The Communion Table

It has been a month since I started at Keolumana and it has been a joy to talk to you and pray with many of you through the pastoral visitations through phone and Zoom. I am excited for this Sunday as it will be my first time administering Communion as a Provisionally Ordained clergy in the UMC. I have had a long history with Communion growing up in the church. Unlike the Methodist local church, the mega Korean Methodist church I grew up in participated in communion only a few times a year. Children and middle school-aged youth were never given the opportunity to participate, largely because people thought children wouldn't take it seriously enough. I don't remember taking Communion until I was a senior in high school. When we did have the opportunity to take Communion the pastor would read 1 Corinthians 11:27-31, where Paul calls for everyone to examine themselves before they take Communion lest they are judged. By the time the pastor read the whole passage, I would honestly be too scared to partake, risking God's judgment in case I didn't repent of something I should have. Now that I read and study the scriptures myself, I see that Paul was talking about people in the Corinthian Church who were taking the elements in a mocking manner and trying to be divisive in the church, and therefore his harsh words were a way of scolding them. When I learned about the context in which Paul said these words, I was relieved and sad at the same time, because for years these words sapped the joy out of celebrating communion with my fellow brothers and sisters in Christ. As United Methodists, we practice Open Table, where anyone young, old can partake of the elements. This is distinct to our theology as United Methodists who believe that God can work through the experience of Communion even before one might fully understand or know what is happening when they partake in it.

I don't know if I am making up for lost time, but each time I take Communion I feel like I go through the journey of remembering my life with Christ. I feel and experience God's grace drawing toward me in ways I have yet to discover (prevenient grace), I remember the time when I first experienced God's love in the realization of Jesus's death on the cross (justifying grace) and I am encouraged that God continues to shape and mold me according to God's plan (sanctifying grace.). The experience for me starts off thoughtful and thankful- to joyful and celebratory. At Wesley UMC the Rev. Piula would say "We all come here dis-membered by the world, when we come to the table we are being re-membered, being brought back to wholeness with God and with each other." While at home I encourage your Ohana to get bread and juice and participate in being Re-membered back to the body of Christ this Sunday during our virtual worship!