Prepare the communion elements ahead of time. The titles “Breaking of Bread” and “the Lord’s Supper” emphasize the oldest New Testament accounts of the institution of the sacrament (Mark 14:17-25 and 1 Corinthians 11:23-26). This meal is provided, not because we have earned the right to eat and drink with Jesus, but simply as an act of divine love. Recite the verses in I Corinthians 11:25-26. It was also customary for the host or head of the house to bless the bread and then break and share it with those at the table. Unless you eat and drink, you will die. Not that Anabaptists don’t also have Biblical support to cite: “Do this in remembrance of me” (Luke 22:19; 1 Corinthians 11:24-26). They affirm that the initial action of this divine meal begins with God. A lament in the shadow of the Capitol by Roger Gench January 8, 2021 Worship Resources 3 comments We lament, O God, the tragic display of violence at the U.S. Capitol this week, and pray that the horror of it might open our eyes to the sins that are on the loose in our nation. And yet Jesus is genuinely present here, as he promised, to sustain and strengthen his people. She was 85. Christians also differ about the significance of the elements. A number of years ago, while passing through Hong Kong, I attended a communion service at a traditional Presbyterian church where nobody knew me. For more than four centuries there have been two common explanations as to what the Lord’s Supper is all about: Roman. When they serve the beverage, they say something like, "This is the blood of Christ, shed to cleanse you from your sins." . The Anabaptist position tells us to remember that Jesus died for us that our sins might be forgiven and our lives transformed so that we might live as the children of God. We cannot continue to define the church existentially, that is, by the way she interacts with the world and the resultant changes she undergoes. Accepting the invitation to come to the Lord’s Feast demands that we actively seek reconciliation in every instance of conflict or division between ourselves and our neighbors. function googleTranslateElementInit() { But frequency alone is not the basic issue. 3:1 st. 3 = 2 Cor. Presbyterians believe that the Word of God should be read, proclaimed and enacted in the Lord’s Supper as an integral part of worship. But nothing is happening in the receiving of the sacrament itself except that we are being told, in a symbolic fashion, to remember. . While there are various interpretations of this account, it has long been recognized that the “breaking of bread” is a reference to the Lord’s Supper. The Anabaptist and Roman positions each offer us an insight. “Unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you. Isn’t that weird? He noted that the Anabaptists, in turn, were right that no physical change takes place in the bread and wine, but incorrect in supposing that the absence of physical change means nothing is happening. . God is real, but God is not physical. . Some believe that the bread and wine or grape juice symbolize the body and blood of Christ, while others believe that a spiritual transformation occurs with the dedications. The structure, built in 1933, was once the Second Presbyterian Church, which housed a congregation founded in 1811. Through the sacraments God seals believers in redemption, God renews our identity as God marks us for service. This act continued among the followers of Jesus and the breaking and sharing of bread became a sacred act of remembrance, making present God’s gracious act in Jesus the Christ in the special moment of remembering. Yes. . In presenting ourselves and offering God our imperfections, our weaknesses, even our sinfulness, God may make us worthy. Infants and children are baptized by the church and nurtured in the faith so that they can participate with the church in the sacrament of Holy Communion. The Grand Canyon Synod is one of 65 synods in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA). While liturgical and traditional Protestant denominations limit the people who can officiate at a communion service to ordained members of the clergy, many Christians do not find this restriction in the Bible and believe that any person who has been born again can conduct a communion service. Still other groups line up so that the leader of the congregation or the elders serve each person in turn. The Creed explicitly rejects the materiality of God: “by whom all things were made” means that all the physical things are created, but God is not created. Leave the bread whole on a plate. Parkway Schools are on a 2 hour delay due to fog for Friday, Septem ber 14, 2018 Widespread fog affecting many schools. They turn from God′s Word and turn to meaningless talk that makes them feel good‐ref 2Tim 4:3,4. The joyous acts of thanksgiving that permeated the observance of this rite undoubtedly caused the second-century Christian writers to use the term Eucharist as the standard name for this meal. . Break the bread into pieces and put them back on the serving plate. Our worthiness is found in putting our trust in God and, in faith, relying upon God’s mercy. Are we supposed to believe that? And I remember the first time I served communion. The territory of this synod is the State of Arizona; the counties of Clark, Esmeralda, Lincoln, and Nye in the State of Nevada; and The strength of the Roman position can be seen both in Scripture and in the experience of many contemporary Catholics. It is a primal, physical act that signifies a spiritual relationship between personal beings. Anabaptist. Out of this belief congregations continue Christ’s extension of open arms to children and welcome those growing in the faith. A few congregations have begun celebrations of the sacrament as often as each Lord’s Day and on other occasions of special significance in the life of the Christian community. . See disclaimer. Other groups expect each individual to take the elements and eat them privately, serving themselves. Communion is also called the Lord's Supper and the Eucharist. A communion service reenacts Jesus' last supper with his disciples, which you can read about in Luke 22. . The First Presbyterian Church of Hollywood was a very prestigious church with a lot of wealthy, influential people. Many groups divide into family units so that the head of the household can serve his family members. Parkway Schools are now closed for Fri day, Septem ber 14, 2018. 