In the United Methodist church, communion is opened to everyone who wishes to receive the sacrament. We believe it is one of the means of grace through which Jesus communicates His love for us and His love for the world. Thus ends the brief theological lesson.

On Tuesday evening, November 8th at 8:00 p.m., I am inviting you to receive communion at First United Methodist Church in Natchitoches. As we used to say in my home state, “Y’all come!”

You will notice that I have scheduled the service at the same time the polls close in Louisiana. You might have noticed that this particular election cycle has been a bit acrimonious. We seem divided on many things. I know that you are on the right side of the issue and that if everyone would agree with you and vote like you do, justice, peace and righteousness would prevail. I know that because I secretly believe that too.

I need a communion service with all God’s people to be reminded that we Jesus followers answer to a higher calling. We participate in a kingdom that is not of this world. That regardless of the election results, God is still on the throne, Jesus is still Lord and the Holy Spirit is still the giver of life. You and I as Jesus followers are called to love God’s creation and God’s creatures. We are called to love.

We are not called to fix them. I have been working my relationship with Christ. I think the truth is He’s working on me. I have become convinced that one of our failings as the church is we are always trying to fix something. I can find no passage of scripture where Jesus told us to “go and fix the world.” I read many passages where we are commanded to love the world and love one another. Love is a higher calling than fixing.

So, on November 8th, I invite you to the table to the Lord to be with people who agree that Jesus is Lord. We can agree on our calling as Jesus followers to serve each other and serve our world. We can agree that God is in control. We can agree that, with Paul:

“What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword?

No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers,neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

That is the hope I’m inviting you to celebrate with other members of the community on Tuesday, November 8th and 8:00 p.m. in the sanctuary of First United Methodist Church in Natchitoches.