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In 2006 author Miriam Weinstein came out with a book called The Surprising Power of Family Meals: How Eathing Together Makes Us Smarter, Stronger, Healthier and Happier. I don't know that Ms. Weinstein has spent much time reading the Bible, but it seems as though God knew the importance of eating together long before she wrote about it.

The Old Testament is full of feasts and celebrations. It seems as though Jesus is at a meal with people on every other page of the gospels. Acts 2 describes the early church with these words:

They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.

For many years I read "to the breaking of bread" and equated it to communion - complete with tiny cups of Welches and pieces of cracker. It took me a long time to realize that when the Bible talks about "The Lord's Supper" it was indeed that . . . SUPPER. To break bread together meant to sit down and enjoy a communal meal.

It was around these meals where the alternative kingdom called "the church" was born. Each person around the table - whether they came with a lot or a little - was to be regarded as equal. It was around the table where they learned most practically to live the way of Jesus.

On the main page of the website for The Surprising Power of Family Meals there is a banner that says "You are who you eat with." Jesus certainly felt this to be true as he faced condemnation for eating with those the religious folk around him called sinners. And he accepted the criticism because he knew the power of joining in a meal with those usually considered outcast. His presence with them gave them dignity and invited them in to his way of living and being.

On Communion Sundays - like this coming Sunday, March 26 (and the fourth sunday of every month) - we encourage everyone to come to church for the one hour between services (10-11 am) and to bring a small finger food and napkin friendly snack to share (if you can). Rather than just eating juice and crackers for communion, this is a small step to rediscovering and living out the communal meal that was so central to the life of the early Christians. It is an invitation to eat with those we call brothers and sisters and to allow God to shape us together around some food. There is something unique that happens when we share a meal together.

The importance of eating together is highlighted in Revelation 19 when Jesus comes to make everything right. The image that is used to declare our unity with him and each other is that of a Wedding supper. Not a wedding ceremony - a supper, where we will eat in unity and celebration. I look forward to enjoying a small glimpse of that together with you on Sunday morning!