Communing in a Time of Separation
A Reflection on Acts of Remembrance, including script for home communion and foot washing.
Let us Sanctify and Wash.
Dip. Split. And Tell.
Be Washed and Bless the Poor Man’s Bread.
Bitter Bundle and Set Down to Eat.
Hide It and Bless It. Praise It. Be Pleased.
- New American Haggadah, Safran Foer and Englander.
For over 3,000 years, the Jewish people have gathered in homes for Passover meals, with families reading from their treasured Haggadahs. Upon cleansing their homes and lighting a candle, they begin the meal with blessings to the Lord and launch into the retelling of the Lord’s deliverance from Egypt via plagues and wandering in the desert. While symbolic on many levels, the meal serves as a spiritual glue, almost mystical in its binding power. This shared story of God’s salvation, even in the midst of trial, tribulation and turmoil, has been an essential part of Jewish and Christian life.
Anabaptist Renewal with Water and Wine
Fast forward to 1515 AD, the Swiss city of Zurich finds itself a Reformation hotbed, brought on by the advent of the printing press and everyday citizens’ growing access to the Bible. The battle between nation states aligned with Reformed and Catholic princes has begun to heat up, while sporadic outbreaks of the bubonic plague cause cities to quarantine. The plague has hit Switzerland, causing many to flee and contributing to the death of one out of every four Zurich residents. Upon hearing of the outbreak, Ulrich Zwingli returned early from a retreat to work among the victims, eventually becoming so ill he almost died.
The early Reformer later wrote a retelling of his own deliverance from pestilence, called the Plague Hymn:
Help me, O Lord, My strength and rock;
Lo, at the door, I hear death’s knock.
Uplift shine arm, Once pierced for me,
That conquered death. And set me free. (Stanzas 1 & 2, Plague Hymn, Ulrich Zwingli)
Ten years later, families have begun gathering in homes under cover of night in order to study the Bible and serve each other communion. Their reading of Scripture had led them to believe that communion was a symbol, and that it should be served via the priesthood of believers and in the vernacular, or in the common language of participants - not Latin. These were treasonous beliefs, in direct opposition to the teachings of the Reformed and Catholic church states.
On January 25, 1525, George Blaurock asked Conrad Grebel to baptize him. Then Blaurock went around and baptized the others including Felix Manz. Blaurock proclaimed each baptized person was now “dead to sin and is now walking around in a new life and spirit.” Later, he would say they were also now part of the visible body of Christ, the church. While today’s Protestants would declare these events as normal everyday acts of faith, these men and families committed radical acts of discipleship, giving birth to a movement that would influence all corners of Christianity. They were soon labeled Anabaptists, not because they were Anti-Baptist, but because they had been baptized again - once as infants and again as adults.
As they continued to gather, the families would partake in the Lord’s supper together as part of their Bible studies, a powerful memorial meal which reaffirms our journey with Jesus in life and death. Anabaptists believe the core of Christianity is found in discipleship. To follow Jesus means to live as Jesus lived - as recorded in the Gospels and explained by the rest of the New Testament. This means putting into practice one’s Bible reading, moving from the head to the heart to the hands. For these men, this baptism upon their confession of faith in Jesus, meant that within four years many of them would be dead by martyrdom - burned and drowned. Exactly two years later, Manz was drowned. Grebel himself was a victim of the bubonic plague just 20 months later. Even Zwingli, the man who inspired them to read the Bible for themselves, became a persecutor. These events remain a vivid reminder of how everyday people are capable of great violence in certain circumstances.
Life in Christ Together and Apart
So, here we are today, living in a new era, 500 years after the invention of the Printing Press. The Digital Age is upon us, and all aspects of our lives are being changed (for more, see Phyllis Trickles’ Great Emergence). The global impact of technology ripples through all our communities, brought into high relief even more by the recent Covid-19 pandemic. Western Christianity is experiencing a shift as we examine what it means to do life together and how we serve our neighbors (even our enemies). We are realizing the millennia-old call to follow Jesus remains the same, but the ways of being faithful are looking different. Christians are being forced to lean more fully on Jesus, upon Scripture, and upon living out our beliefs. We are asking, “Where do our allegiances lie? From where do I get my help? What does it mean to be joyful while anxious?”