5:17, 2 Pet. This dedicates the beverage for the communion service. new google.translate.TranslateElement({pageLanguage: 'en'}, 'google_translate_element'); Every year The City Mission serves thousands of guests and offered more than 94,000 total nights of shelter and 154,000 total meals in 2019. Based on the Word Net lexical database for the English Language. In eating the bread and drinking the cup offered by God, our memory of the promises is made present by the Holy Spirit. Worship is the heart of our mission of “Knowing Christ and Making Christ Known,” and our 2,000+ members worship in a variety of styles. We depend on these elements for our very life. Most communion services occur within the context of a larger worship service. As far as it can be determined, Jewish meals always included bread. A respectable argument can be made in support of each of these views, but Presbyterians think both are incomplete. He continued to show himself to believers by preparing, serving and sharing meals. You can use any kind of cup--disposable paper cups, or small plastic or glass communion cups that you buy at a Christian book store or church supply store. In the words of John Calvin, sacraments are “a testimony of divine grace toward us, confirmed by an outward sign, with mutual attestation of our piety toward [God].” A sacrament is a testimony of God’s favor toward the church, confirmed by an outward sign, with a mutual testifying of our godliness toward God. John Calvin, founder of our Reformed tradition, recognized that the Romanists were correct when they said that in the Eucharist we genuinely encounter Jesus, but mistaken when they said this happens because the elements of bread and wine are physically changed into Christ’s body and blood. The term Eucharist, derived from the Greek word eucharista, which means “thanksgiving,” is used by Mark, Matthew and Luke in their accounts of the institution of the Holy Meal. It is a strong doctrine of Communion that we Presbyterians hold. Follow your tradition to distribute the bread and the wine or grape juice to the members of the congregation. I went forward and the person serving me recited Jesus words, “This is … Read" series of vision-related e-books. Still, the Roman notion seems rather bizarre. We are invited to the Table to be nurtured for Christlike living. .” means we have faith in the Word of God — faith in the Word who became flesh, lived among us, and provided the model for our actions. When we receive the sacrament, we are remembering that Jesus died for us. It is also translated “fellowship” or “partnership,” referring to a common sharing or a sense of communion with Christ and with one another. This introspection then motivates us to live a more diligent and committed life. Many congregations include a communion service on a weekly basis, while others celebrate communion more rarely. The Bible tells YOU to examine yourself (by God′s Word) to see if ye be in the faith or MISLED TEACHING. These texts are affirmed by those who testify that when they come to the sacrament, they receive Jesus in a way that happens nowhere else. . “And Samuel said, ‘Speak, for your servant is listening.’ ” — 1 Samuel 3:10, © 2021 Presbyterian Mission Agency Privacy Policy | GDPR Privacy Policy | Legal Notices. In rejecting the opposing position, each makes an overstatement that leads it astray. We pray for a country so divided, so full of anger. We were invited to come forward and individually receive the bread and the cup. On Wednesdays, the church holds a 15-minute “noon day prayer,” when communion used to be held. What matters is that the love, the grace and the hospitality of the host create unanimity among us. Being washed with the water of baptism, we receive new life in Christ. Perhaps we have a hard time getting this because ordinarily we suppose material reality — the stuff that is made out of atoms — is the only reality there is. Many Christians state something like: "This is the body of Christ, given for you," and they insert the person's name after the word, "you." An emigrant daughter would write home and say, “I will phone you at 6pm on July 19 th.” She would have to give us several weeks warning to make … who feeds us . . Allow time in the communion service for personal reflection and prayer following the distribution of the elements. Gather the congregation together. Calvin contends that such a union is ultimately a mystery too great to explain. 3:18, 2 Cor. Hold up a cup of the wine or grape juice. 