CREDIT: pickpik.com

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

The days are growing shorter. A chill is hitting the air. We’re entering the days when thoughts also might be turning to harvests and feasts. Soon many will celebrate, in some way, Thanksgiving and Christmas. My favorite part of these holidays is, I must admit, the food. The feasts associated with these special days make them even more special.

It's no accident food is often central to special events. God’s Word is filled with images of feasts and rich food over which His people celebrate. The word “feast” appears almost 200 times in scripture – most often as part of celebrations where His people come together in His presence. Isaiah gives us a foretaste of life in the new creation, “On this mountain the Lord of hosts will make for all peoples a feast of rich food, a feast of well-aged wine … He will swallow up death forever … wipe away tears from all faces.” (Isaiah 25:6,8) These words foreshadow the ultimate rejoicing in the new creation spoken of in Revelation, “Before the throne of God … They shall hunger no more, neither thirst anymore … and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.” (Revelation 7:15-17)

We live in times between Isaiah and Revelation. And it’s easy to become spiritually malnourished while consuming what the world offers us. Knowing this, God provides us all with a regular feast which nourishes our faith – Holy Communion – the eating and drinking of the bread and wine containing our Lord Jesus Christ’s body and blood which He sacrificed on His cross for us. This feast joins His people together in a foretaste of the Feast to come. Here at the Feast of the Lord’s Supper our faith is nourished and strengthened to endure the trials and tribulations, the struggles and suffering that too often comes along as we live life in Jesus’ name between Isaiah and Revelation. The Lord’s Supper is indeed a special time for all of us as we join together at the Lord’s Table. Welcome to the Feast!

In Christ’s Love,

Pastor Jim