Lakeside Community Presbyterian Church

“Therefore,

go and make disciples of all nations . . .”

(Matthew 28:19a)

These parting words from Jesus to His disciples were words not only to those gathered around Him, but also to us, His disciples 2,000 years later.

But how do we “go” to all the nations? One of those ways is through the sending and supporting of others who are doing the task of making disciples of all nations.

This Sunday, we have the Ringenberg family coming to LCPC to give us an update about their work with Mission Aviation Fellowship (MAF) in Indonesia. For over a decade, Dave and Linda and their family have been serving in Indonesia through aviation. Dave and others with MAF in Indonesia, help pastors, Bible translators, doctors, and others serve in remote areas. Through the support ministry of MAF, people groups in distant locations are able to learn about Jesus and hear the Word of God in their native language. The ministry of MAF and the Ringenbergs is one way that we are able to “go and make disciples of all nations.”

I hope that you can come this Sunday to hear their stories and to interact with Dave, Linda, and Ryan. If you can’t attend in person, then be sure to listen online.

“The Lord Jesus, on the night He was betrayed, took bread, ²⁴ and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, “This is My body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of Me.” ²⁵ In the same way, after supper He took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of Me.” ²⁶ For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death

until He comes.”

1 Corinthians 11:23-26

Someone asked me why don’t we partake of the Lord’s Supper every week? It is a good question, and different churches do observe and partake of the Lord’s Supper in a variety of different settings and at different times.

The Lord’s Supper, Communion, or The Eucharist is celebrated in a variety of different ways by different churches. Some partake of it weekly while others do it monthly, while still others offer it once a quarter. This is done for a variety of different reasons (some practical, others to keep the Sacrament of Communion sacred and not too common place) but the Bible doesn’t offer a specific time or place for remembering Christ’s sacrifice on the cross.

We do know from the Book of Acts that the first Christians gathered in homes and shared the Lord’s Supper whenever they gathered. This was done weekly but sometimes daily. So, Communion in the early church was done around a dinner table, in the context of table worship.

This Sunday we celebrate Communion, and we join with the church down through the centuries and with churches today. We remember the gracious act of love that God demonstrated by sending His Son Christ Jesus to earth, who offered His life for us so that we might be forgiven and that we might have eternal life through Him.

^“4 There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; ⁵ one Lord, one faith, one baptism;

 ⁶ one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.”

Ephesians 4:4-6

This weekend in San Diego is Comic Con weekend when thousands-upon-thousands of people will gather at the Convention Center to celebrate all that is comic-book related. It is a gather and a celebration of comic-book related art that overflows into movies, television, art, interactive multi-media, gaming, conversations with some of the actors in movies and creators, and much, much, more. Comic-Con overflows from the Convention Center and out to the streets and venues that are near downtown San Diego.

Being new to San Diego, (and having arrived in the SD County during COVID) I haven’t really been exposed to all that happens with Comic-Con, but this year is different. This Friday, my son Aaron and I are going to venture into downtown to view a showing of the movie “Napolean Dynamite,” a quirky coming of age movie that Aaron loved when he was a young adolescent (but I also thought it was a funny movie). It has a lot of stupid jokes and memorable scenes (“Vote for Pedro”) so it will be fun to watch on a big screen and to hear the conversations from two of the actors. I can’t wait to see all that will be going on.

The gathering of comic-book fans reminded me that every week, throughout San Diego County, there are thousands-upon-thousands of people who gather in houses of worship to celebrate Jesus Christ. I know that you and I probably take it for granted that these gatherings take place, but when I pause long enough to think about it, it is amazing that we gather to celebrate Jesus’ life and resurrection. We gather to celebrate “the hope that we have in Jesus. We gather worshipping one Lord, one faith, one baptism, and one God, who is Father of all.” These gatherings, large and small and diverse in many, many ways are something that we should celebrate and be amazed. And the other amazing thing is that these gatherings have been happening around the world for over 2,000 years.

So, when we worship this weekend, be amazed. May we celebrate Jesus with eyes and hearts that are open to the Spirit moving in our midst and may we share this Good News with others.

Have a great rest of the week and I hope to see you on Sunday.