Dear Family at CCC,

This Sunday we will have the opportunity to celebrate our unity as the family of God by partaking of the Lord’s Table. This will be especially meaningful as we continue to hear from 1 Corinthians 12 about how Jesus has given us deep and lasting community in Him with God and with each other.

So that we can approach the Table this Sunday with a festive spirit, it will be important for each of us to reflect on the great gift that this community is. Sometimes, because we desire extraordinary experiences, we can begin to take this gift for granted. In his little book, Life Together, Dietrich Bonhoeffer wisely cautions us against this attitude:

“In the Christian community thankfulness is just what it is anywhere else in the Christian life. Only he who gives thanks for the little things receives the big things. We prevent God from giving us the great spiritual gifts He has in store for us, because we do not give thanks for daily gifts. We think we dare not be satisfied with the small measure of spiritual knowledge, experience, and love that has been given to us, and that we must constantly be looking forward eagerly for the highest good. Then we deplore the fact that we lack the deep certainty, the strong faith, and the rich experience that God has given to others, and we consider this lament to be pious. We pray for the big things and forget to give thanks for the ordinary, small (and yet really not small) gifts. How can God entrust great things to one who will not thankfully receive from Him little things?”

As you prepare to partake of the Table this Sunday, spend time giving thanks to the Lord for the church family He has given to you. Ask Him to use this means of grace to increase your love for Him and for His people. Pray that the Spirit would continue to make us grateful for the ways He is at work in each of our lives and the opportunities He gives us to celebrate the gift of our redemption together. May the Lord use the Table to establish us in joy and festivity as the beloved people of God!

In Christ,
Robby