Love Feast & Communion

Saturday evening, October 15

All photos were taken without flash – so the focus is a bit soft.

I love our church fellowship and wanted to share our Love Feast & Communion weekend with you.

dsc_8285Love Feast and Communion is not taken lightly at our church – White Oak Church of the Brethren. The preparations began last Sunday morning when we were challenged to examine our own life during the week – not the life of someone else – so each of us could participate in communion with a heart that was free of all things that do not come from God.

If you eat the bread and drink the wine in a way that isn’t worthy of the Lord, you sin against his body and blood. 1 Corinthians 11:27 Contemporary English Version

dsc_8298Later in the week the deacons wives – and maybe a few volunteers – prepared and baked the unleavened bread.

The deacons and their wives (a few children and other volunteers) spent most of the day on Saturday making preparations for the service.

dsc_8331On Saturday afternoon Brad Nell (a visiting minister) reminded us that life is not always easy – even for the follower of Christ.

I was especially challenged by his closing thought. Can we truly say, “If this situation can be used to the glory of God – I’m content.” That thought stayed with me, and I was reminded of it again during morning worship. Can I truly say to God (when I pray, the Lord’s prayer), “Thy will be done.” Am I content with His will – especially when I am not particularly happy with His will.

The actual Love Feast and Communion service began yesterday at 6:30 PM.

dsc_8309Cerwin likes to arrive by 6 pm so he can help the men set the tables. We have small drop tables on back of our benches for this service.

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dsc_8294Our moderating minister, David Wenger, (right) and Sam Cassel (who officiated the service) putting unleavened bread on trays.

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dsc_8301The grape juice was already prepared in special trays.

dsc_8312By 6:30 we were singing the opening song and the deacons were seating the final people.

I sat in the back row of the overflow room on the ladies side (so I didn’t disturb anyone with my picture-taking). For that reason the pictures are all from the ladies section.

Because of the type of service (feet washing and greeting each other with a hug and kiss) the men and women sit on separate sides of the sanctuary. This is the only service in which we are seated this way. It makes for beautiful singing in four-part harmony.

dsc_8314The Last Supper and crucifixion of Jesus is highlighted throughout the evening.

dsc_8288Each person washes the feet of the person next to them as a symbol of our servanthood to each other.

dsc_8318These are the ladies who sat to my right.

dsc_8292Then we shared a light meal that was prepared by our deacon’s wives. It consists of soup, bread, and meat.

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dsc_8333Preparing for the unleavened bread.

dsc_8334Sam Cassel serving unleavened bread.

dsc_8335The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ? 1 Corinthians 10:16 New King James Version

dsc_8337My piece of bread.

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dsc_8339The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? 1 Corinthians 10:16 New King James Version

dsc_8341We closed the evening with a song.

dsc_8326Today in morning worship Jim Myer closed our Love Feast services with a thought that summarized the weekend.

Think about it: We love Jesus as much as we love the person we love the least.

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Other thoughts and challenges from the weekend:

Communion is about Him.

Do you love Me more than these? (Jesus) Do you love me more that your own desires and pursuits.

No matter what is going on in your life – even on bad days, on “nothing” days – Jesus is on your shoreline waiting for you. Just like he waited for the disciples following their “nothing” fishing trip.