In the not too distant past, family mealtime was a sacred tradition. This time and space was carved out in the day with intent of the family gathering together as a unit. A proper family meal was a one that was prepared at home. The meal itself required time and effort to create and it took time to consume together. Conversation would happen at these times around the table. Food was consumed, siblings would squabble, laughs would be shared, trials addressed, and for better or worse, memories were made at the table.
The table has always been a defining element of worship in the Christian faith. Christians are all part of the same family where God the Father is the head of the household. Like any other healthy family unit the family of God gathers at the table for a meal. The sacrament of communion (Eucharist) has roots that can be traced all the way back to—and beyond—first century Judaism.
For at least Christianity’s first decade, Christians remained almost an exclusively Jewish movement with no thought of giving up their identity as Jews. The Christians simply followed the teachings of the Jewish Rabbi Jesus, while the Pharisees, Sadducees and other sects had their own Rabbis who helped them interpret the law and the prophets. The Jewish disciples of Rabbi Jesus, after his ascension, continued to gather in the synagogues for teaching, as well as to worship, to evangelize and to celebrate holy days.
However, the celebration of the Eucharist was the one distinct act of worship that the apostles and early followers did not practice at the temple or in the synagogue with their fellow Jews. The Sunday night gathering at the table set the followers of Jesus apart from their fellow Jews at worship. The Eucharist, the great thanksgiving meal that Jesus commanded his followers to do in remembrance of Him, helps us to remember Jesus as he desires to be remembered, as the host of a meal where the sacrifice of a new covenant is offered in the breaking of the bread of life and in the sharing of the cup of grace. It’s notable that Jesus didn’t tell us to remember him in songs, sermons, offerings, or in pastoral prayer times; but of the communion meal he said “do this in remembrance of me”.
We gather together with believers from around the world to remember our host, Jesus. At his table we are not enemies or strangers, we are family and friends. Jesus’ invitation to the table is a beautiful way of countering the “anti-neighborliness” of this world? It’s an invitation to the church and a challenge to the world to silence their phones, turn off their TV’s, shut out the noise and come to the table to remember the King who makes believers one. Jesus, our host doesn’t just call us to a meal, but to identity, a new family. It’s a call to the lonely, the broken, the lost and abandoned to come and join the feast. This world communion Sunday let us gather together in the name of our host Jesus who has died, is risen, and is coming back again. He is the host of this great wedding feast. Let us come together and feast.
The Invitation
Words and music by Rick Lee James and Andrew Greer.
© Copyright 2014, Assigned 2015 McKinney Music, Inc. (BMI) (admin. by LifeWay Worship c/o Music
Services, www.musicservices.org)/ Mr. Andy’s Music (ASCAP). All rights reserved.
Verse 1
To every daughter, every son
Every tribe and every tongue
This is the call, the heart of love
This is the invitation
Verse 2
The table’s spread with bread and wine
The life and blood of Jesus Christ
Take and eat, raise and drink
This is the invitation.
Chorus
This is the table of the Lord
For everyone there is a place
Taste and see that He is good
The bread of life, the cup of grace
This is the invitation
Verse 3
To every soul, both strong and weak
For every heart that dares to seek
To all condemned there is mercy
This is the invitation
Chorus
This is the table of the Lord
For everyone there is a place
Taste and see that He is good
The bread of life, the cup of grace
This is the invitation
Verse 4
To every daughter, every son
This is where we belong
Take and eat, raise and drink
From Rick Lee James album Hymns, Prayers, and Invitations
Link to Music Video: https://worshipfuel.ccli.com/invitation-rick-lee-james/
Rick Lee James worship leader, a singer and songwriter, preacher, author, and Podcast host with over 15 years of experience in ministry. As host of the Voices In My Head Podcast Rick has worked with Jason Gray, Andrew Peterson, Sara Groves, Paul Baloche, All Sons and Daughters, Michael Card, Brian Zahnd, Tripp York, Brett Mccracken, Ian Morgan Cron, Michael Card, Walter Brueggemann and many more. In 2013 Rick released his first Live album of original songs called, Basement Psalms Live. In 2014 Rick released a book to accompany the album called, Out of the Depths: A Songwriter’s Journey Through the Psalms. The book has since been used as a textbook by National Praise and Worship Institute’s Psalms survey course at Trevecca Nazarene University. Rick also was a contributing writer for the book, Renovating Holiness, edited by Jay Thomas Jay Oord and Joshua Broward. Rick has also been a contributing writer for Worship Leader Magazine and has had a number of songs published by Lifeway Worship. Rick’s new album, ‘Hymns, Prayers, and Invitations’ released on March 17th, 2016 (St. Patrick’s Day) and has been featured in CCM Magazine, Worship Leader Magazine, and other national spotlights. All songs on the record are being published through Lifeway Worship and are written, co-written, or arranged by Rick.
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