This morning I went for a walk and while out enjoying the blustery, overcast post-rain weather, the thought that came to mind was memorable church services. As I cast my mind through my life, I thought of a number of them. As I peeled back the years and thought of the places I’d been, one particular time of communion came to mind.
I was in my late teens and had not been in Cape Town long. I settled in going to Holy Trinity Church in Gardens. The church caretaker was a man called Steve du Toit. At the time, he was in his mid-40s but did not enjoy good health. Rotund with type 1 diabetes, he had many of the ill-effects that come with not having enough insulin to deal with too high a sugar intake. He had leg ulcers and cataracts. The church hired him to take care of the church while it was not in use and he also oversaw the youth group. I don’t have a photo of Steve, but I do have happy memories of his smiling face and caring attitude. He didn’t have two beans to rub together, but he lived very happily in a small flat attached to the church. It appeared smaller than it probably was because it was full to the brim with Steve’s possessions. Stuff piled high – books, clothes and nick-nacks filled gaps between his bed and odd pieces of furniture. I didn’t spend too much time there, but one day, Steve suggested the youth leaders, of which I was one, should come over for a time of prayer and communion.
We crammed into his tiny place and found seats amidst the chaos. Steve had prepared bread and grape juice. Steven spent a short time explaining the meaning of communion. We then solemnly spent a few minutes talking and then after prayer, we shared the bread and grape juice.
Up until then, I had never done it this way before. Communion was always carried out in the solemnity of a formal church building at a structured communion service.
This was different.
Just 3 or 4 of us sitting in a tiny bachelor pad, less than tidy, we shared one of Christ’s most sacred requests…
1 Corinthians 11:24-25
“This is My body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of Me. In the same way He took the cup also after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood; do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.”…
It was there on that random afternoon, that I learned communion is not about church, it’s about Christ. It doesn’t matter where we are, we can share communion as an act of remembrance of what Christ has done for us.
These days when I take communion, wherever it is, I am reminded of John 3:16. I make it personal.
For God so loved Helga, that He gave His only Son, so that if Helga believes in Him she will not perish, but have everlasting life.
I believe.
Communion is an intimate expression of remembrance. Let it never become so routine that we forget it’s true meaning.
Christ is Risen! He is Risen Indeed!
Keep the smile going.
God bless you!
In His Grip,
Helga xx 🙂