"Be Known to Us in the Breaking of the Bread" by the Rev. Dr. Amy Slaughter Myers

St. Francis Spiritual Sustenance : November 16, 2022 =======================================

Be present, be present, O Jesus...Book of Common Prayer (p. 834)

Scott Gunn and Melody Wilson Shobe invite reflection on our experience of the Eucharist. (Walk in Love: Episcopal Beliefs and Practices, p. 67; you can find a copy here.) A few of the questions they ask: What is your favorite moment in the Eucharist and why? How do you experience the relationship between preaching and hearing Scripture and receiving the bread? Does your regular practice of receiving the bread and/or wine shape your life in the week that follows? If yes, how so?

Rev. Sara Yoe, in their sermon from Sunday (you can watch it here) asked how many of us experience anxiety on a regular basis and come to church for comfort. Sara - as did many of us in person - admitted to both. It reminded me of these words from one of the Eucharistic Prayers St. Francis uses:

Deliver us from the presumption of coming to this Table for solace only, and not for strength; for pardon only, and not for renewal. Let the grace of this Holy Communion make us one body, one spirit in Christ, that we may worthily serve the world in his name.

This prayer is one of my favorite moments in the Eucharist as we practice it here at St. Francis. That coming together in community - whether that's virtually or in-person - to receive the bread with others is to experience the presence of Jesus both in the bread and in community with others. I look forward to hearing your experiences of communion.