation of others, allowing our bodies to be broken and our blood to be poured, discovering our Eucharist. Listening. And going."

Throughout the past year the Eucharist/Communion/Lord's supper has come to be one of my favorite rituals. There is just something about sharing the body and blood of Christ with other followers that brings an amazing sense of joy and peace to my heart. Taking part in this makes me remember and reflect on why I live my life the way I do. For so long I took this tradition for granted. I took the bread and the juice with little thought. But Christ is calling us to observe this tradition with great thought! He was even so clever as to make this meal a symbol of what we as Christ followers are supposed to be: the broken body and the spilled blood of Christ. What a beautiful picture!! 

Pic-a-nic

Yesterday was Picnic in the Park. It went so well! We had over one hundred people come! We were provided with so much more food than we needed (and I was so worried about it ha). God did it. He took care of everything. It all came together. I feel so blessed to have been able to do something like this and I am so thankful for the people who helped pull it all together. It really was a beautiful thing!

The people from the neighborhood seemed to really be excited that the park was being used. I was told that no one really ever uses it and so they were glad to see people hanging out there together. A ton of kids came and it was so precious to watch some of my friends play kickball with them. It was so good to see, especially, how good the guys were with the kids. It was beautiful. There was also one couple that came who had not planned on coming. They just happened to be in park and so Jill and I went and told them they were invited to come eat if they wanted to. They did. They actually ended up staying until we were about to leave. I think they just wanted someone to talk to. It was so good to be able to be that person to them and to watch other people fulfill that role. The weather was beautiful, we made friends, ate good food, and had so much fun...what more could you ask from a Saturday in the Park?

I can't wait to do this again. Through experience God has taught me so much about trusting him. He has shown me that he will provided if I will just let him. I can't always have control of everything. He always provides exactly what we need and for that I am truly grateful. 

He Will Do It

Today marks exactly one week before Picnic in the Park. It has been such a larger project than I could have ever imagined. I've never been in charge of anything like this. I've never had an idea about something like this and tried to carry it out. It's a scary thing. It's a scary thing not knowing for sure how many people will come, how many people will volunteer, and if we will get enough food. God is teaching me to trust him. Right now that is the only thing I can do. 

On one hand some amazing things have happened during the planning for this. A guy Jill and I work with generously decided to donate 200 hot dogs and 100 hamburgers!! Also, I have had some amazing people to work with. Several friends have jumped on board with this idea and done so much. I am so thankful for them. There is no way this could have happened without them.

On the other hand I have been a little disappointed in some things while planning this picnic. I feel disappointed in the church. I contacted several local churches and christian organizations and no one even responded. I thought for sure that if someone would be willing to help with this it would be Christ followers. I guess I was wrong. Or maybe they just had other things going on(which I completely understand), but I just thought someone, anyone, would respond. Once again, I think God is trying to teach me to trust him. 

I often find myself worrying about this (because that is what I do), but I am constantly being reminded that God is in control. He is going to provide exactly what we need. He always does and he always will. This morning I was talking to Jill about it and she said she thinks food is just going to fall out of heaven. I think she said it half way jokingly, but she is right. God can do anything! Who am I to doubt that?!

Commit your way to the LORD,Trust also in Him, and He will do it. Psalm 37:5