Uninvited

Its not that I haven't encountered this sort of thing before. After all, when I was growing up and many of my classmates and neighbors were Roman Catholic, they described their confirmation classes to me with all that involved. They whispered their fear that they wouldn't be able to swallow the host without breaking it. I knew back then that you couldn't even enter the doors of their churches without at least a hat on your head as a woman, and you sure couldn't take communion without being a member of their church in good standing and fully absolved in confessional.

Somehow I thought that was all a thing of my past - outdated and no longer enforced. Turns out I am wrong. The church we attended Sunday (not Roman Catholic by the way) had a whole page in their bulletin stating that if you are not a member in good standing of that denomination, you are not welcome at the table of the Lord. Not welcomed! Not just unwelcome, not invited. Not allowed.

It was like being slapped in the face. I have attended so many churches where the table is open for anyone who confesses Christ as their Lord, regardless of denominational ties, that this seemed archaic and inappropriate. I am God's daughter as much as they are, their theology notwithstanding. Perhaps more so. How can they be so hard hearted?

Its sort of like going on a family reunion, and when everyone else goes in the dining room, you are locked out. Expected to go hungry. Greeted with puzzlement if you bring it up. I found out later that really you are supposed to talk with the pastor ahead of time if you are not a regular member of that particular congregation - more restrictive than I first thought.

Well, more education. There is no grace in the law. It seems to be a recurring theme of the summer. Even now I am beginning to look over my shoulder for fear this posting will bear recrimination. . .