Last Sunday, I received a revelation. It was a moment of powerful clarity about the purpose and mission of the church. During the announcements, I heard the pastor say, "No one goes hungry here." It was a rather ordinary Sunday morning announcement, sharing about an upcoming fellowship event in the life of the congregation. But, I heard God speak in the voice of that pastor, "No one goes hungry here."
I remember the wise teacher who taught that those who receive Communion are themselves called to be feeders of others. When the bread and wine are served at the chancel steps, there must always be an attentive, watchful deacon who sees those who are unable to make their way to the front. The most wonderful symbol of care comes as the pastor makes her way down the aisle, moving through the congregation, carrying the bread and cup to an isolated member. Holy Communion requires that "No one goes hungry here."
When the church carries consecrated elements of grace and peace into the world--into nursing homes and hospitals, into Alzheimer's units, into prisons, into homeless shelters--there is true communion. "No one goes hungry here."
This is more than a clever slogan, another marketing strategy for the Church. It is Christ's mission. I heard a great sermon in five words, a simple sentence with propelling implications: "No one goes hungry here."
May we become the church we profess to be! Let the hungry be fed.
May it be so, O God! May it be so!
What if those five words were to become a mission statement for the churches?
- What if, on any given Sunday morning, our hunger for the living God were satisfied? "No one goes hungry here."
- What if the local pantry were stocked to overflowing, so that everyone who came hungering for daily bread was satisfied? "No one goes hungry here."
- What if God's forgotten and frightened little ones found friendship and community in a common meal where Jesus, crucified and risen, is eternally present. "No one goes hungry here."
- What if . . . ?
I remember the wise teacher who taught that those who receive Communion are themselves called to be feeders of others. When the bread and wine are served at the chancel steps, there must always be an attentive, watchful deacon who sees those who are unable to make their way to the front. The most wonderful symbol of care comes as the pastor makes her way down the aisle, moving through the congregation, carrying the bread and cup to an isolated member. Holy Communion requires that "No one goes hungry here."
When the church carries consecrated elements of grace and peace into the world--into nursing homes and hospitals, into Alzheimer's units, into prisons, into homeless shelters--there is true communion. "No one goes hungry here."
This is more than a clever slogan, another marketing strategy for the Church. It is Christ's mission. I heard a great sermon in five words, a simple sentence with propelling implications: "No one goes hungry here."
May we become the church we profess to be! Let the hungry be fed.
May it be so, O God! May it be so!
