The legions that possess us need not be demons. All kinds of loyalties and ties can possess us. We all need healing. A sermon by Rev. Jeffrey Spencer presented on January 30, 2022.
Scriptures: Luke 8:26-39
Series: I Am Not Okay

INVITATION (Liz)

As we prepare to celebrate communion, if you are on Zoom and haven't already gathered something to eat or drink, I invite you to do that. If you gathered in Zoom, you might also want to switch to gallery view so that you can see one another. And when we get to the words of institution, I invite you to raise your bread with Liz and to raise your cup with Liz as she celebrates and offers the words of institution. Who will come to this table to celebrate? Care and illness, comfort and sorrow, healing beyond curing, peace and forgiveness, hope in times of fear or threat. Who will come to this table having abundance as culture defines it, Or your heart knows it, and because you have discovered your own generosity and need to start giving. Who will come to this table willing to be welcomed even when it is awkward? Willing to be served, not a server or planner of the menu. And who will come willing to welcome anybody, anybody, anybody who sits next to you sits across from you in cyberspace willing to offer welcome, even expecting it to be rejected and if it is to offer it yet again. I hope the answer is that you will come for no matter who you are or where you are on life's journey, you are welcome at Christ's table.

PRAYER (Jeff)

Would you pray with me? Holy God, when Jesus came to the Lake Shore, he borrowed a boat and reached out to people by offering words to remember and food to eat. Words called them to follow. And the food was from deep places. Jesus comes still to stormy waters and food deserts to borrow the leaky rowboat that we call the church and use it to offer words that change human lives and sustenance that saves them. Gentle post, rest upon us, and upon these elements of food in. Speak into our lives, a word made flesh. Send your spirit of life and love, power and blessing upon your children that this bread may be broken and gathered in love, that this cup poured out, to give hope to all. Amen.

WORDS OF INSTITUTION (Jeff)

Friends, as we gather around Christ's table here, I can't help but think of the circumstances that Jesus faced. We remember around this table every time Jesus fed the crowds, whether it was in his ministry, in the resurrection and especially on that last night when he was betrayed. And in those circumstances facing betrayal, arrest and execution. Jesus took the bread from the table and he blessed it, giving thanks to God. And I'm not sure that that whole part about giving thanks in the midst of those circumstances really echoed in me until today. So he took bread. He gave thanks to God, blessing that bread, and he broke it. And he gave it to them, inviting them to eat and to become the body of Christ. Take and eat. And in a similar manner at that meal, he took a cup from the table. That may have been the Elijah cup, the cup set aside for Elijah coming to announce the presence of the Messiah. Maybe he was inviting the disciples to be like Elijah and to announce the presence of the Messiah, and he gave thanks to God blessing that cup. And he shared with them, inviting them to drink. And to allow his life force to flow through them. Take and drink. Our Advent story tells us that the Christ child whose birth we anticipate will one day sit at tables with strangers and friends, building relationships filled with love and grace. We see this, as Jesus fed the multitude, turned water into wine, and ate with the dear ones in that upper room the night before his death. It was there that Jesus took the bread, blessed it and broke it. Remembering him through this broken bread, our eyes are open. Christ is with us. Take and eat. He then took a cut and blessed it. And in his blessing, he reminded them that when they sip from the fruit of the vine to drink in remembrance of him through this cup of blessing, our hearts are warmed. Christ is changing us. Take and drink. On the night that he was arrested in the shadow of execution and death, Jesus sat at a table with those that he loved. In the midst of their fear and anxiety, He offered them a different vision for their lives and offered a ritual for healing and wholeness. He took the bread and he blessed it. When he broke it, and he gave it to them, and he said, "this is my life, broken open and shared with you. Each time you eat this ordinary bread, remember the extraordinary transformative power of lives when they are broken open for justice and love." And then He took the cup, traditionally reserved for Elijah, the holy one to come. But instead of waiting, he said, "this is the cup of blessing. Each time you drink of this cup, you participate in the promise of new life, of liberation, of the yes to communion with God." Ministering to you in Christ's name, we offer the bread and the cup, take, eat and drink. When Jesus shared bread with people around him. During his ministry that night that he was betrayed, and on Easter, he would do this: He would take the bread. He would bless it. He would break it. And he would give it. Saying take and eat. In the same way, at that last supper, he took the cup from the table and they gave thanks to God blessing it, and he gave it inviting his disciples to drink it. Friends, we come to this table that our lives may be broken open like the bread and that God's life force may flow through us like sweet wine. Come to this feast for all things are ready. Take, eat and drink. Friends, let me share with you what has been shared with me every time Jesus shared bread. With the multitudes on the hillside, at the supper, in the shadow of execution and even at the table in the mass on Easter evening, Jesus did this. He took bread. And blessed it. And broke it and shared it with them as a gift, saying this is for you. And likewise, when Jesus shared the fruit of the vine, he took the cup and gave God thanks and praise and blessed it. And he shared this cup as the cop of the New Covenant, a sign and symbol of God's grace poured out for all people. A gift for all of us. In remembrance of Christ, we eat the spread of new life and drink from the cup of blessing. Take and eat and drink. We will wait and share the bread and cup together when I've completed the words of institution on the night, Jesus was betrayed. He shared a meal with his disciples after the meal, Jesus took the bread and the cup and changed him into something new. He instituted communion to help his apostles and us when we feel overwhelmed and not okay. For them and for us to be strengthened to take his love into the world to others who are feeling not okay. Jesus took the bread and blessed it and broke it and gave it to them, saying, Take and eat, this is my body given for you. In like manner, he took the cup, blessed it, poured it out, saying to them, This is the new covenant, which is for all. As often as you share the bread and cup, too, so in remembrance of me now take and eat and take and drink.

PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING (Jeff)

Please join me in giving God thanks Gracious and loving God. Thank you for feeding our hunger and for relieving our thirst. Now send us into the world to do the work you have given us to do to find a lost and lonely, to heal broken souls, to free those held captive in all kinds of ways. Grant us strength to proclaim with our hands and hearts the love we know in Jesus. Amen.