Southwest Community Church
September 13, 2026

      • Psalm 31:1–5NRSVUE

  • My Hope Is You
  • The Table

      • Genesis 6:5–22NRSVUE

      • Genesis 9:8–17NRSVUE

  • The Table
  • Your Grace Is Enough

  • Connecting -with God - at the Table

    Our series on connecting at the Table will give us some opportunity to wonder together about what Communion means and how we might participate more fully in it. Sometimes called The Table. Sometimes the Lord’s Supper. Sometimes communion. And sometimes Eucharist. The meal has many names just as their are many modes of eating it. Practices differ regionally and depending on tradition. And then, even congregation to congregation, we will find little nuances here and there.
    During my sabbatical, Eric did a beautiful job in June with a sermon reflecting on celebrating communion - he highlighted five themes that are part of his participation. He mentioned considering:
    -the death and resurrection of Jesus
    -the renewal of covenant
    -an awareness of our need/weakness
    -Jesus’ presence and absence
    -communion/community
    During this series, we’ll touch on all five of those at some point, as we consider how the Table invites us to connect with God, with one another, with God’s mission of the renewal of all things, and with God’s story. At the Table, our story gets woven into God’s story.
    Most of us have some idea of what we think this meal MEANS. And then we also have varied experiences of how to participate in it. Some of us may have been taught how to participate either explicitly or implicitly. And we may not even know what questions we have - but I hope that you’ll gradually uncover an appreciation for and a deepening participation in the reality that this meal invites us into.
    Along the way, we’ll also work our way through some Old Testament texts. My practice is to always begin at the beginning - so in the fall, we usually begin with a creation narrative and then trace the story of God and God’s people through some thread of the covenant people of God.
    Today, we begin with the flood. And so Judy will come now and read us the beginning of that story from Genesis 6 and then she’ll pick up in chapter 9 when the floods have come and the waters have receded and God makes a promise to Noah and his family. But just in case you don’t know what happens in between - you can read the whole thing in Genesis 6-9. But the gist is: it rains a lot. For forty days. Noah and his family are on an ark with a bunch of animals. And they have to stay there until the waters recede and a dove finally returns with a leafy branch - a sign that the waters have receded enough that things are actually growing again. Let’s listen now to this ancient story of God starting over again with creation after everything has gone very wrong. Will you stand if you’re able to listen to God’s word?
    READING
    What is the difference between a sign, a symbol and a sacrament?
    sign - points to something beyond itself - GREEN LIGHT - nothing instrinsically about gree that means“go” but we have agreed within our civilization that a green sign generally indicates “go” and a red sign or light means “STOP” -
    Signs are useful and helpful.
    symbol - “An external, visible and tangible object or action that represents an internal, intangible reality” (Gordon T Smith)
    wedding ring - points beyond itself to the love and commitment
    a national symbol at a sporting event - think about the pride we feel during the Olympics or World Cup when we see the flag of the country we’re cheering for - it stands for more than just the object itself.
    And a symbol communicates in ways that we can articulate with words, and in ways that are deeper than words.
    There were two symbols in the reading today - do you remember them?
    Ark - provision - an external, visible and tangible object that represents an internal, intangible reality
    Some modern churches are even built to resemble an ark - because of the rich symbolism
    Rainbow - promise
    sacrament - a symbol that has been “ordained by God” - which in plain English just means, “Jesus said we should do this.”
    in the Baptist tradition, we say we have two ordinances or sacraments: baptism and Communion
    What does baptism symbolize? What does it point to beyond itself? How does water become more than just water?
    What about the Lord’s Supper? What does the bread and wine (or juice!) symbolize? And how does our participation invite us to enter into the reality to which it points?
    How does the Table show us what God is like?
    Invitation from the God who became human and then proceeded to show us what God is like… even when that meant laying down His life. The Table reminds us of the Jesus story - not just the night he was betrayed, but all that came before it and all that would follow just afterwards. His birth, life, ministry, death, resurrection, and His promise to return.
    Jesus brought connection with God into daily reality for his first disciples. And He does so for us, too.
    He didn’t tell us to THINK about the water and about how Jesus could transform us by inviting us to enter into both his death AND his resurrection. He preached, repent and be baptized - GET WET!
