Christ is our peace. He made both Jews and Gentiles into one group. With his body, he broke down the barriers that divided us. He canceled the detailed rules of the Law so that he could create one new person out of the two groups, making peace. He reconciled [us all] as one body to God by the cross, which ended the hostility to God. When he came, he announced the good news of peace to you who were far away from God and to those who were near. Now we [all] have access to the Father through Christ by the one Spirit. – Ephesians 2:14-18

This weekend our church (Howard Memorial Presbyterian) participated in “World Communion Sunday.” The day was launched in 1933 by a Presbyterian Church in Pittsburg, as an invitation to celebrate the Lord’s Supper in unity, without regard to denomination or doctrinal preferences or race or politics or cultural differences.

The day is rooted in the fact that all are welcome at the table, that we are all in need of grace and forgiveness, and that we are all nourished by the life and the light and the grace of Jesus.

When I went forward to take the bread and the wine I did it with Steve and Kate in my pew, Rebekah in the choir, our Episcopalian friends across the street, our family in Wake Forest, my Disciples of Christ brothers and sisters in Virginia, Catholics around the world, Southern Baptists in Texas, Lutherans in Minnesota, the UCC Church our son’s family attends in Michigan, Ugandan Christians in Africa, my Methodist cousins in England – and the list goes on.

The same Sun that you can see rising behind our church in Tarboro this weekend (see image, above right) also shines on every life throughout this world, and the same Son of God gave everything for the sake of all life, for my salvation and for yours – including those people we may be at odds with in a variety of ways. We all dip our bread in the same wine when it comes to grace and mercy and acceptance and God’s invitation home.

It is only because Jesus broke the bread and poured the wine and offered it to me that I am in this amazing place of peace and assurance, enjoying access to God’s mercy, and love, and light and abundance.

“Christ is our peace, and he broke down all of the barriers that divide us…” All of them.

So why in the world would we exclude anybody? – DEREK

We all dip our bread in the same wine when it comes to grace and mercy and acceptance and God’s invitation home