From Tuthill House to Yours
Communion
By, Patty Cole
May 10, 2018
Sunday was a big day at church! Whether you missed the service, or you would like to read a recap of what happened, you are in the right place. Here is some basic info for your family, so that you can carry on the discussion during the week at home.
What did we do in church school on Sunday?
We didn’t have church school on Sunday! All the children stayed for the entire service.
Why did we have the children in the service the entire time?
Pastor Jim designed a service to help people of all ages learn about Communion and experience it together. We heard some new music and smelled the wonderful bread that was baked right in the sanctuary!
What are some of the main points that Pastor Jim shared with us?
What is “grace?” Grace is the love and mercy given to us by God because God wants us to have it, not necessarily because of anything we have done to earn it. It is the love God chooses to have for creation. It is freely given, with there being nothing we can do to earn it.
What is a sacrament? A sacrament is an outward and visible sign of an inward and spiritual grace. How does one explain this to children? It is something we do with others at church that shows what we are feeling on the inside about God.
How many Sacraments do we have? The UCC recognizes two sacraments: Baptism and the Communion.
What is Communion?
Communion (also known as the Lord’s Supper, Holy Communion, or Holy Eucharist) is a way to recall, or think about, the meals Jesus had with his disciples before and after his resurrection, and of course, the Last Supper.
During Communion we use all our senses. Christians see, hear, taste, touch and receive the grace of God revealed through Jesus Christ in a unique way.
Communion is:
- a way to thank God, with joy, for all he has done.
- a sacred or holy way to remember that Christ was crucified and risen. It reminds us that Jesus died for us and that he is truly present to those who eat and drink at Communion.
- a prayer that the Holy Spirit will come to those who are taking Communion and help them connect more to the Risen Christ and with each other and that the Holy Spirit will be with all of creation.
- a special experience of fellowship- of being together- with millions of others who are having Communion at the same time around the world, and a way to remember the billions who have done so in the last 2,000 years.
Who is welcome at the table? Everyone. Just as Jesus was welcoming to all kinds of people, so are we. Visitors from other churches are welcome to participate if they wish. Children are welcome, though parents can of course decide that their children are not ready.
Do we need a special class before taking Communion? No, it is not necessary. It is an experience that all can have and learn about as time goes on. We may never fully understand Communion, and it is ok if we have different levels of understanding.
How do we pray during Communion? What should I think about? There are some quiet moments during Communion. This is a good time to think about Jesus and remember his life, and all the great things he said and did while he was on earth. It is a good time to think about Easter and how Jesus rose again. You can use this time to pray to Jesus as well.
How do we receive the bread and wine/juice? Sometimes we remain in our seats, and the bread is brought to us on plates. Then, the juice is brought to us in tiny cups. On Sunday, we received it through “intinction.” We walked up the center aisle, and one-by-one received a blessing from Pastor Jim. Next, we selected a piece of bread from 5-6 different types of bread on the table. Then, we turned toward a Deacon, who was holding the cups of juice. She said another blessing and we dipped the bread into the juice before eating it and returning to our seats.
How can we pray about Communion this week?
You can make up your own prayers or use this simple one:
Dear God, Thank you for my church family. Thank you for the times that we can be all together to learn new things and try new experiences. Thank you for the bread and for the juice we have at Communion. Please help us to remember Jesus and think about what happened at the Last Supper. Thank you for your grace. We pray for all of this in the name of Jesus. Amen.
What does the Bible say about Communion?
Here are the scripture readings from Sunday:
Mark 14:22-26 New International Version (NIV)
22 While they were eating, Jesus took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to his disciples, saying, “Take it; this is my body.”
23 Then he took a cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, and they all drank from it.
24 “This is my blood of the[a] covenant, which is poured out for many,” he said to them. 25 “Truly I tell you, I will not drink again from the fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new in the kingdom of God.”
26 When they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.
Matthew 26:26-29 New International Version (NIV)
26 While they were eating, Jesus took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to his disciples, saying, “Take and eat; this is my body.”
27 Then he took a cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you. 28 This is my blood of the[a]covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. 29 I tell you, I will not drink from this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father’s kingdom.”
