Singing at the Table: Sung Communion Liturgies and Reflections on Sharing the Sacrament

by Beth Quick

You’ve heard it “No singing at the dinner table!” But Beth Quick is here to tell you, “Sing for your (Lord’s) supper!” Do you seek to blend tradition and innovation at the communion table? Are you searching for communion liturgies that resonate both with “old-timers” and those who are new to following Jesus? Are you looking for a way to celebrate communion that’s appropriate for the most formal worship service, and finds a home as you celebrate communion at summer camp around the fire? Using the resources from Singing at the Table in your worship setting can help people fall in love with celebrating the sacrament. Singing at the Table is a collection of 36 sung communion liturgies and reflections on the meaning and practice of the sacrament of holy communion. The selections use familiar hymns and tunes as the foundation for a contemporary communion liturgy. The collection of liturgies is organized based on the Christian year, starting with Advent liturgies and ending with a liturgy for Christ the King/Reign of Christ Sunday. There are also sung liturgies for special occasions like baptisms, weddings, and funerals. Between the liturgies, author Beth Quick includes several short reflections related to holy communion. Some focus on how she came to write a particular liturgy. Some relate funny stories from her years of serving communion in pastoral ministry. Other offer insights about how her communion theology was formed. These essays could be used for personal reflections and devotional reading, or in group settings, as a centering moment for a worship team gathering, or a discussion piece for a Sunday School or confirmation class. Check out this great worship resource today!

249 pages, Kindle Edition

Published July 14, 2020

About the author

Beth Quick is an ordained elder in The United Methodist Church. After serving as a pastor in local churches for many years, she is currently a PhD student at Drew Theological School. Beth received her MDiv from Drew and DMin from the Methodist Theological School in Ohio. She has been a contributing author to We Pray With Her: Encouragement for All Women Who Lead, and several volumes of The Abingdon Creative Preaching Annual. Beth shares lectionary notes, sermons, worship resources, and other writing at www.bethquick.com

Reviews

[John Connolly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Holy Cow I love this!!!

For years in my own ministry as a Navy chaplain I have used and sought out sung liturgies. I relish the presence of meaningful music in our worship and this book is such a treasury of options that I had not even considered. Pastor Beth, thank you for this contribution to the richness of the church and our worship.

[RACHEL · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a wealth of sung liturgies and beautiful essays on communion Beth Quick has given us.

My copy was a gift through Goodreads First Reads.

[Jim Thompson · Rating 4 out of 5]

The scoring for this one was complicated.

There were points added because it was written by my sister.

But then there were points taken away because I had to pay for my own copy.

Points added because there were many references to my own childhood memories.

Points taken away because, though my brother Todd is mentioned twice, I am mentioned not at all.

I'm settling on four stars, mostly because I know it will provoke the question "why didn't you give my books five stars?," and I'm looking forward to that sibling squabble.

If you are someone who has been thinking "should we sing during communion?," this book is for you.