Under the Table
Under the Table
The Prayer of Humble Access we pray each week during our service of Holy Communion comes, in part, from the story told in this week’s Gospel reading. The prayer begins, “We do not presume to come to this your table, O merciful Lord, trusting in our own righteousness, but in your abundant and great mercies. Apart from your grace, we are not worthy so much as to gather up the crumbs under your table; but you are the same Lord whose character is always to have mercy…” You likely know it by heart.
I find this prayer to be one of the most theologically weighty, pastorally rich, gospel-saturated pieces of writing in our Eucharistic liturgy because it beautifully holds in tension two things that must never be separated. Catastrophically bad and, in the same breath, ineffably great news. In other words, the gospel: In ourselves, more sinful and flawed than we ever dared believe; yet in him, more loved and accepted than we ever dared hope. For all who would believe, his mercy is always more. This has always been true.
This Sunday we’re going to trace that tension through all four of our readings.
Steve+
New Song this Week: His Mercy is More—We’ll be singing a new (to us) song during Communion this Sunday. You can listen to it here.
Fall Launch: Youth Formation
On Sunday, September 6, our Youth Formation class (ages 10–13) begins the next stage of our ongoing catechesis during the Sunday School hour (9:00–9:55am).
Following last spring’s “Foundations” course, students will spend this fall exploring “Beginning with Christ” and “Believing in Christ,” the first two movements of To Be a Christian: An Anglican Catechism. This 15-week catechesis journey is part of a broader formation journey that will continue in future semesters with “Belonging to Christ” and “Becoming Like Christ.”
This fall’s study will help students discover the heart of the Christian faith through Scripture, To Be a Christian: An Anglican Catechism, prayer, discussion, artwork, memory work, and engaging classroom activities.
Together we will explore questions such as:
What’s wrong with the world—and with us?
What is the Gospel?
Why do we need Jesus?
What do Christians believe?
Who is God the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit?
Why did Jesus die and rise again?
Our goal is not simply to teach information but to help young people grow as disciples of Jesus Christ within the worshiping life of his church.
Youth catechesis will prepare students to make a mature public profession of faith in Confirmation while forming them into lifelong disciples of Jesus Christ who believe the Gospel, participate in the life of the church, pursue holiness, and join Christ’s work in the world.
If your child will be 10–13 years old this fall, we warmly invite them to join us Sundays, September 6–December 13, 9:00–9:55am in the Parish Hall.
NEWS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
Chesapeake Baysox Baseball and Fireworks—Friday, August 21, 7:05pm.
Discovery/Membership Luncheon—Sunday, August 23, following worship. Email Kaarin if you’d like to attend.
5th Sunday Potluck/Membership Sunday—August 30 following worship.
Annual Volunteer Training—Saturday, September 19, or Saturday, September 26.
Weekly:
Around the Table—A prayer time for women, Thursdays, 9:00am, at the Wishart’s. Email Lauren.
Morning Prayer—Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday 8:00–8:30am on Zoom.
Men’s Bible Study—Thursdays, 7:00am at 1309.
Photo: Maxime Dore on Unsplash
