It was an unusual morning. Something was quite different. The alarm had not gone off at its usual 6:30 a.m. In fact, it had not been set at all. I still had to get the animals fed as at other mornings, but I was not rushed. This was our first Sunday morning at home.
If we had gone in to meeting at Novi, MI, we would have risen at 6:30 a.m., hurriedly dressed, fed the animals, piled our books and selves into the car, and begun our over-two-hour trek to meeting. This we normally do twice a month. Sis. Annette is not well enough to travel every week; more than four total hours in the car in one day is a bit much for her, and for myself and our daughter, if I would admit it.
Meeting at home
So, this morning we will hold meeting at home. There are no guidelines that I know of that explain how we should do that. Do we just gather at the table, S is. Annette and S is. Leslie with their heads covered, the emblems on the table ready for our partaking?
Do we just offer prayer and partake of the emblems without any other kind of service? Do we conduct meeting like we have from time to time with brothers and sisters who are home bound for one reason or other? Do we do it at our convenience, after we have done everything else we have planned to do that day?
We have given it a lot of thought.
It is best for us to hold our service in much the same way we do when we meet with the brothers and sisters at a regular meeting. We do the readings and discuss them at our Sunday School. Then, Sis. Leslie plays a few hymns on the piano. (If you do not have a piano, I’m sure you could get a tape with some hymns pre-recorded, that could be used to keep the mood that has been set by having done the readings.)
Conducting a proper service
Sis. Annette prepares the emblems and places them on the dining room table and covers them with a linen cloth. We then convene at the table and open with prayer. Generally, I have saved some remarks from one of the readings we have done that can be given as a kind of exhortation. The subject may be something relevant for our week facing the world or to circumstances in our lives or intended to encourage us to present the Word in our actions and decisions, so we might present something in our everyday walk that might interest others in the Truth.
We then partake of the emblems, my having given thanks for the bread, then the wine. Finally, I conclude with a few pertinent remarks, after which we approach our Father in closing prayer.
We try to coincide, as much as possible, with the time the brothers and sisters are holding their meeting at Novi.
Options to consider
The only thing that might be different in your circumstances is there may not be a “brother” to handle the remarks. May we suggest
- Reading something chosen for the occasion, perhaps written by brethren for any of the various magazines.
- Subscribing to the Isolation League notes which are provided on a regular basis and using the exhortation material provided.
- Listening to a recorded talk given at a Bible school, study day, etc.
- If alone, personal contemplation on a specific topic of Scripture that is both relevant to your current situation and uplifting to your heart.
You may have other suggestions which are more specific to your circumstances. We would recommend you do the prayers as we have indicated. Each sets the tone for the portion of the service in which you are involved.
Weekly remembrance important
The most important point that can be emphasized is that we meet every week, just like we would if we were a part of an ecclesia. I don’t believe we should look for excuses to become isolated, but if we are not near an ecclesia or near enough to meet regularly with an ecclesia, we should develop a method to hold our personal meeting without fail. It is essential that we spend this time with our Savior.
“For I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you, That the Lord Jesus the same night in which he was betrayed took bread: And when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me. After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me. For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do show the Lord’s death till he come” (I Cor. 11:23-26).
The Origin of the Organic World – Part One