8/3 - This Holy Mystery: Singing Our Way to the Table

 This Sunday, we come to the Lord’s Table. And not just any table—the table of remembrance, of unity, of mystery. In Luke 22:13–20, Jesus sits with his disciples, takes bread, gives thanks, breaks it, and says, “This is my body, given for you.” He takes the cup and tells them to remember him every time they drink.

This act of Communion is more than a ritual—it’s an invitation into a holy mystery. Christ gives himself fully. And in doing so, he transforms not only bread and wine—but us. Each time we come to the table, we’re reminded that we are part of something far greater than ourselves: the body of Christ, broken and blessed, gathered and sent.

This Sunday’s hymns help guide us into and through that mystery. They prepare our hearts, echo our prayers, and remind us of who we are and who we are becoming.

O Sing to the Lord / Cantad al Señor

We begin with celebration! This lively, bilingual hymn invites us to lift our voices in joyful praise—“O sing to the Lord a new song!” We are nearing the end of our time with this song as we prepare to introduce a new bilingual hymn, but it’s a fitting final shout of praise before moving deeper into worship.

In both English and Spanish, this hymn reminds us that the table of the Lord is not bound by language or geography. It is a table for all nations, all people, all voices. When we sing it, we proclaim that God’s love is global, and God’s grace is wide enough to include everyone.

Una Espiga / Sheaves of Summer – Verses 1 & 2

This Communion hymn gives us a poetic, earthy image of the meal we’re about to share. The bread begins as scattered grain on a hillside. The wine begins as grapes, crushed and poured. These are simple gifts of the earth—but in the hands of Christ, they become sacred.

The first verse sings of unity: “One bread made by many, one cup that is shared by all.” In the second verse, we sing of faith, hope, and love—gifts that bind us together as one in Christ.

As we prepare to come to the table, this hymn gently reminds us that we are not just consuming—we are being transformed. Many become one. Earth becomes holy. And in Christ, brokenness becomes wholeness.

Let Us Break Bread Together

This beloved spiritual brings us into the quiet, reverent heart of Communion. Its roots in African American faith communities make this hymn especially powerful—a simple, heartfelt prayer from people who knew suffering and still found hope in Jesus.

As we sing “Let us break bread together on our knees,” we are invited to humility. We kneel—not just with our bodies, but with our hearts. We lift our eyes to the Lord, seeking mercy, grace, and communion with God and each other.

It’s a moment of stillness and awe in the middle of our worship—a reminder that this table is not about status or strength, but about grace and surrender.

Sent Forth by God’s Blessing

We end worship not with a conclusion—but with a commission. Having been fed by Christ, we are sent out to live differently. This hymn reminds us that the “fruit of this service” is not meant to stay in the sanctuary—it’s meant to grow in our daily lives.

We sing: “With praise and thanksgiving to God ever living, the tasks of our everyday life we will face.” The mystery of Communion empowers us not just to worship, but to serve, to witness, to love. What happens at the table on Sunday should change what happens at our tables every day.

As you prepare for worship this week, take a moment to let these songs speak to you. Maybe you’ll hear something new in an old favorite. Maybe a line will stick with you during Communion. Maybe, just maybe, the music will help you step deeper into the holy mystery of God’s grace.

See you at the table.

Music Tom 

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