Feeding Our Spiritual Side Adds Communion Service

For nearly a year, St. Paul's has been praying with its unhoused neighbors during its Sack Lunch distribution on Saturdays using the resources from Soulspace, a program created by the Rev. Dr. Michael Moynagh for the Church of England. The prayer service has included anointing with unction and laying on of hands for healing.  

St. Paul's rector, Rev. Rik, asked the usual weekly attendees if they would be interested in a communion service some Saturdays, and the answer was yes. On the Saturday before the first Sunday of Advent, we gathered in the Parish Hall for Sack Lunch distribution, coffee, tea, and fellowship. Towards the end of the distribution time, Rev. Rik set up a small table to use as an altar in the midst of the gathered children of God. We lit the first Advent Candle and made Eucharist based on resources from Soulspace. The service was paired down to the essentials, which allowed all to be fully present.  

Nearly all of the 20+ in attendance received communion and all received anointing with unction and healing prayer. During that time Rev. Rik said he caught, once again, a glimpse of that time we wait for - the time of God's ultimate reign of radical grace, love, forgiveness, and welcome.  

After the service, Rev. Rik asked if the group would like to have communion at future Sack Lunch distributions. The answer was a resounding yes. Rev. Rik said he will offer Eucharist twice a month – either in the Parish Hall or on the sidewalk outside the 15th street church doors, depending on the weather.

When Rev. Rik shared about the communion service on the Soulspace WhatsApp group, the Rev. Dr. Moynagh commented, "Truly WONDERFUL! You are the first to take it to that level. You've now got a new congregation, if you want to think about it like that. Why not tell your Bishop you have just done a church plant?! And it took just one year!'  

St. Paul's looks forward to continuing to build our spiritual connections with our unhoused neighbors. This ministry allows us to catch a glimpse of God's reign of love.

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More about Soulspace: https://churchsupporthub.org/all-resources/how-to-introduce-worship-into-an-outreach-or-social-action-group/