CJ's REFLECTIONS

CJ'S REFLECTIONS

My reflections today are based on something that Heather Michael brought to our attention last spring. In one of her Sunday school classes there was a session on Communion and what it means when the Wine (in our case grape juice) and Bread are “consecrated”. Now that’s a word we don’t hear very often. What does it mean for something to be “consecrated”? Is it the same as having something concentrated? No, it’s far different. We don’t concentrate the juice and then add the water back into it later. What we do, is to pray for the Bread and for the Juice and what is prayed for in this manner becomes consecrated. By that I mean holy because of what it stands for. The bread and the wine are symbols of the body of Christ. The night Jesus met with the Disciples in the Upper Room, He blessed the Cup and the Bread and said this is my body broken and poured out for us. We are to take and eat and remember him through the bread and juice.
It’s not holy because its bread and juice. It’s holy because of who it represents. When we eat the bread and drink the juice it does not magically turn into Jesus’ body and blood. It remains what it is, bread and juice of the vine. We take communion because Jesus told his disciples to eat of the bread and to drink of the vine and that when ever we do so we are to remember Him. It is in the remembering of Him that the Holy happens. It’s in the prayers the elders say and yes even in the words I say and for that matter it’s in the song we sing leading up to our communion time. The Holy happens when we speak the name of Jesus. We are called to His table together as His disciples and are reminded that we gather there to remember the one who began it all by breaking bread and pouring a cup full of wine and instructing His disciples to do like wise as a way of remembering Him.
It’s holy because we believe that at the communion table we gather to remember the one who is Holy. If we believe that He is with us there at that table and that He is in the bread and the wine as He is in all things. What do we do with the bread and the wine that is left over after everyone has taken communion? If the bread has become holy because it has been “Consecrated” by the Elders prayers do we then throw it down the drain or in the garbage? Here is where I’m going back to Heather’s Sunday School Class lesson. I’m going to quote it:
"Once the elements are blessed, the minister or anyone else may eat the bread and drink the juice, or the leftovers must be poured onto the ground for birds or other animals. They may not be thrown in the trash or poured down the drain".
Because they have been consecrated- or made holy- the bread we eat and the juice we drink not only help satisfy our physical hunger, but they are also a symbol for filling our spiritual hunger. In other words, it helps us remember Jesus- who Jesus was, what Jesus taught us, and the example He set for us in order to know how to live together as God’s children.
This is a simple little lesson that makes sense if we stop and think about it. If you had something that you knew was HOLY would you just throw it down the drain or into the trash? I wouldn’t and I doubt that you would either. So what is it that we should do with what is left over? Simple we pour the juice out on the ground behind the church or down the hill beside the church. There it will go back into the ground and Mother Nature will use it in her own ways. The left over bread should be left on the ground for the birds to find or other animals. Some have been doing this since Heather brought it to our attention last spring, and I hope that others will start doing this after reading this newsletter. Isn’t it more in keeping with the teachings of Jesus to share with all of God’s creation the blessings He has given to us?


Hope to see you Sunday!!!
Pastor C. J. Latham

CLUSTER 10 EVENTS

On October 23, at Four O’clock P. M. in Corydon we gathered and celebrated Heritage Days! No one was brave enough to dress up but we had a good time anyway. There was a Men’s quartet from Osceola featuring our own Mike Deatz. Our choir sang and Ella McDermott sang her solo again. Rev. Ruth Ann Jones from Osceola shared a story about baptism and Pastor CJ shared a story about Raccoon John Smith and the Methodist minister who almost got baptized, which brought a good laugh to all.
A planning team did meet at 3:00 O’clock that afternoon to plan other upcoming events for us to be DISCIPLES TOGETHER! So watch for more Coming Events beginning the first of the year.

NOTES FROM THE PARISH NURSE

I trust you are all managing your allergies and preparing for the winter months ahead with positive precautions against the “Flu Bug”, it is time to get those shots again. Start thinking about the dangers of “black ice” and packed down snow and how to handle those hazards along with all the other related problems associated with the coming winter months. My prayers are with you all and may God continue to bless you and yours.
Barbra Riley

Thanksgiving Offering Goes For What?

Disciples Seminary Foundation sponsored four students who traveled to Haiti in solidarity with our Global Ministries Church Partner CONASPEH. Jerri Handy, Lizzy Beach, Sharon Mann, and Lindsay Million were the first Disciples/UCC team to provide crisis relief for the earthquake-stricken country. In reflecting on the trip, DSF student Jerri Handy said, “I am so thankful to belong to a great Church who understands the need to respond with physical presence in times like these.” Danielle Cox, a student at Lynchburg College, spent two months studying in India through Lynchburg’s international studies program. During her time in India, Danielle worked with the Hope Foundation teaching geography and English in the slums of Cheinnai. “Because of my Disciples education, I understand my life work as vocation. I am now exploring seminary and God’s call to ministry,” Danielle shared.
These stories are among examples of how Disciples students are educated in a service-learning model. Your gifts to the 2011 Thanksgiving Offering support the care and nurture of servant leaders.
The Thanksgiving Offering benefits the colleges, universities, seminaries, and divinity houses affiliated with the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). These learning communities are an extension of the church, challenging students to understand and respond to God’s call to serve. Your support provides scholarships, church relations programs, and chaplaincy offices. Most importantly, your support of the 2011 Thanksgiving Offering helps Disciples raise up servant leaders!

THE HISTORY BOOKS ARE READY

Bonnie Cox, Mary Ruth Pierschbacher, and Mary Louise Reeves have been working very diligently on compiling a comprehensive history of the Chariton Christian Church Disciples of Christ. We are happy to announce that the compiling stage is complete as is the copying and binding. The books are now available to the congregation. 60 copies have been made available and a donation of $7.00 is requested to off set the cost of ink and paper. This history covers the church from the time of its conception to the 40th celebration of being in the present building. There are many pictures and a complete list of ministers who have served the congregation to date. We ask that you take one copy per member only at this time. If you want extra copies you may put your name on a least for extras or for the second printing if needed. We thank the ladies who have worked so had to compile this history.