Hard to believe at times
that we’re all in the same church,
what with the long, sad, multitude of ways
we stand divided on who’s in or out,
what’s true or false, accepted or denied,
and everything the Book demands of you
and me, the rest of them as well.
Seems as if we can’t agree on anything
beyond our deep eternal disagreement.
Then the invitation comes to gather at the table.
Fragrant bread is baked and broken, rich red wine
is poured and shared. And, bound by deeper ties
of blood and family lore and lineage, we take
our silent places side by side to share
a common need, a royal host,
a risen Lord, a living Word.
Barrie Shepherd is an award winning poet and an honorably retired PC(USA) pastor, the author of many books.
