Easter @ Avalon: Communion by #s
April 9, 2007
For the last part of the service we passed out:
1-gallon ziplock bags containing a piece of matzo, a brown paper bag filled with ten envelopes, and a note saying: “Find a group of 6-10 people, stand or sit in a circle, and pass out all the contents of this bag. Leave the matzo in the ziplock.”
The envelopes were numbered 1-10 and contained pieces of paper with the following instructions:
1. Sursum Corda: Have everyone in the group introduce him or herself.
2. Preface: People, share one thing from the last week for which you’re thankful.
3. Anamnesis: Read the following story aloud: Luke 24:13-35 [Insert text from Bible, this was a full sheet of paper, on which we also included a "setting" sentence] Two disciples are walking the road to Emmaus, three days after Jesus’ crucifixion.
4. Reflection: Encourage everyone to share a reaction they had to the story. If the story did not move them, share a reaction they’ve had to the service.
5. Get the wine: Send two or three people to the bar to get enough glasses of wine/grape juice for your group. Make sure you know how many wine and how many grape juice cups to get.
6. Bless the bread: Hold the bread so everyone can see it. Say these words: Blessed are you, God, source of all life, who brings forth bread from the earth. Then break the bread and hold on to it.
7. Bless the wine: Hold the wine so everyone can see it. Say these words: Blessed are you, God, Spirit of the world, who creates the fruit of the vine.
8. Epiclesis: Pray these words: Bless these gifts, God, and let them be for us the body and blood of Jesus Christ. Nourish us with food and community so that we may live in the fullness of life which you intend for us.
9. Communion: Eat the bread, drink the wine.
10. Offertory: Put the garbage back into the paper bag and hold onto this envelope (#10). Stand or sit together in silence and wait for the next activity. Pray, meditate, or reflect.
PS We got the idea for Communion by #s from Grace, London and Johnny Baker. Isaac and I participated in one of these (led by Grace) last summer at Greenbelt.
PPS We thought the Road to Emmaus story would be cool to do for this Easter event (instead of the standard Last Supper), and were totally tickled to then find out that it was the assigned lectionary reading for Easter Evening. The lectionary also influenced our decision to use Psalm 114 in the service (with the chorus of “Stayin’ Alive” as the antiphon). Aw, yeah!