COM-MUNITY: A series which explores the nature of our coming together. What makes our community at SCUCC different from a social club, a service agency, or an extended clique? Using the etymology of the words we use to expand our understanding, we will ask how these particular aspects of community form and transform who we are. “Com” is the root of all these words, and it means “together.” Community means unity, wholeness together. It is as a body together that we are whole. This series examines what we do together in Christ.
COM-MUNION: 1 Corinthians 10:16-17
The cup of blessing that we bless, is it not a sharing in the blood of Christ? The bread that we break, is it not a sharing in the body of Christ? Because there is one bread, we who are many are one body, for we all partake of the one bread.
“Communion” literally means sharing or participating together. Communion is the thing that we Christians do together. The first Sunday in October is World Communion Sunday. Christians all over the world unite in celebrating communion. Our theologies differ, our rituals diverge, but we share the bread and cup.
One of the mysteries of communion is that in sharing the bread and cup, we are collectively transformed into the Body of Christ. Deitrich Bonhoeffer said it this way: “the companionship of a fellow Christian a physical sign of the gracious presence of the triune God.” We become the body of Christ for each other and the world. How would our community be changed if we practiced seeing Christ in each other?
One of the mysteries of communion is that in sharing the bread and cup, we are collectively transformed into the Body of Christ. Deitrich Bonhoeffer said it this way: “the companionship of a fellow Christian a physical sign of the gracious presence of the triune God.” We become the body of Christ for each other and the world. How would our community be changed if we practiced seeing Christ in each other?
COM-MONWEAL: Acts 2:43-45
Awe came upon everyone, because many wonders and signs were being done by the apostles. All who believed were together and had all things in common; they would sell their possessions and goods and distribute the proceeds to all, as any had need.
Commonweal is an almost obsolete word these days. It is a word that refers to the common good. Its etymology talks of "prosperity together". There is no individual well-being, only the well-being of us all together. The first Christians lived that idea out quite literally. They apparently lived together and shared their resources. Their lifestyle was referred to in the 1960’s as a “commune.” I don’t think that all of us are being called to join communes, but that we are still being called to make the common good our concern. It seems to me that theologies that focus solely on attaining personal salvation completely miss this emphasis on the commonweal of the people. Likewise, when we focus only on our own fulfillment, enrichment, or even emotional assurance and lose sight of commonweal then we, too, miss the priority of those first followers of Christ. How do we shift our focus off of ourselves and make the idea of commonweal at our center?
Commonweal is an almost obsolete word these days. It is a word that refers to the common good. Its etymology talks of "prosperity together". There is no individual well-being, only the well-being of us all together. The first Christians lived that idea out quite literally. They apparently lived together and shared their resources. Their lifestyle was referred to in the 1960’s as a “commune.” I don’t think that all of us are being called to join communes, but that we are still being called to make the common good our concern. It seems to me that theologies that focus solely on attaining personal salvation completely miss this emphasis on the commonweal of the people. Likewise, when we focus only on our own fulfillment, enrichment, or even emotional assurance and lose sight of commonweal then we, too, miss the priority of those first followers of Christ. How do we shift our focus off of ourselves and make the idea of commonweal at our center?
COM-PASSION: 1 Corinthians 1:5-7
For just as the sufferings of Christ are abundant for us, so also our consolation is abundant through Christ. If we are being afflicted, it is for your consolation and salvation; if we are being consoled, it is for your consolation, which you experience when you patiently endure the same sufferings that we are also suffering. Our hope for you is unshaken; for we know that as you share in our sufferings, so also you share in our consolation.
Suffering is one of the conundrums of human life. I do not believe that suffering is in and of itself redemptive. But compassion means “suffering together.” There is something mystical about choosing to suffer for another. While many theologians make a big deal about the “passion” of Christ (meaning his suffering and death on the cross), I believe it is the compassion of Christ that has made Christ’s ongoing presence redemptive even for us. For 2000 years Christians have seen Christ’s willingness to share our suffering as a way of transforming it into something meaningful. And when we choose suffer for others, we participate again in Christ’s compassion. How can we dare to set aside our own safety and comfort in order to enter into the suffering of others that they might be supported and their suffering eased and ended?
Suffering is one of the conundrums of human life. I do not believe that suffering is in and of itself redemptive. But compassion means “suffering together.” There is something mystical about choosing to suffer for another. While many theologians make a big deal about the “passion” of Christ (meaning his suffering and death on the cross), I believe it is the compassion of Christ that has made Christ’s ongoing presence redemptive even for us. For 2000 years Christians have seen Christ’s willingness to share our suffering as a way of transforming it into something meaningful. And when we choose suffer for others, we participate again in Christ’s compassion. How can we dare to set aside our own safety and comfort in order to enter into the suffering of others that they might be supported and their suffering eased and ended?
COM-PANION: Luke 24:28-34
As they came near the village to which they were going, he walked ahead as if he were going on. But they urged him strongly, saying, ‘Stay with us, because it is almost evening and the day is now nearly over.’ So he went in to stay with them. When he was at the table with them, he took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them. Then their eyes were opened, and they recognized him; and he vanished from their sight. They said to each other, ‘Were not our hearts burning within uswhile he was talking to us on the road, while he was opening the scriptures to us?’ That same hour they got up and returned to Jerusalem; and they found the eleven and their companions gathered together. They were saying, ‘The Lord has risen indeed, and he has appeared to Simon!’ Then they told what had happened on the road, and how he had been made known to them in the breaking of the bread.
Companion means "those who share bread together" (one translator said “bread-fellows.”). Beyond the obvious allusions to holy communion, the straightforward implication is that Christ becomes present when we share bread, when we feed each other. That may be why potluck dinners are so popular in churches. Casseroles and Christ naturally go together. This word would also be very fitting for World Communion Sunday. How can the sharing of our food (our resources) let Christ be recognized?
Companion means "those who share bread together" (one translator said “bread-fellows.”). Beyond the obvious allusions to holy communion, the straightforward implication is that Christ becomes present when we share bread, when we feed each other. That may be why potluck dinners are so popular in churches. Casseroles and Christ naturally go together. This word would also be very fitting for World Communion Sunday. How can the sharing of our food (our resources) let Christ be recognized?
COM-MITMENT: Acts 11:27-30
At that time prophets came down from Jerusalem to Antioch. One of them named Agabus stood up and predicted by the Spirit that there would be a severe famine over all the world; and this took place during the reign of Claudius. The disciples determined that according to their ability, each would send relief to the believers living in Judea; this they did, sending it to the elders by Barnabas and Saul.
Commitment actually means "mission together". To commit is to join together in a mission. I envision that this will be the week of our Stewardship Sunday, when we challenge ourselves to make a commitment for the coming year. Our financial commitments are a way of joining together in Christ’s mission for SCUCC. The passage from Acts is a brief episode where though the believers are separated by significant geography, they still share the same mission for Christ. Though it seems that the believers in Antioch were not severely affected by the drought, their hearts were for the believers in Judea. They made commitments and sent them with Saul and Barnabas. Can we find our mission together?
