Day 13

Leading up to the Special Council on Human Sexuality in April, the Reformed Church in America has published a series of 21 devotionals to help the denomination and participants prepare. We encourage all Room for All supporters to sign up to receive these devotionals via email and follow along as we pray for the church and particularly those LGBTQ people who are participating.

In addition, Room for All has commissioned a series of 21 Inclusive Prayers and Devotionals written by supporters and friends of Room for All to coincide with and complement the RCA’s series. We will publish those here on OUTsights over the next 21 days. 

These readings and prayers are solely the words and opinions of each guest writer and do not necessarily reflect the views of Room for All, their staff, or the board.

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          I am a minister of Word and Sacrament. In my congregation, we celebrate the Lord’s Supper once a month, on the first Sunday. This past Sunday, it was apparent to me that we had some visitors in our congregation.

          There are so many ways to accomdate guests, and as a pastor in the middle of leading a worship service, there are certain things that I do to provide welcome. I may explain things that are otherwise obvious to our other members; like where the lounge is located for coffee hour or when to sit or stand for hymns. I’m always particularly careful about my “Invitation to the Table”. This is a preamble before we begin the part of communion called “The Prayer of Great Thanksgiving”. The Invitation to the Table can be short, “We have come from north and south, east and west to sit at the table that the Lord has prepared. All who confess Christ as their savior are welcome to come share in this feast.” But when there are new faces in the pews, strangers, those perhaps coming back to church, coming out of familial obligation, those who walked in the door for any number of reasons, this invitation might not be enough.

          Grace is freely given and freely recieved. Who do we think we are that we would deny any of God’s children access to this means of grace? We may not have ever heard someone told to obstain from the elements. It would be ludicris for someone to get tackled away from the Table. But these affects are the same when LGBTQ persons experience the Church as an impediment to recieving God’s grace.

          Dearly beloved, in the breaking of the bread and in the sharing of the cup, we proclaim the love of God. In a world so full of hate, may our sacremental celebrations be those where truly all are welcome to share the feast. No exceptions may apply.