Lakeside Community Presbyterian Church

“The Lord Jesus, on the night He was betrayed, took bread, ²⁴ and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, “This is My body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of Me.” ²⁵ In the same way, after supper He took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of Me.” ²⁶ For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death

until He comes.”

1 Corinthians 11:23-26

Someone asked me why don’t we partake of the Lord’s Supper every week? It is a good question, and different churches do observe and partake of the Lord’s Supper in a variety of different settings and at different times.

The Lord’s Supper, Communion, or The Eucharist is celebrated in a variety of different ways by different churches. Some partake of it weekly while others do it monthly, while still others offer it once a quarter. This is done for a variety of different reasons (some practical, others to keep the Sacrament of Communion sacred and not too common place) but the Bible doesn’t offer a specific time or place for remembering Christ’s sacrifice on the cross.

We do know from the Book of Acts that the first Christians gathered in homes and shared the Lord’s Supper whenever they gathered. This was done weekly but sometimes daily. So, Communion in the early church was done around a dinner table, in the context of table worship.

This Sunday we celebrate Communion, and we join with the church down through the centuries and with churches today. We remember the gracious act of love that God demonstrated by sending His Son Christ Jesus to earth, who offered His life for us so that we might be forgiven and that we might have eternal life through Him.

^“4 There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; ⁵ one Lord, one faith, one baptism;

 ⁶ one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.”

Ephesians 4:4-6

This weekend in San Diego is Comic Con weekend when thousands-upon-thousands of people will gather at the Convention Center to celebrate all that is comic-book related. It is a gather and a celebration of comic-book related art that overflows into movies, television, art, interactive multi-media, gaming, conversations with some of the actors in movies and creators, and much, much, more. Comic-Con overflows from the Convention Center and out to the streets and venues that are near downtown San Diego.

Being new to San Diego, (and having arrived in the SD County during COVID) I haven’t really been exposed to all that happens with Comic-Con, but this year is different. This Friday, my son Aaron and I are going to venture into downtown to view a showing of the movie “Napolean Dynamite,” a quirky coming of age movie that Aaron loved when he was a young adolescent (but I also thought it was a funny movie). It has a lot of stupid jokes and memorable scenes (“Vote for Pedro”) so it will be fun to watch on a big screen and to hear the conversations from two of the actors. I can’t wait to see all that will be going on.

The gathering of comic-book fans reminded me that every week, throughout San Diego County, there are thousands-upon-thousands of people who gather in houses of worship to celebrate Jesus Christ. I know that you and I probably take it for granted that these gatherings take place, but when I pause long enough to think about it, it is amazing that we gather to celebrate Jesus’ life and resurrection. We gather to celebrate “the hope that we have in Jesus. We gather worshipping one Lord, one faith, one baptism, and one God, who is Father of all.” These gatherings, large and small and diverse in many, many ways are something that we should celebrate and be amazed. And the other amazing thing is that these gatherings have been happening around the world for over 2,000 years.

So, when we worship this weekend, be amazed. May we celebrate Jesus with eyes and hearts that are open to the Spirit moving in our midst and may we share this Good News with others.

Have a great rest of the week and I hope to see you on Sunday.

“And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, 

¹⁸ may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, ¹⁹ and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.”

(Ephesians 3:17-19)

This weekend I am officiating at a family wedding up in North County. It is a gathering of family from my wife Karyn’s side of the family, as the daughter of one of her cousins is tying the knot.

Weddings are always special, but it is especially true when family and friends gather around a couple supporting their new life together. It reminds the couple that there are people who are in their corner, supporting and loving them. So, when there are times to celebrate, those family and friends will be with them to celebrate and when there are difficult times, those same friends and family will come alongside them to walk with them through that time of struggle. That is what family and friends do.

In a similar way, the church, God’s holy people, are family, and we too love and support one another throughout life’s ups and downs. As Paul wrote in Ephesians, that together, we are to help the church family grasp how “wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ.” We need one another to remind us of the love of Christ and how deep it is. Christ’s love is great, and it is something that we display to one another through our acts of love to one another.

So today, show someone in the church how wide and long and high and deep the love of Christ is:

When we put love into action, we are demonstrating the deep love that Christ has for His people.

Let me know how it goes. I would love to hear your stories.

Have a great rest of the week and I hope to see you on Sunday.