    Jesus didn’t gather with his disciples and say, “hey, I’m going to die but don’t worry, I’ll come back again and you can think about it.” No! He said, here! Take! Eat! This is my body. BREAD - a symbol - a tangible object that points beyond itself to an intangible reality. The CUP - a new covenant - God is a God who keeps promises. And the CUP reminds us that we’re being invited to be in relationship with the God who is always faithful.
    This is part of the larger story that Scripture tells.
    God chooses relationship, and makes every provision to make sure that humanity (and creation) can have a good relationship with the Divine.
    God’s provision is woven throughout Scripture.
    Creation gets created. And then things go… well, downhill. Bible commentator, Dennis Olson is helpful here:
    “God had evaluated the first creation in Genesis 1 as “very good.” By the time we reach Genesis 6, however, God has come to see the increasingly “great” wickedness of humankind. Every inclination of their hearts “was only evil continually.” The earth was “filled with violence” (6:5, 11). God’s heart “grieved”; God was “sorry that he had made humans on the earth” (6:6).”
    He goes on to say: “Other cultures surrounding ancient Israel had their own flood stories in which a hero builds an ark and survives a flood sent by angry gods (Atrahasis, Epic of Gilgamesh). The biblical account adapts some elements of this flood story tradition but also reshapes the tradition to conform to an enduring biblical pattern.
    The God of Scripture is one God. This one God holds together both just judgment (consequences that flow from increasing evil) and gracious mercy (God’s forgiveness and faithfulness to divine promises).” from https://www.workingpreacher.org/commentaries/narrative-lectionary/flood-and-promise/commentary-on-genesis-65-22-86-12-98-17
    The Flood - things are messy. Violent. Corrupt. And what does God do? God makes a way to begin again. God provides salvation. Provision. The Ark is the symbol that reminds us that no matter how bad things get, God is the kind of God who chooses relationship and offers provision for that relationship to continue and to flourish. Everything we do, we do in response to God’s provision.
    But the Ark isn’t the only symbol in our text. The second symbol is the rainbow. What does the rainbow symbolize?
    Promise. Covenant.
    Genesis 9:9–11 NRSVue
    9 “As for me, I am establishing my covenant with you and your descendants after you 10 and with every living creature that is with you, the birds, the domestic animals, and every animal of the earth with you, as many as came out of the ark. 11 I establish my covenant with you, that never again shall all flesh be cut off by the waters of a flood, and never again shall there be a flood to destroy the earth.”
    This covenant God makes with Noah and his family - and with all the creatures who experienced the salvation of the ark - will be overshadowed by the Abrahamic covenant (which we’ll look at next week) but it’s not a covenant that God has ever indicated is over. God is still committed to preserving creation - and we get to join God in that endeavour.
    Provision and promise. In the midst of chaos and destruction.
    Provision and promise. Throughout the centuries and millenia of God’s people seeking to live out their true identity as the people of God. Throughout all the massive failures and the moments when God has demonstrated God’s commitment to them in big and small ways.
    Provision and promise culminating in God arriving in the flesh in the person of Jesus of Nazareth.
    Provision and promise. At a table in an upper room with a bunch of disicples who even thoguh they’ve been hanging out with Jesus for 3 years, still don’t really get it. And with one disciple who will trade Jesus in for a bag of silver coins. Even there, provision and promise.
    Provision and promise. Here at our table. In whatever chaos is touching down in your life, your family, your world right now. In the uncertainty of what following Jesus looks like in this moment. In this corrupt world. Provision and promise.
    The relationship you have with God has been PROVIDED. You do not have to do anything but respond. To say yes to the invitation God issues to you. Today. And every day. Provision.
    The promise or covenant God made with Noah to never again bring destruction.
    That promise sees part of its fulfilment in Jesus sharing the meal with his disciples and in that meal, announcing the new covenant that is about to come into being through his death and resurrection which are just hours and days away.
    Provision - what is that you/we need this morning?
    Promise - what is God’s promise to you/us this morning?
    Table of provision and promise.
    Table of mercy and grace. Table of invitation.
    A table rooted in the past. A table prepared for us here in the present. And a table that foreshadows the marriage supper of the Lamb when heaven and earth have been made new.
