Bread and Cup: Why I Want to Go to Haiti
I believe deeply in the power of the sacraments of the church. Though often overlooked, tagged onto the end of a service or relegated to a poorly attended evening service, the sacraments are a gift from God. The sacraments are a visible sign of an invisible reality: the love of God. When invested with meaning and significance, the sacraments of the church impart power to the church. Sacraments are the embodiment of mystery.
Humbling ourselves before God in the sacraments is:
- living into the mystery of God and of God’s Church
- accepting that salvation is the act of God in Christ
- celebrating that grace is free, not earned, not bought
- participating in community
- seeking peace tenaciously
- loving freely and actively
- retiring hate, biases and prerequisites
- bodying forth the mission of Christ in the earth
- knowing that we do not know it all
- engaging our limitations
- trusting God who is all powerful
- filling up to overflowing with the love of God.
So, I want to go to Haiti to celebrate the sacraments of God’s church there. I want to body forth the mission of Christ to a literally broken creation. I want to stand and declare the love of God in Christ Jesus to my sisters and brothers who are living through intense suffering.
The Bread and the Cup have special meaning in this hour in the church, in the world. I say these words when I distribute the elements of communion: “This is the Body of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, broken for you. Eat with thanksgiving in your heart. And this is His Blood shed for you from Calvary’s cross. Drink with thanksgiving for in so doing you show forth Christ’s death and resurrection until He returns.”
For a people broken and bleeding, there is Christ who knows what it is to be broken and to bleed. Christ is with the people of Haiti sharing the experience of being broken and bleeding, yet innocent.
There must be Doctors Without Walls, keepers of the peace, many soldiers, reporters to document and chronicle events, but there must also be some folk to be Christ and to declare Christ’s Gospel by distributing food, ministering comfort, interceding in prayer, preaching a prophetic Word and administering the sacraments of God and God’s church. I want one of those folk to be me.
Have you thought about or felt led to go? Tell me in the comments section below. I really want to discuss this.
Posted on: January 15th, 2010 in: Haiti, Worship Resources
8 Responses to “Bread and Cup: Why I Want to Go to Haiti”
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Hello…. I was just telling Cassi and TP that I want to go.. I’ve sent money through the Tyler Perry Foundation Relief Fund for Haiti but I just feel like I need to be there. I had been following a story of an 11 year old that I saw on Cnn yesterday that they thought they would have to cut her legs because they could not get her from under the rubble but they found a chain saw and was able to cut the beam and rescue her. I was so excited and I just tuned in tonight to find out that she did not survive. I cried like a baby…. I felt like I knew her. I was praying so hard that she would survive. They haven’t even told her mom yet because they don’t think she can handle it , they buried her quietly this evening. While I know this is only one tragic story somehow this story just broke my heart. While none of us can explain why this happened: i keep hearing the scripture that says in John where Jesus said: “Did I not say unto you that if thou believe, you will see the GLORY OF GOD.” So yes, I want to go… I want to help.. I want to just be there in whatever capacity I am needed…
yes. to put my hands into the rubble and join those who are digging to save.
Bernice, my father has been talking about that little girl all evening. He’s grieving her especially because she seemed to represent hope for others who remain in the rubble.
I am going to do more research on how to be there. I know you will do the same. Keep me posted.
I keep thinking that we, the living have a greater call to humanity than we ever thought. This is a call to action to serve humanity through the teachings of Christ. I would like offer a home to the little children. The day before the earthquake, I thought I needed to go to the grocery store. I could not bring myself to go to collect anything to add to my own storehouse while sadly thinking about the millions who are suffering. Let’s take up our crosses and do what God is calling us to do. Remember all the bible stories where God told his people to serve him. Let’s get busy and serve Him by serving them. There is deliverance.
I want to go. I was speaking with Bishop yesterday about this strong desire to be there. To be present, to minister, to pray, to weep, to rejoice, to be…
I want to go to share hope,prayers and let the Haitians know they are not alone, and help is on the way.
I think we should pray and find ways to go when our talents and gifts can be put to the best use for the people of Haiti. We have to dig deep within ourselves to reflect on our motivations. Many hands will be required in days and months ahead.
As a Hurricane Ivan survivor, I know first hand that the scarcity of clean water and chaos need the expertise of those who are equipped for such a time as this.
Ministers and lay leaders from the faith community should be working on the ground in Haiti as the relief of human suffering needs the expertise of those who know how to bring comfort, ease sorrow as well as inspire hope. Victims and rescuer personnel require nurture and support in the wake of this trauma.
my heart cried out as the earthquake hit haiti. i work in an area that is hit by the devastation of poverty, racism, sexism, classism. as a teacher, my kids ask me why i am in there neighborhood since i am not from their neighborhood. i said as people of color you are my people. i will teach you. i will pray for you. i will encourage you to become the children of God that God is calling us to be.