Breadbreakers implies several things when associated with Jesus traditions and spirituality. The early groups of people who were friends and followers of Jesus began celebrating a ritual meal of Passover (which is a Jewish Festival) and gave it different meanings when related to Jesus. They regularly shared food together, often in secret when their lives were in danger, and it usually involved re-enacting a last meal they had with Jesus. We can delve into this ritual sharing again and again through both Jewish and Christian traditions and find much to feed our spirits.But recently I've been sharing bread with such a diverse group of people that it is making me think again about the focus on break within our christian community in Wythenshawe.
Last Sunday we shared bread (and wine) with people from Taiwan, Zambia, Jamaica, Ghana, Scotland, Wales and all sorts of folks from England. In some countries bread is not the staple food except within the framework of a Christian Communion liturgy/celebration. In Taiwan rice is the staple and bread-like things are often made from rice. So we treat our bread differently depending on where we're from in the world and whether or not we already share bread on a daily basis. When in Fiji we shared some staple foods of coconut milk and flesh as communion elements. This was new and interesting for me, although for some it was controversial and even offensive. I wonder about the growing international communities in Wythenshawe and whether, on occasion, different communions should be celebrated? I wonder what, if any, are the essential elements for a communion? I wonder if we would approach communion in renewed ways if we shared bread and wine in new forms - this should also be part of the explorations of the emerging church in the UK.
Be gentle when you touch Bread
Let it not lie uncared for...unwanted
So often
Bread is taken for granted.
There is so much beauty
In Bread
Beauty of sun and soil
Beauty of patient toil.
Winds and rain have caressed it
Christ so often blessed it
Be gentle when you touch Bread
Old Scottish verse
