One day not very long ago my son and I were sitting in the gymnasanctatorium at our church readying for worship to begin. That particular morning was a communion sunday and the table was front and center and covered. For a 6 or 7 year old boy anything covered with a sheet is instantly mysterious and requires investigation.
“Dad, what’s under that sheet?”
“Communion son.”
“What’s communion?”
“It’s when we celebrate Jesus dying on the cross and rising again.”
“Yeah, but what’s under the sheet?”
“Juice and crackers.”
“Really? Do I get some?”
“No.”
“Why?”
“Because the juice and crackers are symbols for Jesus’ death and resurrection and the only people who get to eat them are those who believe in Jesus.”
“I believe in Jesus.”
“You do?”
“I do.”
“Well, you have to meet with Pastor Doug and talk to him about the fact that you believe in Jesus and what that means.”
“I do?”
“Yes.”
“I can’t do that, I would be too scared.”
“Well, then you’re not ready for communion.”
“Hmph.”
And so began a conversation about Jesus that lasted a few months until Ethan was ready to proclaim his faith and take communion. It was a remarkable period of time. Communion is a means of grace. The very act of taking communion leads us to the place where we actually talk about what Jesus did. In our tradition we “fence” the table and encourage those who don’t know Christ to allow the elements to pass. This is purposeful. It opens the conversation.
Why use a tract alone when the table is set and ready?