Welcome to #ATLT, At the Lord's Table: A Conversation, a series of over 50 posts from varying authors about the beautiful, mangled Church. Look for at least two new posts every Monday through Saturday between January 25th and February 22nd. Join us in the conversation? See you in the comments. This is my Body, broken: pierced and bleeding, shrouded in darkness and alone.
Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?
Father-forsaken, the Light recedes. Rocks cry out, the curtain tears. Brave women do not flee.
This is my Body, broken:
my radiant Church
lies pierced and bleeding,
wounded by friendly-fire burn.
This sickness shall not end in death
The dead are raised, the blind will see and you, love, shall be healed. (Only say the Word)
You are No Longer Deserted, re-created, the very image of God.
I am making a way in the wilderness, streams in the wasteland
Hephzibah, my delight, Stop tearing my Bride to shreds.
Rend your heart and not your garments. Rend your heart and not your brother. Every blood-soaked strand is fuel for the fire.
Take off the grave clothes
Put on the new self and arise. Only love will bind my Church in perfect unity. Bind up the broken and return to me, the Spirit poured-out-still.
There is one Body and one Spirit; to one hope were you called. At one Table we celebrate the memorial of your redemption.
As the Father has sent me, I am sending you
I Am the Word, calling life from formless void. I Am the Truth, the image of the invisible God-is-Love.
Unbound, live into the blessed-to-be-a blessing. Light up the darkness, beloved.
Do this in remembrance of me
{Image: joyeuse photography. Used with permission.}
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read the post before this one, here.
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Suzannah Paul 
A once (and future?) city-dweller, Suzannah Paul lives the life bucolic at a summer camp with her young family and assorted chickens. She writes love letters to the broken, beautiful Church and wonders how she gets away with some of it. Shalom is her passion, her site is so much shouting so much laughter, and she tweets the intersection of faith, justice, and pop culture @ShoutLaughLove.