When he was at the table with them, he took bread, gave thanks, broke it and began to give it to them. Then their eyes were opened and they recognized him… Luke 24:30-31
Seven summers ago, after church one Sunday at Wake Forest Presbyterian, some friends heard us talking about our coming 40th anniversary. “We’re celebrating 30 this month!” they said. Another couple overheard – “50 for us!” Then the people behind them chimed in – “It’s our 20th!”
20, 30, 40, 50. So we all decided to celebrate together. You can read about it in: “140 – more than a number.” We had such a good time we promised to repeat at every five and ten year mark. So we met again in 2024, over at Rocky Mount Mills: “The Secret Sauce to Ministry” and the magic number was now at 160.
This year Rebekah and I looked at each other and said, “We’re not waiting until 2029. Let’s get together this summer. And so we did.
We met up Thursday evening. Rick & Karen (celebrating 57), Rebekah & Derek (47), Ed & Kathy (37) and Judy & Denny (27). Now the magic number – and it really is magic – stands at 168.
So I booked a table at Rustic Roots, a really excellent Farm to Table restaurant over in Bunn. The food, the service, the friendship and the time together was refreshingly wonderful. It was one of those occasions where the more conversation we have the more there is to say. Especially as we don’t live in Wake Forest any more, and neither do Rick and Karen half the year, and neither will Judy and Denny before long.
So why does this work? This random assortment of people who happened to overhear each other’s anniversary conversations and plan a meal together. It works because, as Jesus said, “Where two or three are gathered together in my name then there I am, right in the middle of it.” And it works because when we break bread together we are – always – celebrating a kind of eucharist.
I know this much, it is consecrated.
Judy, Denny, Derek
There Jesus is, right in the middle of it – right in the heart of us. Right there offering a blessing.
Next time we are going to host here at Maul-Hall. 2029? I don’t think so. We may not even wait a year.
Because we were (we are) created for community – DEREK