A celebration of World Communion Sunday (coming this October 6th) need not be odd or uncomfortable for people with a limited experience of languages and cultures other than their own. Any time we plan worship, we need to ask, What is the authentic “language” (ethos, perspective, culture) of the congregation? In what forms can the gospel be heard most clearly, and in what language(s) can the congregation glorify God most freely?
When a congregation’s “normal” pattern of worship is being enhanced or changed for a special emphasis like World Communion Sunday, it is important to design the changes in such a way that they heighten, not diminish, the clarity of the gospel message. One place to begin is by highlighting the traditional multiculturalism of worship that we usually overlook—an English hymn text set to an Italian tune, or a prayer from the Iona Community in Scotland, or a chorus from the Taizé Community in France. Those connections can be made verbally or in the bulletin.