“Do you now believe?” Jesus replied. “A time is coming and in fact has come when you will be scattered, each to your own home. You will leave me all alone. Yet I am not alone, for my Father is with me. I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” John 16:31-33
In this moment, we find ourselves scattered around in our homes. Some surrounded by family, others by a spouse, still more by themselves - and I offer this word of encouragement - even in difficult times, we are able immerse in retelling memories of God’s faithfulness, stretching back thousands of years.
The Jewish rabbis teach that whenever the words of the Torah (Scripture) pass between two three gathered, the Shekinah glory of the Lord's presence resides upon them. And then they go on to ask, “What if the person is alone?” Well, the glory of the Lord still resides upon the one who meditates on the Word of God. Our Lord Jesus Christ teaches the same in Matthew 18. May you experience God’s presence in this time of the Scripture being spoken.
A practice you might wish to consider is that of just reciting the words of Jesus over yourself and your household. “Never will I leave you.” “Follow me.” “My peace I give to you, I do not give as the world gives.” And more.
Together over the Bread and Cup: A Script for Home Communion
I invite you to feel free to prepare your glasses and your bread. Whether you plan to gather your family around a meal, or just share in a simple bread and cup, I will offer the words of institution and you just follow along with me and that may conclude our time. In the words for the Bread, I will include the ancient Jewish prayer that Jesus would have modeled in his era.
Should you wish to practice family foot washing, I will offer a reflection following the Communion. If you have trouble bending down during that portion, you may embrace washing yours or the other person’s hands as an appropriate substitution.
(Words of Communion Centering)
While we may even be alone, we are reminded the bread is made of many kernels of grain, ground into flour and made into one unified loaf. This loaf is unified by water and baked by the fire, reminding us of baptism and suffering, just as our Lord and Savior experienced. The wine too is made from many grapes, crushed by the press, and unified in the cup of the Lord. May we remember the Church universal and the testimony of the saints as we partake in communion (referencing Hans Hut & Hans Nadler, 1527)
As the passage is read, translate the words into actions using your bread and cup. Let this be a powerful example of our call to read the Bible and translate it into acts of Love towards God and neighbor.
And he took bread, gave thanks “Blessed are You, LORD our God, King of the universe, Who brings forth bread from the earth.” and he broke it, and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me.”
In the same way, after the supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you. (Luke 22:19-20 with HaMotzi)
May the Lord richly bless you as you are reminded of Christ’s sacrifice and provision! You may choose to end with prayer together, singing a song or two, or even reflecting on ways you have seen Jesus at work around you this week. If you are eating a full meal, enjoy your time at the table.
Together over Water: A Script for Footwashing
Now, for those who wish to practice foot washing, I offer the following. John’s Gospel tells us that the meal was underway, and Jesus gets up to begin washing feet, launching an image of servanthood and service that has been practiced by Christians for millennia.
If you have never participated in foot washing before, I offer you a few tips.
This is an incredibly powerful act and image of servanthood. As any mother can testify, the washing of a loved one’s body is an act of love and sacrifice like few others.
Read John 13:2-17 for a meditation. If younger family members are present, feel free to let them ask questions.
Prepare yourself by removing footwear and socks. Have your partner sit in a chair and roll up pant legs or shift skirt so clothing doesn’t get in the way.
Kneel on one knee and take a towel and lay it across your upright knee.
Place your partner’s foot in a basin, splash water upon both sides and the back of the foot.
Lift the foot up and place it on your toweled knee. Use edges to wipe off the foot.
Repeat for the other foot.
Switch places and do the same for the other.
When finished, use the time to bless the other in whatever way seems appropriate.
Thank you for the honor of allowing me to share with you, and may God richly bless you through this season of remembrance together.
Washing Disciple’s Feet, He Qi - This poster hangs in my office as a reminder of when I heard Chinese Christian Artist He Qi give his testimony at Wheaton College.
