Wednesday, May 3, 2023

Wisdom Wednesday: Tradition

Grace and peace to you. I’m Rev. Joe Cailles, the pastor of Peakland United Methodist Church in Lynchburg Virginia. I’m posting videos each Wednesday sharing devotions, reflections, church news, and book studies. Today is Wednesday, May 3, 2023 This Saturday, May 6 is Derby Day, the 149th running of the Kentucky Derby at the storied Churchill Downs. I grew up in Southern Indiana near Louisville, Kentucky, home of the Kentucky Derby, which is traditionally on the first Saturday of May. Growing up, it was my family’s tradition each year to attend a Derby Day party, usually at a family friend’s house. We would have good food and good times and then watch the most exciting 2 minutes of sports, and then go back to eating and drinking and enjoying ourselves. Many folks who attend the Derby in person at Churchill Downs dress traditionally with grand flower hats. Folks who go to the infield of Churchill Downs do not dress formally but traditionally have a very good time. This Saturday, May 6 is also coronation day for King Charles the third of the United Kingdom. The first coronation in the UK since his mother’s 70 years ago in 1953. The king’s coronation will be full of both religious traditions as well as some new elements. In keeping with tradition, Charles will be anointed with holy oils by an Anglican priest as the defender of the Anglican faith, and as a new thing Charles coronation will also include British leaders of other faiths, including Hinduism, Judaism, Islam, and Buddhism. Both the Derby and the coronation are this Saturday. And the day after, Peakland celebrates Holy Communion, a Christian tradition nearly 2000 years old. As a church community, we take a piece of the bread and we drink from the cup, and in some holy, mysterious, wonderful way, we are united with Jesus Christ and we are united with each other, and we are uniting with all the other folks who are taking communion in all the other churches, past, present and future. It’s a holy tradition, a holy experience in which our One Trinity God reaches out to us and draws us close. Communion is a traditional act of the church, but we have had to adapt and change and do some new things. Methodists have historically not used wine in communion so that those who struggled with alcohol abuse could come and take communion without endangering their sobriety. Many churches, including ours, now offer gluten free wafers so that those with gluten allergies can also take communion without endangering their health. Since Covid, more and more churches including Peakland, are offering online communion, so that folks who are worshipping online can also share in the holy meal. For United methodists, we have traditionally said that all are welcome at the Jesus’ communion table, and these days that includes all of those who are in person in the sanctuary and those who are online as well. If you are worshipping in person at Peakland this Sunday, May 7, then you are welcome to take communion. We’ll have communion at all three worship services, with bread, grape juice, and gluten free wafers, If you are worshipping online on Sunday, then you are welcome to take communion as well. You’ll need a cup of grace juice and some bread or crackers. As we share communion in the sanctuary, you share with your household. Whatever age you are, you are welcome to take communion. Whether you are a member of Peakland or any church, you are welcome at the table in the sanctuary or the table in your home. If you seek to draw closer God, if you seek to be in right relationship with those around you, then be welcome. That’s our communion tradition. Thanks be to God!