The year  WAS  1866

• The place was Richmond, Virginia

• The very heart of the south

THEY WERE RECOVERING

• from losing the Civil War

• and they were rebuilding a devastated culture

THEY WERE ALSO STRUGGLING

• with how blacks could assimilate

• into their white culture

• (Something some are still struggling with today)

IN THE LOCAL PROTESTANT CHURCH

• They celebrated Communion differently than we do 

• The pastor stood behind a railing

• And offered the emblems to whomever came forward

THERE WAS A RULE, HOWEVER

• Nobody could be up there by himself

• Or the pastor could not serve just one

• And therein came a dilemma

OLDER MAN CAME FORWARD BY HIMSELF

• The congregation stared, not knowing what to do

• Because this man who came from the back

• Was black

HE KNELT BY THE RAILING

• But the pastor could not serve him by himself

• And so the seconds passed like hours

• And then one distinguished gentlemen stood

• He carried himself with proven dignity

• And He knelt by the black man

• And they shared communion together

THAT IS WHAT COMMUNION IS ALL ABOUT

• loving each other

• in the name of Jesus

• being united in brotherly love

WHO WAS THAT WHITE MAN ?

• He was none other than

• The commander  of the confederate forces

• He was General Robert E. Lee

LET US TAKE THAT LESSON

• And show others

• we are still serving Jesus

• by loving others

• All because He first loved us

JOHN 3:16   

‘for God so loved the world, that whosoever believes in Him shall not die but have everlasting life.’