10/062024 West End UMC Late Worship Service -- 11:00 AM

Common Ground - Today is World Communion Sunday. Rev. Stacey Harwell-Dye, our Pastor of Mercy and Justice Ministries, delivers the Communion Meditation, based on the Genesis 2 creation story where God creates the first human from the dirt of the earth. She reminds us that although so many things tend to divide us (politics, ball teams, etc.), humans are identical through our DNA, and we share much of our DNA identity with animals and, actually, with soil. Tom Turnbull, a West End member and potter, created the communion vessels we are using today, and when asked told Stacey that the clay potters use is timeless and common all over the world. All of this speaks to the common nature of God’s creation with humans united with each other and with nature. This sets the context for taking communion at the Lord’s table united with others all over the world. The scripture lesson from Genesis 2 today is read in Korean in the early service and then in Spanish in the late service.