Sunday Holy Communion
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Some Christians call Holy Communion 'The Eucharist' from the Greek verb, eucharisto: 'I give thanks' emphasising this aspect of Communion. In 1 Corinthians Chapter 11 verses 23--24 it is written:
For I received from the Lord what I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night when he was betrayed took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it, and said, "This is my body which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me."
Others use the term 'The Mass': from the Latin, 'I send', because at the end those present are sent out to serve Christ in the world in the power of the Holy Spirit.
In the Methodist Church the term Holy Communion is often applied from the Latin communio: 'sharing in common', emphasising that Holy Communion is fundamentally a communal act and one that Christ shared with His disciples. This is the word used in the King James Version of The Bible, though other translations use 'participation', 'sharing', and 'fellowship'. 1 Corinthians Chapter 10 verse 16 says:
The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ?
In the Methodist Church we have what is known as an ‘open table’ meaning that you do not have to have been confirmed or be a member of the Methodist Church to receive the elements of bread and wine.
There is much Biblical basis for the sharing of Holy Communion and the three gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke all include Jesus' sharing of the Last Supper in that upper room.
For I received from the Lord what I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night when he was betrayed took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it, and said, "This is my body which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me."
Others use the term 'The Mass': from the Latin, 'I send', because at the end those present are sent out to serve Christ in the world in the power of the Holy Spirit.
In the Methodist Church the term Holy Communion is often applied from the Latin communio: 'sharing in common', emphasising that Holy Communion is fundamentally a communal act and one that Christ shared with His disciples. This is the word used in the King James Version of The Bible, though other translations use 'participation', 'sharing', and 'fellowship'. 1 Corinthians Chapter 10 verse 16 says:
The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ?
In the Methodist Church we have what is known as an ‘open table’ meaning that you do not have to have been confirmed or be a member of the Methodist Church to receive the elements of bread and wine.
There is much Biblical basis for the sharing of Holy Communion and the three gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke all include Jesus' sharing of the Last Supper in that upper room.
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And in Paul's first epistle to the Corinthians written c. 54-55 AD, there is also a description of how the early Christians celebrated Holy Communion:
The Lord Jesus on the night when he was betrayed took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it, and said, 'This is my body which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.' In the same way also the cup, after supper, saying, 'This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me. (1 Corinthians Chapter 11, verses 23 to 25) |
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During our sharing of Holy Communion, the minister recalls this first celebration of Communion when Jesus took bread and wine and gave thanks to God before sharing it with his disciples. The Minister then asks God to send His Holy Spirit on the gifts. The bread and the wine are then shared with all present who wish to receive and others are invited to come forward for a simple blessing.
As part of this act of worship, we remind ourselves of the mystery of faith and that, whilst Jesus told us to share bread and wine in remembrance of him (see the Gospel of Mark, Chapter 14: 22-26, for instance), we do not fully understand all that is involved.
The short act of worship (lasting around half an hour) at 9.30 am on the first Sunday in the month also includes the singing of hymns and songs old and new, the saying of prayers and a short address. You are invited to stay afterwards for a cup of tea, coffee or juice.
As part of this act of worship, we remind ourselves of the mystery of faith and that, whilst Jesus told us to share bread and wine in remembrance of him (see the Gospel of Mark, Chapter 14: 22-26, for instance), we do not fully understand all that is involved.
The short act of worship (lasting around half an hour) at 9.30 am on the first Sunday in the month also includes the singing of hymns and songs old and new, the saying of prayers and a short address. You are invited to stay afterwards for a cup of tea, coffee or juice.
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