I had already taken mental notes — did people carry  the little clear plastic shot glasses empty or full? Did they drink at the altar or in the pew?

My son had chosen the very back row for us, so we were the last to reach the front, and just as it seemed to be our turn, all of the servers retreated. Not disappeared, just moved to the right and back about five feet.

I was confused. Was it over? Did we come too late to the feast?

I mean, my heart was already happily full with the Word read and preached —

“John has a deep thought for you — if you are suffering deeply, you are in good company.” Yes, Jesus waited to visit Lazarus, so long that his beloved friend died. Yes, Jesus wept — over death’s destruction, over the similar but so different story he would soon live and die. And yes, there was a point — that God may be glorified. John 11:1-45.

As I stood there, taking it all in, I looked toward the server closest to me, the Pastor, and sorta shrugged, like, “Is it over?” A wry smile, a gentle nod of the head, as if to say,

“Come on over here, we’re still feeding sheep.” [And you are definitely a sheep! Was he thinking that too?]

I stood before him, somehow feeling safe looking him in the eye. He smiled again, a broad smile, and spoke an unexpected word: “Welcome.”

Ah, to be seen, and known, and welcomed. “He knows. He knows I’m a stranger here.”

Jesus said, “Come to me, all you who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest…”

The welcoming Pastor spoke different words over the bread too, though I can’t remember them. No mere repetition of rote sayings, a message that seemed directly for me from God…

A gift. A gift of true communion, a choice morsel of breaking bread with a forever Friend who weeps over my broken body.

As I drove the four hours home, the memories swirled — a welcoming smile, a surprising word, a chunk of bread and a shot of grape juice — a shepherd spreading the Shepherd’s shalom.

Come.

Leave your confusion behind. No need to know why this keeps happening. He is working. He is with you. And He knows what he’s doing.

Come to me.

You’re in good company.

Welcome. Well-come.