What food is at your table?

Since this coming Sunday is Worldwide Communion, we dedicated this past Wednesday evening to discussing our experiences of communion as well as the role of table fellowship in our lives.   After "checking in" by sharing some memorable meals from the past week, we took a look at the places in the Bible that discuss communion and offered our thoughts on these passages:

Luke 22:17-20 After taking the cup, he gave thanks and said, “Take this and divide it among you. For I tell you I will not drink again from the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes.” And he took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me.”  In the same way, after the supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you.

Mark 14:22-25 While they were eating, Jesus took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to his disciples, saying, “Take it; this is my body.”  Then he took a cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, and they all drank from it. “This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many,” he said to them. “Truly I tell you, I will not drink again from the fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new in the kingdom of God.”
  
Matthew 26:26-28 While they were eating, Jesus took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to his disciples, saying, “Take and eat; this is my body.” Then he took a cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you.  This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.

1 Corinthians 11:23-25  For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: The Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, “This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me.” In the same way, after supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me.”

Some of our reflections:
--Surprised at the absence of "bread of life/cup of blessing" language used in UCC communion.
--Surprised at so little variation, unlike many stories in the Gospels
--Interested in the wording of "covenant" versus "new covenant."
--"Do this in remembrance of me" is only present in some of the texts but is important to UCC theology of communion. 
--Jesus is inviting everyone to eat at his table and everyone is encouraged to remember him when eating.
--The command to "do this" is non-specific.  Especially in 1 Cor, it's not the drinking itself but something you do while drinking.  Instead of just referring to communion, could be referring to sacrificing yourself for others like Jesus.
--Strange that this is a ritual in church since in the text it seems like it should be a practice at any meal.

Our conversation then shifted to reflections on what communion means to us personally.  Some of our thoughts are noted below - please feel free to add your own in the comments!
--For one person, communion was very meaningful as a child - tasting something made the experience more intense.  Now, not believing in the meaning behind the ritual, it is more confusing.
--We talked about the very particular tastes of communion and how they vary from church to church with the different breads and wines/juices that are used.  It's the only time you experience that particular combination of flavors.
--Jesus is spiritual sustenance, and communion is symbolic of that sustenance so that we can go out and be sustained to be his servant in the world.
--For those of us who've had the opportunity to hand out communion at church, it's interesting to see the different reactions people have when receiving communion.
--Symbolism and ritual are important to the experience; tapping into a history of symbolism in Western culture of the goblet, chalice, etc.
--We compared the individual and communal aspects of communion as practiced today.  Sometimes it can feel more personal, just you and the bread/wine.  Or, it can be more communal sustenance.  
--One person shared a particularly powerful communion experience at Civic Center BART on Sunday mornings.
--We're on a journey with Jesus and this is one way that our lives can intersect.
--In our culture, it's easy to just go off on your own and do your own thing. Communion is a reminder that Christ calls us to be in community with each other, even those we might not naturally be friends with.  We're constantly called to remember Jesus's life and our discipleship to bring about the kingdom of God.
--With World Communion Sunday coming up, we thought about how we can all gather at the same table and be in fellowship with each other in a more global sense.

Many Rooms

John 14:2
My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you?

On Wednesday, the group talked about what this passage meant to them. Most said that "rooms" to them meant that God made space for everyone, whether physically, theologically, or in the way you relate to God. We then made pictures on the various rooms that we spend time in. It was fun to see the incredibly varied ideas, and how we relate to God in each of these spaces. The list included the room that nature sometimes folds us into, a minivan, and ugly but comfortable furniture. :)

Reconnecting and Reflecting

At our first gathering after the summer break, Shelly led us through a "poem" writing exercise that enabled us to reflect on what happened in our lives this summer and envision what life this fall will be like. Below are excerpts from each of us!

We also enjoyed a food meditation on a strawberry which means we ate one strawberry very slowly and intentionally. We reflected on each sense and how that helped us experience the strawberry fully. Shelly reminded us to savor all that we experienced this summer just as we were able to savor that one strawberry. We were also reminded to fully experience everything we will encounter this fall no matter how busy we get. When life seems to be passing quickly, stop and check in with each sense.


I am from...
summer thunderstorms and fireflies
my tiny kitchen
sunny and spicy food
baby noises
a big, wobbly, mellow, creaky house full of raggedy chairs and books and cookies and the occasional flea
tarantulas

I am from...
"Avash!"
"Words are hard."
"I love you."
"Hella angry!"
"Fabulous!"

