Church bulletin for April
For me, the first Sunday morning of the month is the highlight of our corporate gatherings. It is a joy to partake of the Lord’s Supper and share lunch together. It brings such a strong sense of corporate unity. As we come to the elements we do so as one body. We all share a common problem – the problem of sin. We have all by grace embraced the same solution – Christ’s death upon the cross for the forgiveness of our sin. We all share the same hope – a future resurrection and eternity spent in the presence of Christ. It is of great personal encouragement to know that we are in this together. We are not islands but citizens in a nation; that nation is the church; we are individually parts of the whole. Of course we join together on other occasions which express unity and oneness, but through the Lord’s Supper we feast upon Christ corporately in a unique way. The corporate dimension is vital. Biblically, the Lord’s Supper was not undertaken privately in homes but as the church came together
1 Cor 11:20-22, “Therefore when you come together in one place, it is not to eat the Lord’s Supper. 21For in eating, each one takes his own supper ahead of others; and one is hungry and another is drunk. 22What! Do you not have houses to eat and drink in? Or do you despise the church of God and shame those who have nothing? What shall I say to you? Shall I praise you in this? I do not praise you.”
At the Lord’s Supper the Gospel is presented to us through the elements. We eat and drink demonstrating to one another our trust in Christ. We are brothers and sisters through faith, joined to our Saviour and joined to each other. The Lord’s Supper reminds us that the barriers erected by man have been pulled down in Christ, black and white, young and old, male and female, rich and poor, we are one in Him.
In the New Testament the Lord’s Supper was connected to the “agape” love feast. And so, when we have concluded the service we share lunch together. It is a good thing for us to eat and rejoice in God’s goodness; to laugh and chat and encourage one another. The best day of the week is the Lord’s Day. The best Lord’s Day is the first one of the month. Praise God that a Sabbath is coming when we will be free from all sin, together with Christ for eternity.