Devotional 10-5-07

And as they were eating, he took bread, and blessed and broke it and gave it to them, and said, "Take; this is my body.
And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, and they all drank of it. And he said to them, "This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many.
--Mark 14:22-24

This is an invitation across the nation the chance for folks to meetThere'll be swinging, swaying, music playing and dancing in the street
--Dancin' In The Streets, words and music by Marvin Gaye, Wm. "Mickey" Stevenson, Ivy Jo Hunter

This Sunday is World Communion Sunday. Every-other-year, members of Johnson Memorial UMC join our neighbors from other downtown Huntington churches and have a joint Communion service in the middle of 5th Avenue. The choirs combine, pastors from all the churches participate, and the congregations mingle. There is almost a party atmosphere, and I think that's a good thing. We Christians come together to celebrate our sameness and forget our differences. I often see old friends at this service. There's a lot of greeting and hugging.

Kevin Witt of the UMC General Board of Discipleship wrote: "When we share in this meal, we proclaim that we are followers of Jesus. We declare our willingness to join him in spreading love throughout the world, even if it means that we may suffer for it sometimes. We are one with Jesus and his mission. If, then, Jesus unites us, then naturally we must be one with one another. We are all fed from the same loaf and drink from the same cup of God’s love. This love unites us with God and with each other."

I'll see you Sunday, dancin' in the streets.

Anita Gardner Farrell