October 23, 2011

One of the most memorable experiences in my life was the first time I distributed bread during the Eucharist. It is one of those roles that in the Episcopal Church is reserved to the ordained. To that point, I had participated in almost every way in the Eucharistic celebration. I had prepared the table, shared the cup with the congregation. What I remember most about that first time, and what continues to dominate my experience of sharing the bread, is seeing all of those hands reaching out to receive the bread—big hands, small hands, hands of every shape, size, and color, hands wrinkled by age, and the hands of a toddler—all of them reaching out in desire, and hope, and hunger. Continue reading →