I am from...
Anja and Amanda
My amazing staff
Raquel, Valeria, y Gustavo
Julian, Jen, and Michael
Anna, Mom, Dad, and Tim
Jeff, Sebastian, Mirabelle, and Ethan

I will experience...
sunrise
coffee!
art class
my computer's fan
60 unfamiliar faces
that wonderful gym smell
beauty

I will experience...
New and old housemates
Barenblatt
Old and new friends
German and Art instructors
A professor with questionable fashion sense

I am hoping...
swimming
learning
to read hundreds of books
be close to my desk
energetic and empowered
academic triumph

I invite God...
to bring compassion into both peace and chaos
to give me strength
to heal broken communities
to make himself felt in my life
to help me make it to worship every Sunday

Welcome to Fall 2011

Weekly Wednesday Dinner and Program - Resumes August 24

Free fabulous food, caring friends and opportunities for spiritual exploration, service and text study. Undergraduate and graduate students are welcome.

When: 6:30-8:30 pm

Where: Durant House, 2330 Durant Ave – below Dana, across from the Berkeley Free Clinic – enter from the back of the house

Upcoming Themes

August 24 - Reconnect and Reflect

August 31 - Text Study – Who do you say that I am? asks Jesus

September 7 - Taize Worship and Spiritual Pilgrimage

Welcome Student Worship - Sunday, August 28

First Congregational Church of Berkeley, United Church of Christ

LGBT inclusive and affirming congregation

Be inspired and supported by our intergenerational, progressive Christian community. A great place to call home while studying in Berkeley.
When: 10-11 am

Where: Brick church on Dana btwn Durant and Channing (FCCB)/across from Unit 3, enter from Dana

Welcome Student Brunch - Sunday, August 28
Enjoy delicious food while meeting Progressive Christians at Berkeley - share tips on Berkeley life, get info on service opps, trips and weekly program. Undergraduate and graduate students are welcome.
When: 11:15 am - 12:30 pm

Where: Durant House, 2330 Durant Ave – below Dana, across from the Berkeley Free Clinic – enter from the back of the house

Creating a Sacred Space in the Student Life

I've been slacking on getting up blog posts, but no more!  :)  Two weeks ago, we shared what it means to create a sacred space in our lives during what can often be crazy and stressful semesters.  Then, we pulled out lots of art supplies to create mini-altars to put in dorm rooms, in bedrooms, or on desks.  Here are a couple of examples of what we made:

Then, this past week we shared important moments in our spiritual journeys.  It was so interesting to hear all the different ways the individuals in our group got to where they are today in terms of their relationship with God.  Feel free to share your thoughts on either sacred spaces or your own spiritual journey in the comments below.

Merry Christmas from Progressive Christians at Berkeley!

This past week we made Christmas cookies at our Wednesday meeting and each got to take home a box of delicious goodies.  We made snickerdoodles, frosted sugar cookies, and peppermint buttercreams.  It was a great way to relax and get in a Christmas mood in the middle of RRR week!

Zainab and Cassie mix up the batter for snickerdoodles.

 Nina models a snowman puppet.

 Sean and Davy cut out sugar cookies.

 Brown makes peppermint buttercreams.

The gang displaying all our cookie tins!

Is Your Calling Calling?

Last night, Shelly led us in a discussion about vocation, which she defined using Frederick Buechner's evocative words: "The place God calls you to is the place where your deep gladness and the world's deep hunger meet."  Even though vocation can be difficult to pin down and is something that can evolve and shift throughout life, this was a valuable evening to think about where we are right now in terms of our vocation.  We first talked about our field of study and why we chose to focus on that area.  Then, we identified moments earlier in life that may have led us to be interested in that field.  Finally, we wrote about what our own "deep gladness" is with regard to what we have chosen to study and how that connects to a "deep hunger" or need in the world.

If you like, post your (current and ever-evolving!) vocation statement in the comments, either based on what we talked about on Wednesday or your own thoughts on the issue.

Finally, a brief plug for Experience Islam Month, which is happening right now at Cal.  In particular, a group from Progressive Christians will be attending the Hijabi Monologues, which is happening this Friday at 6 pm in Pauley Ballroom.