World Communion Sunday: Worship with One Who Feels Forgotten

When I think of World Communion Sunday, I imagine hundreds, thousands, if not millions of Christians worshipping together in large churches, cathedrals and even stadiums together at once.  There is a sense in which a grandiose setting with numerous people evokes a sense of solidarity, strength, certainty and majesty that can only be engendered by magnitude.
 
Yet, when I read Hebrews 2:5-12, I am confronted with another perspective about what evokes solidarity, strength, certainty and even majesty.  How about intimacy?  How about diminution?  How about humility?  How about deference?
 
After experiencing bold and powerful Sunday worship in the church, the band of believers at iThafamasi Congregational Church, UCCSA travelled to an even more remote area called eMakhasini to visit one old church woman, aged 97, in her dark and simple hut.
 
Mina Luthuli laid in her bed, dressed in her church uniform, and softly cried tears of joy as we served her the bread and the wine.
 
In such an intimate setting, I sensed a solidarity that would rival a stadium filled to capacity.  In such a humble setting, I experienced a majesty that would rival any felt in a cathedral.
 
“Thou didst make him for a little while lower than the angels”.  Jesus’ example demonstrates to us that perhaps diminution and deference for the least of us provides all with strength and certainty.
 
This World Communion Sunday, worship with one who feels forgotten.
 
“Gracious God, though we are nothing compared to you, thank you for not leaving us alone in our dark world.  Thank you for meeting us even in the most of meager places.  Amen.”    
 
Mah Luthuli gave permission for the images to be sent and published in the USA.

Scott Couper, a member of First Congregational Church, Winter Park, Florida, serves with the United Congregational Church of Southern Africa (UCCSA). He assists the Inanda Seminary in strategic planning and serve as a management consultant. He also serves as pastor of the Thafamasi Congregational Church (UCCSA).