"Potluck Problems"

So…

Thanksgiving is coming and it will either be wonderful or awful!

For the Farley family, it means another trip to Albany to celebrate with Brian, Rachel, Noah, Emma, Mary, Katie and James. While Katie has to get over to James’ parent’s house to celebrate with his parents and sister’s families, the rest of us can hang.

I think Noah is staying overnight to get up and watch the Macy’s Thanksgiving parade with Katie. Good fun!

No matter what, it will be amazing! 

And Sue and Mary will have turkey to eat, because they really care for turkey. And there will be green bean casserole and probably sweet potato casserole too.

Me, I’d be happy with venison or fish, which were both also on that first American Thanksgiving menu.

And then pie!

Berry or apple or pumpkin, I don’t really care which, just as long there is whipped cream, I’m good.

But you know what is not on the menu? Disagreements. Arguments. Descension in the ranks. 

Unfortunately, that will be on the menus in a whole lot of houses this Thanksgiving. 

Potluck problems. Squash squabbles! Turnup troubles!

Families that don’t quite get along, and one person who always decides that Thanksgiving is a kind of Festivus, an opportunity to air grievances.

And those family gatherings where someone doesn’t even come because of their dissatisfaction with the family.

It’s sad, but not unusual. 

Even in Corinth, in the church in Corinth, Greece that Paul was writing to, there were issues. Folks who were struggling with each other, or just behaving badly or carelessly.

Did you know that in the early church, worship often happened in the evening, when folks could get out of daily responsibilities to come and spend quality time together.

Men, women, followers of Jesus who had been Jewish and those who had been pagans, all kinds of people from all walks of life, even slaves, came to worship the risen Messiah.

Which was wonderful and problematic!

Because you see it was an evening celebration, and it often started with a meal and when the food was on the table, it was then that the leader reminded the people of that last supper in the upper room with Jesus.
Taking up some bread from the table, the leader broke it and repeated Jesus’ words, “This is my body, which is given for you. Eat this and remember me.”
Then the leader took up a cup of wine, which was generously all around the table and repeated Jesus’ words again, “This is my blood, and with it God makes his new agreement with you. Drink this and remember me.”
It was wonderful! 
But, some of those who came to worship, were perhaps enjoying the wine too much. And some of those who came from homes with a lot of food were eating a feast.
All while other folks, widows, the poor, and slaves were eating not much at all, since there was no food at home to bring, or no food at home that was theirs to take.

And Paul was frustrated and disappointed with them.

Because in acting the way there were, he felt defeated the whole purpose of the meal!

It was for fellowship, growth in faith, and a remembering of the incredible sacrifice made by God through Jesus, a lesson that sacrifice is part of what being a follower of Jesus is all about.

We follow his example when we choose to live sacrificially! Sacrificially with our time and talents and resources. Even our stewardship, becomes a symbol of our sacrificial hearts! 

Paul asks, how can you sit at table with a brother or sister who has no food or drink in front of them, while you eat a feast?

No, you open up your heart and share what you have. Not just your turkey and mashed potatoes. But yourself. 

That’s what takes an assembly, which is what the word “church” means,   from just an observational event - to a family. 

You look around you and see who needs a bit of what God has entrusted to your care. A smile. A listen ear. 

A plate full of whatever you have to offer: a bit of the blessings God has blessed you with, in order to be a blessing to others!

All modeled and made real in the communion meal where we all gather to share in the good news of Jesus’ death and resurrection for us. 

Us!

And while we no longer eat a whole meal together before communion most of the time, the meaning is still all there.

As Paul writes, “The Lord meant that when you eat this bread and drink from this cup, you tell about his death until he comes.”

Together, in the meal we call communion, we show the world how we as followers of Jesus are quite different. 

For just as God so loved the world that he gave his only son, so that through faith in him we would have eternal life…
We offer ourselves as a sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving...

When we love each other! 

Come to the table, and remember – who we are!

Amen.