Sunday Snippet

Fiona Cluff gave the lesson this week on "The Sacrament" chapter 23 from our Gospel Principles manual. Fiona began by telling us of a conversation with her cousin who asked why does Fiona take the sacrament often? Fiona found this hard to answer and was grateful for the opportunity to teach this lesson and learn about why we need to partake of the sacrament often.
We listened to a recording of sacrament hymn 196 "Jesus Once of Humble Birth". When it had finished she asked us what we had been thinking about while it was playing?
Had we been thinking of the Saviour?
"The sacrament is a holy priesthood ordinance that helps remind us of the Saviour's Atonement. During the sacrament, we partake of bread and water. We do this in remembrance of His flesh and His blood which He gave as a sacrifice for us. As we partake of the sacrament, we renew sacred covenants with our Heavenly Father."
We were divided into four groups and we analysed and discussed the sacrament prayers in Doctrine and Covenants 20: 77, 79
We covenant to take His name upon us and always remember Him and keep His commandments and He covenants that we may always have His spirit to be with us.
Taking the sacrament often helps us to remember Him and gives us the opportunity to repent and to do better.
We were asked how we can help the children be reverent while partaking of the sacrament. Tina suggested small books showing the sacrament kept especially for when the sacrament begins. Sisters Pat Barwick said to practice sitting still and taking the sacrament and Sister Elaine Watson said to discus it at home where there is an opportunity to talk about what is going on and what it means.
Fiona read a poem about what we might be thinking about when we take the sacrament.

Sacrament Poem
There was envy in the glances that a lovely woman cast,
At the hairdo of a neighbor while the Sacrament was passed.
And a teenaged girl I noticed, though a timid lass & shy,
Watched a youthful priest intently through the corner of her eye;

As he sat behind the table where the water trays were spread.
She was not remembering Jesus nor the prayer the priest had said.

There was nothing reverential in the things the cub scout drew,
on the pages of the hymn book till the Sacrament was through.

Not a thought of Jesus' passion entered careless elders' minds,
As they whispered to each other & the girls they sat behind.

And the high priest's brow was furrowed as he stole a secret glance,
At his checkbook's dismal story of his failures in finance.

There were hundreds in the chapel but the worshippers were few,
And I couldn't help but wonder what the Lord Himself would do.

I couldn't help but wonder what the Lord Himself would say,
Had he walked into a meeting where His saints behaved that way.

Would His loving eyes be saddened, would His countenance be grim;
While He there observed & listened to a meeting meant for Him?


Author: O. Willard Pilling

It is important to focus our thoughts on the Saviour as we take the Sacrament and Pat mentioned how there is a painting of Jesus Christ our Saviour administering the sacrament to the congregation.
"During the sacrament service we should dismiss from our minds all worldly thoughts. We should feel prayerful and reverent. We should think of the atonement of our Saviour and be grateful for it. We should examine our lives and look for ways to improve. We should also renew our determination to keep the commandments".
Thank you Fiona for reminding us of the importance of the sacrament and also for the gifts.


December Announcements
Merry Christmas everyone
Thank you for the contributions to Elder Shoobridge's Christmas box
Relief Society is scheduled for Boxing Day
In January we switch to mornings