World Communion Sunday started in a Presbyterian Church in Pennsylvania in 1933 to demonstrate unity among all Christian churches. What was happening that year? The Reichstag, the German government building in Berlin, burned to the ground. The Nazi party had just gained a majority in the parliament in the recent election. (Many historians speculate that they were behind the attack). They immediately declared the burning a terrorist act, passed laws that overruled the constitution, and began rounding up anyone they suspected as enemies of the state. What became the holocaust was underway.
By 1940 the Federal Council of Churches endorsed the idea of “World-wide Communion Sunday.” By this time World War II had officially begun as Hitler invaded nations and declared war on Great Britain.
As the world fell apart, churches came together.
It is a shame that it often takes tragedy to bring people together. But looking at that idea from a reverse angle you could say that our lack of unity leads to tragedy. Regardless, this Sunday continues to be an important act of unity recognizing that Christ gave his life for all people. That includes the ones we like and dislike. The ones we love and the ones we fear. The ones whose favor we seek and the ones we avoid. The ground is level at the foot of the cross.
Our world still needs churches to come together. It's amazing how easily we divide and what we allow to divide us. This coming Sunday is a reminder that no matter what we look like, what language we speak, what gender we are, we all need love and grace. We need help and we have a Savior who gives it.
Whether you will be in person at St. Luke’s this Sunday or watching from home (or wherever!), when you hold the bread and juice in your hand, think for a moment that in China hours before, Christians were doing the same. A few hours later, in the south Pacific islands and New Zealand and Australia, Christians were doing the same. By the middle hours of Sunday morning, Christians in the middle East and eastern Europe were doing the same. By 5am our time, Christians throughout Europe were doing the same. And on it will go through late Sunday afternoon in the Hawaiin Islands and further west. Once a year we focus on our sameness, so that we may see our differences as a gift.