On the Spirit of Wine

Mentioned on more than one occasion on these pages, our church has a wine tasting group. Our practicing mantra is a group for fun and fellowship with wine as vehicle. I know keep saying this, but I need to write a post about this group because others may want to try it.

One part of the event is a devotional, something that I had to do at the last event. I search the net and put together the following words. (Before starting, I asked participants to have some wine in their glass for a toast.)

Our wine, which art in heaven, hallowed by thy legs.
They will be drunk, I will be drunk, at home, as in thy cellar.
Give us this day, our daily glass, and forgive us our spillage, as we forgive those who spill against us.
And lead us not to incarceration, but deliver us from hangovers.
For thine is the Chardonnay, the Merlot and the Cabernet. Forever and ever. Amen. [Posted 8th August 2011 by Lynfred Winery (Illinois)]

Wine is a symbolism of life.

• The twisted vines represent the strength we need in life
• The roots anchor to the soil that is the source of stability and nourishment
• The sun represents the power source carrying hopes of yielding good fruit
• The grapes represent our childhood, our immaturity
• Fermentation represents our challenges and struggles
• Barrels carry our hope
• The cup is the vessel we can hold in our hands for hope
• The wine is the final product of the new life
• The full cup of wine is an appreciation of the joys we hold
• The toast is for the good in life

Wine is something we share.

• Wine brings people together as it does here, at a wedding, and at the altar
• Wine’s sweetness represents the joy of the occasion, the gladness in our heart, the mask of the bitterness in life
• Wine is a symbol of friendship and love

Wine is symbolic with faith.

• For Jews, red wine represents the blood on the door of the houses that protected them from the Angel of Death before the Exodus
• For Christians, wine represents the blood of Christ
• Jesus is the new wine – the good wine He provided at Cana
• Wine is to bread as faith is to a full life
• Filling the cup to the brim with wine represents the completeness that one’s commitment of life needs to be
• Wine is symbolic of life

So tonight, as we share the cup of wine, we undertake the sharing of all that the future may bring.

Blessed art Though, Lord our God, King of the universe, Creator of the fruit of the vine. (a Jewish wine prayer)

And let us raise our glass to toast the spirit of wine.