Tori Mullin reflects on our shared faith's many embodiments by believers around the globe, and the inspiring hope of an intercultural church
Sunday, October 4, 2026, is World Communion Sunday, a day when Christian communities around the world celebrate the abundant table Jesus proclaimed. This table is not just one where all are welcome, not just one where all have a place, but one where the richness of the human family is fully and truly represented.
When I visited Seoul in 2018 on behalf of Global Partnerships, I attended a worship service at Sumdol-Hyanglin Presbyterian Church where we shared tteok, a traditional chewy rice cake dipped in wine, as our communion elements. It was a strong sensory experience for me, tasting the mild flavour of rice, seeing how it changed colour from white to burgundy, feeling the soft bouncy texture in my mouth. A practice I had participated in hundreds of times before became wholly new, while retaining its familiarity. Years later, I can still taste it on my tongue.
This experience gave me a new appreciation for the ways our shared faith is embodied by believers around the globe. It was a strong reminder that much of what I saw as “doing church” was rooted in my personal experience and culture. I was so used to the flavour, if you will, of Canadian Protestant Christianity I saw it as the default. Cross-cultural experiences, like the one my Global Partnerships trip offered, give us an opportunity to remember that Jesus came to dwell among us— that God took on humanity to make God’s liberation relevant to us. God’s first language was never cubed Wonder Bread and 100 percent grape juice. It was never paper-thin factory-prepared wafers or wine. God’s first language has always been the whispering movement of the Spirit over the waters of Creation.
As we look to the future of The United Church of Canada, I am hopeful for all the meals we will share together. All the communion tables we will prepare together that contain the flavours of our human family, with lavash, flatbrød, hallulla, chapati, injera, arboud, borlengo, eish merahrah, and so many more. But we need to be thinking about the work we need to do within ourselves to “set the table.”
As we dream of the church of 2035, one that is “inspired, resilient, and diverse,” we need to ask one another how we can collaborate with God to see this vision come to life. How are we fostering patience, deep listening, companionship, and shared responsibility to equip our present and future communities of faith to live faithfully into our diverse and changing contexts?
This October and November, you are invited to journey with fellow United Church members as Rev. Dr. Hyuk Cho, Director of United Church Formation and Studies at the Vancouver School of Theology, leads us through an exploration of what a truly intercultural church looks like.
Becoming an Intercultural Church: Encountering God Across Cultures is a six-week interactive online course offering a meaningful space for ministry personnel, lay leaders, and congregational teams to ask questions together. This course invites participants to move beyond simple “inclusion” efforts toward genuine transformation as communities are continually reshaped—learning new ways of relating, leading, and being together across differences. The course will be hosted on Zoom, on Wednesdays from 6:00–7:30 p.m. ET, from October 14 to November 25, 2026. For more information and to register, visit the course page on CHURCHx.
As we dream together of a faithful and vibrant United Church presence in our rural communities, our towns and cities, we want this to be more than simply a dream. We want to taste and see God’s goodness in all the rich flavours and aromas this beautiful creation has to offer.
—Rev. Tori Mullin is Growth and Stewardship Animator for Eastern Ontario and Quebec with the United Church General Council Office
Worship resources for World Communion Sunday are available now.
The views contained within these blogs are personal and do not necessarily reflect those of The United Church of Canada.