Do This in Memory of Me.

“What if we invite our two communities for a soup supper before we celebrate Maundy-Holy Thursday’s liturgy?”

“Let’s do it!” the other Pastor replies.

We put out the invitation along with requests for soup and bread.

About 20 of us show-up

bearing soups and breads

including a sourdough loaf created from a 54-year old starter that the (male) baker brought home from San Francisco

“Let’s say grace” the Pastor invites… and asks me to lead it.

I explain that we’ll use the format we use in my own home when many of us gather.

We stand in a circle and I offer the opening and closing words –

inviting each person to thank God for something…

“The music wafting down from the Sanctuary” offers the singing Pastor

“My children who came for a visit… and then left” offers and older woman

Her husband thanks God for his wife and family who have supported him over a decade in which strokes have claimed the use of some of his body

The meek man, in the softest of voices, thanks God for his two little nieces who will turn 1 on April 22

“For the spring rain falling today” offers the nature-lover who will proclaim some of the readings when we head upstairs

One by one

gratitude

coming from our heart

each offering, so unique

reflecting that each of us is a prism of God’s love

Then we fill our bowls

so many choices – it’s hard to decide

cheese and cauliflower pasta e faggiole minestrone lentil * broccoli and cheese

We sit

community members interspersed

conversation (and soup) flowing like the wine at the wedding in Cana

one bread – one body

“Do this in memory of me”

We head up to the Sanctuary together

a few others join us

I AM struck by the woman reading Jesus’ lines in the gospel.

She is the one who delivers the children’s message each week

with such enthusiasm, an expert storyteller like her divine Teacher

and a wonderful reader – lector- liturgist “on fire” with the Word of God

and the one who sets up for communion

and one of the first to enthusiastically raise her hand whenever assistance is needed

and she’s the one who helped select the images to accompany Scripture passages for our Good Friday-God’s Friday service

and she is the one who proclaims Jesus’ words tonight

“Do you understand what I have done for you?

You address me as ‘Teacher’ and ‘Master,’ and rightly so. That is what I am.

So if I, the Master and Teacher, washed your feet, you must now wash each other’s feet.

I’ve laid down a pattern for you. What I’ve done, you do.”

It strikes me anew-

she is Jesus personified

the Body of Christ  -  Alive

Love in Action

How perfect that she has just proclaimed those lines…

Do this in memory of Me.

We extended the invitation:

Come and pray with us

on these holiest of nights

to celebrate our faith traditions' sacred meals and moments

Only a couple dozen people come in person and several join us on zoom

certainly there will be many more on Easter morn’

At the end of the meal, echoing Jesus’ words, we sing:

Stay with Me. Remain with Me.

Watch and pray. Watch and pray.

Who will "stay and remain" for the Good Friday-God’s Friday services?

and who will show up for the Catholic’s most extraordinary service on the eve of Easter

Who will stay with Me…

and me?

Who will remember Me

Do this in memory of Me.

Let us keep our eyes fixed on Jesus,

the author and perfector of our faith.

for the sake of the joy that lay before him, he endured the cross (Hebrews 12:2)

Let us do this in memory of Him