Christmas Eve Services

It was the day before Christmas Eve when I received a phone call asking me to assist my ministers in communion at the Christmas Eve services. I have served communion many times before at the Wesley Foundation and Candler School of Theology. But looking back on it, I had never served communion to my local church. It had been years since I had done anything official at Haymount UMC in Fayetteville, NC - probably dating all the way back to my first semester of college. With a tinge of anticipation mixed with excitement I accepted the inviation and prepared myself for the Christmas Eve services.

Now, I must tell you that ministers who have been doing this for many years must have dozens of communion stories! It was so humbling and also funny at times serving communion. Funny and touching moments include:
- Some families and other adults forgot about dipping their bread in the grape juice so I just stood in front of them and said the words as they giggled to themselves.
- One little girl took her whole hand and dipped it into the juice, leaving her dry piece of bread in her other hand. Her mother was horrified but I thought that it was touching and very precious!
- A little boy was too short to kneel at the altar with his hands folded at the top so instead he just bent all the way down on the floor, much like a yoga position. I was in awe of his reverence and desire to want communion.
- Another little girl dipped her bread in the juice but instead of eating it herself, she served it to her mother.

While the funny moments kept a smile on my face it was the humbling experience of it all that reminded me that this is why I'm called to the ministry. Since I was serving communion in a town that I had lived in since 4th grade, many of my former teachers, principals and youth leaders came to the altar in front of me. My grandfather and dad received communion from my hands. Roles were reversed as the people in my life that had always served me whether academically, spiritually, or emotionally became those that I was able to serve and offer them the cup of salvation. Another family that I was close to in high school came to the altar and kneeled, but without their mom, who had passed away two years ago. I almost cried as I thought about how much I wanted to see her face.

Everyone that came to the altar received the same words, no matter the differences between them, the distance that they might have placed between themselves and others, or their relationship with God. This is the beauty of the Eucharist - it is open to one and all because it is not about us as people, but rather about God's love and grace. It is also where I am reminded that as a minister I get to do what I love the most, serve others. Perhaps this is why I am called into the ministry.

Merry Christmas everyone and God's love to all of you!