Celebrate

 

  And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, 25 not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near. Hebrews 10:24-25 (ESV)

 

From time to time, we have occasion to celebrate an event. We acknowledge upcoming births by attending showers or giving gifts for the baby after the blessed event.

Recently, our church honored the young people who graduated from high school. One of those young men’s family had an open house at the church.

Our society celebrates a man and a woman’s decision to spend their lives together in Holy matrimony. The friends of the bride may give her a shower of gifts for their new home. The guests at the wedding celebrate with the couple by also presenting the couple with items to aid them as they begin their new life together.

Several years ago, I heard a woman speak who had written a book called “Celebrate the Temporary.” As I remember the idea of the book, we could learn to take in stride the unexpected events of life. I sometimes find this hard to do.

As I read the Sunday newspaper recently, I saw an announcement about a couple who was observing their 65^th wedding anniversary. In years past, I was acquainted with the woman through a good friend at our former church. Not every couple gets to celebrate that many years of marriage.

For quite some time, when a Christian goes to be with Jesus, the family chooses to have a “celebration of life.” I recently attended a going home service that actually was a celebration of the departed friend’s life. Her two surviving sons were upbeat. The pastor reflected on the lady’s life.

This past Sunday, as we do every first Sunday of the month, our congregation celebrated Christ by receiving communion. I attend the main service, referred to as the second service. On these Sundays, we receive communion in our seats. A smaller number of people attend the earlier service. Those in this service receive communion by intinction. Each one who partakes goes to the front of the sanctuary and receives the elements from the pastor and someone who assists him. As each person receives the bread, the pastor says, “This is Christ’s body broken for you.” The one assisting holds a chalice. The communicant dips his bread into the chalice and hears these words, “This is Christ’s blood shed for you.”

At special services during Holy week, different stations are set up to accommodate a large number of attendees. The pastors from guest churches help in serving the communion by intinction.

Actually, we celebrate the Lord each Sunday as we gather together to worship, by giving praise for all He has done for us.

  

I enjoy this praise song, Celebrate Jesus  I hope you do as well.