Coram Deo

Coram Deo literally means "before the face of God."  On Friday night I attended O2 at 12Stone and the theme of the night was Coram Deo.  An awesome time of praise and worship and adoration.  As we partook of communion together I felt strongly pressed that sometime this week I needed to do this with my children.  Was trying to figure out exactly how to do that.  Then at the end of the service they handed out small brown bags with all the elements of communion.  I just thought that was so like God...He gave me the desire, then He supplied the need!

Also, at the beginning of the service they gave us each a broken piece of pottery.  At some point during the service we were supposed to go to one of four stations and place our broken piece of pottery on these big boards they had.  Symbolizing that God takes all of our broken pieces and together makes something special.  At the end, unknown to us at the time we placed our pieces, all four boards from the stations were placed together on stage and formed this beautiful mural of a tree.  They had placed the tree pieces previously and all of our pieces were blue and filled in all the gaps.  It was a special time for me to know that our broken parts of our lives may not go back together they way they once were, all shiny and smooth, yet God still can put them back together in a way of beauty.  They had little tubs of grout at the stations to secure your tile with and wet wipes to clean up your hands if you got the grout on them.  Even that spoke to me.  Sometimes putting the broken pieces of our lives back together can be a messy thing.  And making this mural took everyone participating.  I'm thankful for the people in my life who have been willing to get a little messy with me at times.


This morning I sat down with the kids in the quiet of the morning.  No school today, so no rushing around, no tv on.  I explained what communion is and read about the last supper in Matthew.  We each took turns praying, then we thanked the Lord for breaking His body and shedding His blood for us.  The loaf of bread they gave us Friday night was like a rock, but that didn't deter us, we just used a piece of bread.  And I wasn't sure what to use to pour the juice in, so I used shot glasses.  I meant no disrespect and I think the Lord honored the intent of my heart.  It was a special time and the kids thanked me for it.  As the holiday season approaches and Thanksgiving later this week, it was nice to stop the frantic pace for a minute and remember all that we have to be thankful for.

They gave us this sheet as we left Friday night.  I think it is good words to close with.

"This evening we celebrated "Coram Deo"- the privilege of living face to face with God.  We have brought the broken pieces of our lives before Him and our desire to not withhold any part or fragment of our life from His presence.

As we leave this worship experience let us remember that we carry the presence of God with us into our ordinary, everyday lives.  Let us remember, as Jesus reminded the disciples, of the loving and miraculous sacrifice that purchased our salvation.

In the next couple of days, we encourage you to gather friends or family and partake of the Communion elements provided in this bag.  Read the scripture below and celebrate gratitude for His death that ripped the veil and restored our relationship with our Heavenly Father."

Matthew 26:26-29 While they were eating, Jesus took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to his disciples, saying, "Take and eat; this is my body." Then he took the cup, gave thanks and offered it to them, saying, "Drink from it, all of you. This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. I tell you, I will not drink of this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it anew with you in my Father's kingdom."