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Questions and Answers
about Holy Communion
What are we actually doing in sharing the
bread and juice?
Is Communion always the same?
How frequently do we celebrate Holy Communion?
Should I partake of the meal if I want to?
What are we actually doing
in sharing the bread and juice?
In the simple act of eating and drinking, the Christian community
of faith proclaims and participates in all that God has done,
is doing, and will continue to do for us through Christ. All
United Methodist congregations use some form of bread and some
form of grape juice, not wine. The use of unfermented juice
of the grape accommodates children and those who are recovering
alcoholics. The story of the modern use of the "pure unfermented
juice of the grape" instead of wine is something you can read
about here.
The bread and fruit of the grape are symbols that connect us
to the love and power of God. God's love is shown by Jesus'
suffering and death on the cross, and God's power is shown by
raising Jesus from the grave! United Methodists believe that
Holy Communion is a sharing in the life of God and a meeting
with the living Jesus, who forgives and claims us as his own
disciples.
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Is Communion always the same?
The practice of sharing a holy meal has different names among
Christians: Lord's Supper, Communion, Holy Communion, "the Sacrament,"
the Eucharist, and sometimes, the Holy Meal. Here are some of
the ways the meal is shared:
- The bread and cup (the elements)
may be passed among the people in trays with small pieces
of bread and small cups.
- The people may make their way to
the front of the church and kneel to receive the elements
from servers who include the pastor of the church.
- The people may move to the front
and pass by stations of servers who give the bread to each
communicant to dip in the cup held by another server. This
is historically called intinction. There is a continuous
serving until all who partake have come.
Sometimes we emphasize the deeply personal and devotional feeling
of the Sacrament of Holy Communion with quiet music and time
to kneel in prayer. Sometimes we emphasize the rich communal
sense of the meal with shared singing of songs and warm human
interaction as the Eucharist is served.
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How frequently do we celebrate
Holy Communion?
Our congregation celebrates the sacrament
monthly, usually on the first Sunday
of the month. We may also share it
on a holiday service such as Easter
or Christmas Eve.
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Should I partake of the meal
if I want to?
The table of Holy Communion is Christ's table, not the table
of The United Methodist Church or of the local congregation.
It is not a meal in the clubhouse for members only! It is open
to all regardless of age or church membership. The table is
open to anyone who seeks to respond to Christ's love and seeks
to lead a new life of peace and love, as the invitation to the
table says. You should be aware that United Methodists regard
partaking of communion as an act of identification with Jesus
Christ and of giving oneself to the way of Christianity. For
this reason the church seeks to counsel and nurture unbaptized
persons who partake and move them toward baptism into the covenant
relationship as soon as possible.
If you choose not to partake, you may simply remain in your
seat and observe while others go forward. If the elements are
passed in the pews, you may feel free to pass them along without
partaking.
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Please
contact us for more information!
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