The first Wine Before Breakfast service was on September 18, 2001. Gathering one week after the events of 9/11, it was only appropriate that the service took the form of lament.
During the prayer litany, the gathered congregation was asked,
“How long? How long must we sing this song?”
And their reply was, “Till we get the healing done.”
As some of you will recognize, this is a question from U2’s “40” that is answered with a line from Van Morrison.
“Till we get the healing done.”
Not too long ago I was at the Church of the Redeemer when they had prayers for healing. Essentially, anyone who wanted such prayers and the laying on of hands would go up to the communion rail, while the rest of us quietly waited and listened to a guitar/piano duo do an amazingly sensitive and appropriate jazz improvisation on a few tunes.
How long would we wait before the service would move on to the Eucharist?
“Till we get the healing done.”
But there was something about the music that was being played that was itself deeply healing. I didn’t go up to the front for prayer, but felt that I was been ministered to in my own places of deepest hurt and disappointment, my own places of unhealth, as I listened to the music.
Music has a way of doing that to you. Music is one of the most powerfully healing gifts that God has given to us in a creation of sound, vibration, sight, tone, imagery and words. And that is really at the heart of the Bandhood of all Believers at WBB. They play for us every week, “till we get the healing done.” Sometimes the healing will require exposing some raw places in our lives, sometimes the healing will require a good cry, sometimes it will require a good laugh. Whatever it takes, the Bandhood is in the Healing Game.
Some folks don’t like healing. They generally don’t like music either. Or at least if they do like music it will be music that can be kept safely in the background. Nothing that would challenge them, insinuate itself into their lives, perhaps even bring healing.
So this Tuesday we’ll meet some folks who get pretty upset when Jesus starts healing people. Heck, they’ll even call him a child of Satan, while the crowds are amazed and are pretty convinced that Jesus is the son of David.
That’s the kind of crap that Jesus had to put up with. People who can’t speak or see get their voice and their vision, while folks who supposedly have sight and the ability to speak, remain blind and only speak lies.
This week at Wine Before Breakfast we’ll hang out on the corner where Jesus is still in the healing game, against all opposition and slander.
Van Morrison might also make an appearance (of sorts).
Deb and the band will continue their ministry of healing in our midst.
Amy Fisher will open up Matthew 12 with us.
Talina’s got the prayers.
And Judith Alltree, who was there on September 18, 2001, will break the bread and pour the wine.
Wine Before Breakfast
Tuesday, February 8 @ 7.22am
Wycliffe Chapel
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