    As we gather here, you’ll be invited to make your way to one of two stations at the front. You can come to either station. The easiest thing would be for each section to exit to the right and then return to your row from the other side.
    If you need to remain in your seat but wish to participate in communion, servers will look up after they have finished serving those coming forward. Watch for them and just raise you hand to indicate that you would like to be served.
    THE LORD’S SUPPER: COVENANT-MAKING
    This pattern for covenant-making celebrates the eternal covenant of grace between God and humanity and also the covenant between believers within the community of disciples.
    WE GATHER
    God has made us a people: we have been shaped by God’s will. Jesus calls us together: we meet in Jesus’ name. The Spirit binds us together: and leads us into truth.
    WORDS OF INVITATION
    Look, here is the Lord’s Table spread as for a feast. Bread for breaking, wine poured for drinking: signs of his love and hospitality, symbols of his life broken, his blood poured out.
    He is not dead! He is risen and present among us, evidence of God’s covenant grace and promise.
    So we come in faith to the table, you and I, companions on the journey. Some of us fresh and eager, others weary, in need of nourishment.
    All of us conscious of our failings.
    Words of confession and forgiveness may be offered here extempore or using prayers from Part Two of this book. At the conclusion of the prayer the words of invitation may be concluded
    Come now, don’t hesitate, the feast is ready and the Lord himself invites you.
    WE COVENANT
    Creating and redeeming God, we give you thanks and praise.
    Your covenant of grace was made for our salvation in Jesus Christ our Lord.
    We come this day to covenant with you and with companion disciples:
    to watch over each other and to walk together before you in ways known and still to be made known.
    Pour your Spirit upon us. Help us so to walk in your ways that the promises we make this day, and the life that we live together, may become an offering of love, our duty and delight truly glorifying to you – Father Son and Holy Spirit. Amen.
    This day, we give ourselves again to the Lord and to each other to be bound together in fellowship, and to work together in the unity of the Spirit for the sake of God’s mission.
    The following may be named, as appropriate.
    In our congregation, in local partnerships, in our association and in the wider Union, we commit all that we have and are to fulfil God’s purposes of love.
    As a sign of covenant, we share the peace.
    WE REMEMBER
    It was the night of the Passover, and Jesus and his friends were sharing supper together.
    While they eating he told them that one of them would betray him. They were appalled and protested saying, ‘Not I Lord, I would never betray you.’
    Jesus took some bread, gave thanks, broke it and gave it to them saying, ‘Take this and eat. This is my body.’
    He took the cup of wine and after giving thanks passed it among them, saying as they drank, ‘This is my blood of the covenant. It is poured out for you and for many for the forgiveness of sins. I will not drink again until the day comes when I drink with you in my father’s Kingdom.’
    As the story is told (or immediately after) the person presiding breaks the bread and pours the wine.
    PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING
    Creating and redeeming God, we give you thanks and praise for your covenant of grace: a covenant expressed in sinful people who know forgiveness, the weary who are refreshed, the hungry who are nourished, the captives who are set free and the oppressed who experience liberation. Thank you that you chose to make us a part of your story.
    Thank you for Jesus Christ who revealed your love in his death and resurrection and who continues to share his life with us through bread and wine.
    Thank you for sending the Holy Spirit who sustains us in our walk together, helping us to watch over each other, to pray for one another, and to work together for justice and truth.
    As we eat this bread and drink from the cup, (signs of hospitality and grace), may we be empowered to serve boldly wherever you may call.
    Accept these prayers and our heartfelt thanksgiving in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
    WE SHARE
    The bread
    One people, one loaf, a sign of our common faith and testimony to the generosity of our Lord Jesus Christ.
    Take this loaf, food for faith, and feed on it with thanksgiving.
    The wine
    One people, one cup, a sign of the new covenant poured out for you and for many. It is a covenant sealed by his blood. When we drink we must be thankful and agree together never to forget.
    WE JOURNEY
    Holy God, we have been nourished and had our thirst quenched, through bread broken and wine poured in thanksgiving for your Son Jesus Christ. Send us out to be as generous to those we meet this week, that we might show through word and deed that he is not dead, but risen and present among us.
    Hallelujah! Amen.

      • Genesis 9:9–11NRSVUE

Southwest Community Church
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