First Communion

My first Communion Sunday here at Beckville was July 3, 2005. I had already been warned to expect a light crowd. This congregation has lots of campers! With it being the July 4th weekend, I knew there would be a lot of folk gone. Now, I had never completely performed a Communion Service. I had assisted, but never done the entire liturgy myself. I was a little nervous. We had "practiced" in seminary, but somehow this was different. This was The Real Thing so to speak. I had gone over and over the liturgy at home, practicing when to do what and how.

There are a couple of women who handle preparing the elements, but I still was anxious...what if they didn't show up, what if they went camping, what if they forgot. I thought "perhaps I should have gotten bread and juice - just in case!" But, I hadn't! I woke up early that Sunday morning, getting to the church about 8:30am (Sunday School doesn't start til 10, Worship at 11). I went into the sanctuary, sat in the pew and prayed...and prayed...and prayed! "God...just lead me through this, let me honor you with all that I do..." I went through the liturgy there in the sanctuary, trying to figure out where to stand, how to move; basically I was blocking out the Communion service.

About 9:30 the phone in the church rang. I went to answer it. "Kim, this is Jerry, what time is your worship service?" My mind is racing, Jerry, Jerry, Jerry??? THEN it HITS ME! Jerry is my District Superintendent! "Uh...Worship starts at 11:00. Will you be here?" "Yes," he responds. "We will." "OK, great! See you then!" OK Great??? OK GREAT???? Oh dear! Why my first Communion Sunday? Why July 3, when there may be only a few people here? I begin to feel panic setting in!

Sunday school starts at 10, and I announce to the adult class that the DS will be in worship. They don't seem ruffled by the prospect at all. I leave the class a little early to go in and prepare for worship. The time to begin service starts and just a couple minutes before 11, in the DS and his wife walk. I had thought that since the hour was almost there, perhaps he wasn't coming after all, but no such luck. I manage to get through the sermon and the communion service with only a couple of minor glitches, that were probably only known to me!

After the service, I greeted Jerry and he complimented me on the service. I told him he really caught me off guard! His wife said, "I told him not to call you..." I responded, "I don't know what would have been better-knowing or not knowing!" I guess, in all honesty, I was glad there wasn't a larger congregation there, it probably would have made me more nervous. No matter how much I went through the liturgy in school, no matter how much I practiced at home, actually doing it in front of the congregation was SOOO much different. I am glad to say, I am much more at ease now and feel that I have finally conquered (at least for Beckville UMC) the Communion jitters!