“Do this in remembrance of me.” (1 Corinthians 11:24)

Following the American Civil War, different communities began honoring soldiers who died in that conflict on a specific day, often called Decoration Day. As time passed, wars increased, and more lives were lost – this tradition continued and expanded. Eventually in 1971, the last Monday of May was set aside for our nation as a day to remember and memorialize those who died serving our nation. This Monday as we enjoyed barbecues or camping trips, we also paused to remember those who are no longer celebrating with their families and friends. We are grateful for their sacrifice, and we remember them.

A memorial helps us remember what matters most. When God’s people were delivered from slavery in Egypt, the Passover meal helped them remember God’s faithfulness in rescuing them. Just before Jesus gave his life for us, he shared bread and a cup with his disciples. This shared experience created a memorial for us to remember how Jesus’ death and resurrection gives us new life and daily nourishment.

This weekend as part of our worship service, we plan to share the Lord’s Supper together. We will remember Jesus’ love and sacrifice, as well as his resurrection and gift of new life to us. When we eat the bread or cracker, we will remember his body broken for us. When we drink the cup or juice, we will remember his blood poured out. Together, we will remember that Jesus came and died for us and that he also rose from the dead and is coming again to bring justice to our world.

Make plans to remember and celebrate this moment together. You can use crackers or bread, as well as juice, that you may have at home. If you would like to bake your bread, here’s a recipe you could try:

• 1/2 cup of flour
• 1/3 tsp of salt
• 1 tbsp of oil
• cold water to mix

Mix all ingredients. Knead 1 minute. Rest 20 minutes. Roll thinly and bake at 350 degrees for about 8-10 minutes until done. Keep a close eye on it. After 5 minutes, it can bake quickly and burn. If you post any photos of baking bread or preparing for communion on social media, tag GFC so others can connect, too.

Like Jesus said, we will “do this in remembrance” of him.

Titus

P.S Catch up on our Sunday sermon series studying Jesus’ Beatitudes, and consider who you could invite to the online service this weekend by sharing this link or a social media post. Thank you for continuing to be the church.