Two weeks ago, I was gone and the computer decided it didn’t want to cooperate. No computer, no organ, what were you going to do?
I am sure that moment was stressful for those who serving in my place to lead the people God had gathered. Some tried to get the computer to work, but in the moments before the service was supposed to begin, troubleshooting isn’t easy. Some said we can just sin acapella, but not everyone is as comfortable belting out the right notes as others. Thankfully, Darlene was here, and the piano, even needing tuning, isn’t a temperamental piece of technology. The service proceeded, so I have been told, without a hitch.
I wonder, though. Why didn’t anyone just say, we just won’t sing any hymns today? It isn’t as if the computer program would have wasted hours in practicing. Some members, who don’t love singing, might even enjoy a service without hymns. Yet, it seems, that wasn’t even considered.
Certainly, music is a powerful tool for the gospel. When rhythm, melody, and poetry combine, they help write God’s Word on our hearts. Paul encourages believers to sing. The glimpses of heaven we have are full of singing. The Bible contains a whole book of songs, some with musical instructions. So of course we should sing. But do we have to? Do we really need to sing hymns every Sunday? No, but we know that without song, something is missing from our worship.
We would likely feel the same way if we skipped the Scripture readings. Lifelong Lutherans would likely notice something missing if we skipped the confession, or worse, just the absolution. A service feels lacking if there is no creed. What about the sermon? Does a church service need a sermon? We would likely say, no, but yes. There may be times and we have some liturgies that have more or less readings, omit the confession and absolution, have the Te Deum instead of the creed. We have had song services with little or no sermon, so no we recognize at various times for various reasons we could omit one of these things and God would still feed your faith. But, yes, something is missing.
Why do we not feel the same way about the Lord’s Supper? From the second chapter of Acts on the church devoted themselves to the Lord’s Supper. Our Lutheran confessions proclaim that we celebrate the supper every Lord’s day. Jesus says, Take eat, take drink, this is my body and blood given for you for the forgiveness of sins, do this in remembrance of me. How can our service be complete without the meal Jesus himself prepares to strengthen and comfort the bodies and souls of his people?
Two years ago, I asked the voters to consider celebrating the Lord’s Supper ever Sunday. This spring our Bible study looked at the Lord’s Supper in depth. (Those studies are on our YouTube channel.) This June the voters were asked again. None raised an objection; however, in a few of the surveys I received, some wondered why this change is necessary. As your pastor, I would like to share the reasons.
1. The Lord’s Supper is personal gospel for all of God’s people. You can ignore the absolution. You can fall asleep in a sermon, but you cannot escape God’s grace when he says this is for you for the forgiveness of sins.
2. The pastor is a steward of God’s mysteries, his gifts. How can I, as a pastor, then withhold this comfort from my flock what Jesus himself offers?
3. Circumstances sometimes keep people from attending all our worship services. If someone isn’t here for the communion Sunday, they may go weeks without that comfort.
4. Because we show our faith by what we do. If we confess that Jesus is present in the Lord’s Supper and that in it he offers forgiveness of sins we desperately need, we will always desire this supper.
5. The Lord’s Supper is the place heaven and earth meet. We share in the foretaste of the heavenly banquet and are united with all believers in heaven and on earth.
6. No one is ever required to come forward when the Lord’s Supper is offered; however, if we do not offer the Supper, those who desire it are prevented from receiving it.