One central element of spiritual formation to be lived and implemented into the life of our congregations must be the re-establishment of the Eucharist as central to worship. People are looking for the mystery of God. And instead of giving that which the Lord commanded us, we give them worship snazz, in the disguise of contemporary trends, or make preaching the center of our worship and wonder why it doesn’t work.

Wesley’s people were required to attend Holy Communion weekly to remain in good standing with the society. When we do this we will find that it is at the table that we find our name, our place and our story. We meet Jesus at the table as he said we would. We remember who we are. We meet him with our ordinary lives and our broken hearts and our hunger and emptiness. We join others in their journey and acknowledge our dependence upon God and them for the necessities of life.

When I look into the cup I know that I am something deeper and richer than my own limited world. In that moment of illumination I am shown that my hungers need not go unsatisfied. God gives bread and wine — tangible, visible symbols of love for the deserts of my life. And when I rise and say amen, I admit the presence of God’s grace, a gift that fills my need.