In the name of this congregation, we send you forth bearing these holy gifts, that those to whom you go may share with us in the communion of Christ’s body and blood.We who are many are one body, because we share one bread, one cup.
I am sure that this sounds familiar to most of you – it comes at the end of the service just before the Prayer of Thanksgiving.This is the Commissioning of Eucharistic Visitors.
In the early church, it was considered extremely important that all Christians be able to share in the breaking of bread, and if one could not be present at the communal meal, a member of the community visited them.(In fact, this is one of the reasons for the calling of the first deacons.)Here, at St. Margaret we, too, believe that it is important that everyone feels a part of this community and our Eucharistic Visitors help to ensure this.
My first experience as a Eucharistic Visitor was many years ago at Christ Church, Bradenton.Each pair of Visitors was assigned one, sometimes two, person(s) to visit each Sunday.Yes, you read that correctly – we visited our folks every week.At first that may sound extreme, but if we participate in the Lord’s Supper every week, shouldn’t those members of our congregation who are in a hospital or shut in be able to participate as well?
Due to other obligations and time constraints, several of our Eucharistic Visitors are unable to make communion calls every week; but, I believe most firmly that those members of St. Margaret’s who are unable to come to the altar should receive communion each and every week if that is their desire.
I am asking that you prayerfully consider whether you might feel called to this ministry.Joe and I can tell you from first-hand experience that there are times when we have felt blessed beyond measure by these relationships that have been established with those whom we visited.Take a few minutes and talk to one of our Eucharistic Visitors; they will probably tell you the same thing.This is a ministry that blesses all who are involved.
