Everything Communicates

A busy week ahead, so this will be short. I was thinking (dangerous, I know) Sunday morning about, of all things communion trays. I understand why we use them, but did you ever think why they have covers for them? Is it merely for the sake of cleanliness (e.g., no flies landing on the bread), or is there something more to it? By the way, did you ever notice that the handles on the lids are in the shape of a cross?

Not that the bread we use is Jesus but, in removing the lid, maybe we show that Jesus is present and available (similar to the disciples recognizing Jesus in the breaking of the bread in Luke 24).

Too, did you ever notice how the auditorium is laid out? The center aisle leads to the communion table, a "pulpit" (sometimes), and a baptistry. What does that say? It tells people that we believe in some core things--the centrality of Jesus in proclamation and communion, and that the rite of baptism is taken seriously.

How we greet one another (hug or handshake), the clothing we wear (and why I do not wear a suit or a tie, and even sit where I do), even the layout of the tables in the fellowship hall (u-shaped)--although not maybe done consciously, it still communicates something (intimacy or not-too-close, priesthood of all believers, and making it easier to see everybody).

Just some food for thought as we think about our services, the way we minister, etc.