World Communion Sunday – celebrated the first
Sunday in October – is one of the most venerable of “special Sundays.” The day
has taken on new relevancy and depth of meaning in a world where globalization
often has undermined peace and justice – and in a time when fear divides the
peoples of God's earth. On this day we
celebrate our oneness in Christ, the Prince of Peace, in the midst of the world
we are called to serve – a world ever more in need of peacemaking.
~
National Council of Churches
World Communion Sunday and
I have a history:
1. 1970s. I grew up, like some of you, in a tradition where communion was
celebrated as few as four times a year. Two of those times were very
special: Maundy Thursday (in the spring)
and World Communion Sunday (always the first Sunday in October). For me, even
at a very young age—like before I was driving my ’68 Ford Galaxy 500—there was
something special about World Communion Sunday and the thought that almost all
the churches in town and many, many churches around the world were participating
in a celebration of communion that transcended denominational lines. Of course,
we partake with the whole church, the one body of Christ—transcending not only
space but time—each and every time we partake in the sacrament. But growing up,
World Communion Sunday was extra special.
2. 1960s.
I was in elementary school and, of course, had no idea I’d be a Presbyterian
someday. But I
knew I was already pretty close. You see my dad was in the Army in Germany when
I was too young to remember (1957-58) and, the way he tells it, no one in the
Army knew what “Reformed Church in America” was. So my parents would explain by
saying, “It’s like Presbyterian.” And later, they’d just skip the first step
when asked about their religion… and say, “Uh, sort of Presbyterian.” The
connection to World Communion Sunday? Well, the observance was begun by
Presbyterians! It was first celebrated on the first Sunday in October in
1936 in Presbyterian churches in the United States and overseas. From the beginning, the Presbyterians planned
it so that other denominations could make use of the idea and, after a few
years, the idea spread beyond the Presbyterian Church.
3. 1997.
I was serving as chair of the Worship and Music Team at First Reformed Church in Pella when four
denominations (PCUSA, RCA, UCC, and ELCA) each acted officially on “A Formula
of Agreement,” an ecumenical proposal of historic importance. The timing,
according to a Presbyterian news release from 1997, reflected “a doctrinal
consensus which has been developing over the past thirty-two years coupled with
an increasing urgency for the church to proclaim a gospel of unity in
contemporary society.” Essentially, each denomination entered into or
reaffirmed being in “full communion” of both table and pulpit with the other
three denominations. One of my close friends, Rev. Mark Pries, was pastor of
Peace Lutheran Church in Pella. The chaplain of Central College in Pella at the
time was a Presbyterian pastor, Rev. Tom Trinidad. The three of us planned a
communion service celebrating the Formula of Agreement which was held at First
Reformed Church in the evening on World Communion Sunday 1997. Tom preached.
Mark officiated communion. Elders from both the Lutheran and Reformed churches
passed the elements. I prepared the order of service and led parts of the
service.
The special ecumenical
communion service in 1997 was (at least for the three worship leaders and
probably for many others too) a powerful, emotional, beautiful manifestation of
the oneness of the church. Even before that, however, World Communion Sunday
had an ecumenical feel for me in the 1990s. As long as I can remember in Pella on the afternoon of World Communion Sunday, the annual “CROP Hunger Walk”
(Church World Service) would be held. Most years I walked and attended the
potluck picnic—I can’t remember now if that was before or after the walk.
Regardless, it made the day even more ecumenical and even more meaningful for
me.
By the way, Mark and
Tom and I remained good friends after October 1997. They were both encouragers and mentors to me.
The ecumenical communion service—four years before I would start seminary—was
one early and significant event in my slow, steady journey towards pastoral
ministry.
I guess that just one man’s
history of World Communion Sunday. Yes, it’s my favorite Sunday. Yes, it’s a
very special day for me. For me it brings to mind the oneness of the church in
the sacrament of the Lord’s Supper; the intersections of traditions, styles,
and themes of different denominations in mission and worship; unifying mission
work like the CROP Walk where churches work together to feed the hungry; and my
own journey towards pastoral ministry.
But
it’s not just special for me. There’s a history here for all of us.
Presbyterians have been celebrating World Communion Sunday since 1936.
Presbyterians planted the seeds and watered and the harvest has fed Christians
around the world.
Thanks be to God!
