Come to the Table :: World Communion Sunday

Then people will come from east and west, from north and south, and will eat in the kingdom of God. – Luke 13:29 (NRSV)

This Sunday is World Communion Sunday.

The first Sunday in October is designated as World Communion Sunday, which celebrates our oneness in Christ with all our brothers and sisters around the world.  Celebration of World Wide Communion Sunday was adopted as a denominational practice in the Presbyterian Church (US) in 1936.  Churches in other denominations were invited to celebrate with us from the beginning, but it wasn’t until 1940 when the Department of Evangelism of the Federal Council of Churches (a predecessor body of the National Council of Churches) promoted extending the celebration to a number of churches around the world that the practice became widespread. ~ from www.presbyterianmission.org

For Eastertide, I wrote new lyrics for the “Beer Barrel Polka” and “Pennsylvania Polka.”  As part of our celebration this Sunday, we will be doing global music selections – including the return of the accordions.  And you can’t have accordions without some polka music!

Here are World Communion lyrics for the “Beer Barrel Polka” (original lyrics and music by Jaromir Veivoda).  Enjoy!

Come to the Table

There’s a Table, what a Table
Every person finds welcome the-ere
And there’s always enough room there
To pull up another chair there

Oh, there’s music and there’s laughing
God’s people are a-gathering
When they play the polka
We all get in the swing

Every time we hear that oom-pa-pa
Everybody feels so tra-la-la
We throw our cares away today
And celebrate Communion day
When we hear the voices from the east (from the east)
Also people coming from the west (from the west)
They come from north and from the south
From miles around we’re gathering

Come to the Table!
All is pre-par-ed for you
Come to the Table!
A ho-ly meal is to be shared
Come to the Table!
Sing out a song of new life
Break the bread and pour the cu-up
For the gang’s all here!

When the light pours fo-rth
We sing to God with great joy
Sins are forgiven
And grace extended as well
Come to the Table!
Sing out a song of new life
Break the bread and pour the cu-up
For the gang’s all here!

You can find my World Communion liturgies here and here.

If you are looking for more liturgical resources, please consider checking out my books:

Prayers for the People: Scripturally Based Prayers for Worship Prayers for the People is a collection of prayers for worship. These prayers offer the worshipping community fresh perspectives for praying the words of Scripture, using current language and references. Cross-referenced to the Revised Common Lectionary, pastors seeking to lead their people in prayer have found a relevant and beautiful source for worship planning.

Come to the Table: Communion Liturgies of Invitation to Celebrate and Experience the Love of God is a collection of communion liturgies inviting worshippers to experience and respond to the Gospel. These meaningful liturgies enhance and reinforce the biblical message of the day. Worshippers are welcomed to the Table to experience the Word in preparation to go out into the world and live it. Come to the Table includes liturgies for the entire liturgical year providing pastors with a valuable resource in worship planning.