pat loughery

On the first weekend of the month, we include a form of communion, taking bread and grape juice together in order to proclaim Jesus’ life, death and resurrection. We normally do this during the first portion of the liturgy, after we have sung 2 or 3 songs and before we sing 2 or 3 more. Our kids are with us during this time – we bless and release the kids to their classroom after this portion.

We also practice what I suppose is an open table – we explain the meaning of communion and invite all who call themselves followers of Jesus to take the elements of communion in their own way. We encourage families to take communion together, and some of them share the elements with their kids, explaining why they’re doing this.

This week, after our formal gathering time was done and we were resetting the room we meet in, a young child who shall not be named in order to protect her identity (but who has curly red hair and is the pastor’s kid) picked up the pitcher of grape juice and poured it onto the carpet.

Not only did we have a wonderful cleanup task ahead of us, but one of the other kids analyzed hte situation quite well.

“So, uh, Kaileigh just poured Jesus’ blood onto the floor?!?”