Everyone follows someone or something.  We may follow the leadings and prompting of a spouse, a parent, a friend, an employer, or a television personality.  We may choose to follow our own instincts, allowing our own will and desire to be our guide.  Christians, however, choose to follow Jesus Christ.  Recognizing the flawed nature of our own insights and the limited counsel offered by those around us, we turn to Jesus for direction, guidance, and support.  We do not believe that Jesus is the only way to a meaningful life, but we know that by following Jesus we are assured of finding our way toward truth and life now and forever. 

We also trust that even before we begin looking for Jesus, Jesus has already been pursuing us as he did his first disciples with the simple invitation to “come, follow me.”  We find grace in an invitation that is offered with no strings attached.  Jesus doesn’t checks references, he doesn’t require applications, and there are no entrance exams or background checks.  The bible is clear, the only thing you need to enter into relationship with Jesus is a desire to follow and a willingness to be changed by His presence and His love.

As it is recorded in the gospel of John, Jesus came that we might “have life and have it in abundance.”  That means that where you feel lost now, in Jesus you will be found.  Where you feel sorrow now, in Jesus you will find joy.  Where you are broken now, in Jesus you will be made whole.  And even in death, through Jesus, you will discover eternal life.  That abundant life is available to each of us now when we abandon our futile attempts to chart our own course and finally respond to Jesus’ call saying, “Lord, you lead, and I will follow.”  Through prayer, the study of scripture, and with the nurture of the Christian church your relationship with Jesus can be a saving grace today, tomorrow, and on into eternity. 

Communion

The communion table is where our faith is most fully expressed. In the breaking of bread and drinking of the cup we not only remember Jesus’ life, but also recognize Jesus’ continual presence with us. We proclaim Christ’s resurrection and his relationship to us as living Lord. This means we recognize Christ’s ability to engage us in relationship, to continue to teach us, guide us, and lead us in our walk with God.

The communion table is also a symbol of the inclusive nature of our God. During the Last Supper, Jesus invited those closest to him -- his friends and students -- to gather around him. Scripture tells us Jesus was aware his disciples would deny him, betray him, and desert him that very evening, and yet Jesus invited them to his table -- the ultimate demonstration of God’s grace and forgiveness. Even at the point of deepest darkness and sin, Jesus welcomes us into his presence. Therefore, as followers of Jesus Christ, we must always extend that same unconditional welcome to others whom God ushers into our midst.

Our invitation to Holy Communion stands as our central theological statement, and our foundational Christian belief:

“This is the Lord’s table, so the invitation comes from Jesus Christ himself, and it is always the same.

Come as you are.

It does not matter where you have been or where you are going, it does not matter what you have done or what you have left undone, it does not matter if you view yourself as a success or a failure in this life. There is always room at this table for you. All you ever need to approach this table is a willingness to come forward.

This is the Lord’s table, and you are invited to make it your table.”

Come as you are does not mean to stay where you are! Jesus Christ calls us into his presence as we are, so that he can lead us to who we can be. The call to the communion table is our alter call. The communion table is where you are invited to encounter the Living Christ, who welcomes you, heals you, befriends you, and leads you into a new way of living with God.