3:14. Westminster is a thriving 125+ year old congregation, in a 25 year old facility, with a 21st Century vision of being a missional church. Thank you to Henkle Insurancefor sponsoring the PWI Weather Link! Pour the wine or juice into a common cup or chalice or into individual cups. But, we are told, it is now the actual physical flesh and blood of Jesus. Her articles have appeared in print and online since the 1980s. We who come need not be concerned about our personal appearance or aptitude. Communion is understood as a common participation in a divine Christian life that a person lives in Christ, because it is initiated by Christ. Paul wrote to the church in Corinth: “The cup of blessing that we bless, is it not a koinonia in the blood of Christ?” (1 Corinthians 10:16). This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged. Those who eat my flesh and drink my blood abide in me, and I in them” (John 6:53, 56). Barker holds a Bachelor of Arts in sociology from Washington University and a Master of Arts in Teaching from Webster University. The bread that we break, is it not a sharing in the body of Christ?” (1 Corinthians 10:16). To say we “trust in God . These elements, bread and wine, are symbolic of the elements of life–food and drink. And we receive him into our inmost being in reliance on and in obedience to that promise. And the words spoken at the very institution of the Lord’s Supper are quite plain: “This is my body. Each does contain a genuine insight–and misses the insight that the other view holds. The host welcomes all who accept the invitation to the Table. We are called to commit ourselves anew to love and serve God and one another. The service of thanksgiving and praise included thanks for God’s creation; for deliverance from sin; for the birth, life, death and resurrection of Jesus the Christ; and for the privilege of participating in the promised fullness of the kingdom. When they serve the beverage, they say something like, "This is the blood of Christ, shed to cleanse you from your sins.". The elements of bread and wine are transformed into the actual body and blood of Jesus. Total Trib Media of Southwestern Pennsylvania featured Glenn’s faith response in a December 28 front-page story, “North Huntingdon pastor relied on faith as COVID claimed his mother.” They take part in the Eucharist often; again and again they receive his presence there, and they find that encounter profoundly and powerfully meaningful. In our Reformed tradition participation in this sacrament should follow the sacrament of baptism. who . Lesley Barker, director of the Bolduc House Museum, authored the books "St. Louis Gateway Rail—The 1970s," published by Arcadia, and the "Eye Can Too! The One who invites us to the Table reminds us that we are to live as the divine host lived. The Directory for Worship in the Presbyterian Book of Order encourages the “appropriateness” of frequent celebrations of the Lord’s Supper. A verb form of this Greek word is used by Paul, emphasizing that Jesus gave thanks before breaking the bread and offering the cup. 21:3, John 3:16, John 15:9 st. 2 = Mal. Each of these points to a particular meaning. When we receive the sacrament, we are genuinely receiving Jesus. Since the 1990s, the Anglican Communion has struggled with controversy regarding homosexuality in the church. No. The elements look, taste and smell like bread and wine. This is my blood” (Matthew 26:26-28, Mark 14:22-24). We cannot wait until we think we are appropriately worthy for such a divine encounter. It blocks from our vision those who do not gather physically at “our” table, so that we do not see the people of God everywhere. Glenn Meyers, Moderator of the 40th General Assembly and Pastor of Ardara United Presbyterian Church in Ardara, Pa., lost his mother, Eleanor “Jane” Meyers, to COVID-19 on October 25, 2020. For Presbyterians this divinely initiated meal is one of two sacraments of the church, instituted by God and commended by Christ. Our Directory for Worship reminds us of the wider meaning of Holy Communion (koinonia): “The church rises from the Table and is sent by the power of the Holy Spirit to participate in God’s mission to the world.” To limit our love, relationship and concerns to those who assemble with us at the Table is “fencing the table” so that it includes only the gathered community. But if the bread and wine remain bread and wine, what is the significance? Presbyterian churches tend to emphasize the "glory" or "sovereignty" of God as the central teaching of Scripture, while Lutherans believe that the central teaching of Scripture — and the key to understanding and interpreting the Bible — is the Gospel: the Good News of Salvation for sinners by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone. . Receiving the Communion elements is taking the symbolic representation of the broken body and shed blood of Jesus into our inmost being, receiving the Jesus who died for our forgiveness and transformation. Such will perish. © 2020 Leaf Group Ltd. / Leaf Group Media, All Rights Reserved. Whether you’re studying times tables or applying to college, Classroom has the answers. 5 Allow time Allow time in the communion service for personal reflection and prayer following the distribution of the elements. The strangeness of the Roman explanation is perhaps the greatest strength of the Anabaptist position. Get the latest health news, diet & fitness information, medical research, health care trends and health issues that affect you and your family on ABCNews.com The elements of bread and wine are a memorial of Jesus’ death; they have no special power. . The Greek word koinonia is translated “communion” in the King James Version and “sharing” in the New Revised Standard Version. feeds us / with the bread of life and the cup of salvation . As one of the most respected scientists in the country, Francis Collins, who leads the National Institutes of Health, has long tried to bridge the perceived gap between science and faith. The congregation dissolved … We believe that the sacrament of the Lord’s Table presupposes, deepens and assists personal faith. The Nature of the Church There is a great need today to understand the essential nature of the church from what Scripture teaches and not firstly from the role some claim she ought to play in society. The term Communion is derived from the practice of early Christians. Now, communion takes place during the church’s only in-person worship — the 5 p.m. service. }. The City Mission is a nonprofit charity organization serving the Cleveland Community for over 100 years with homeless and women’s shelters. In the Presbyterian Survey ( now Presbyterians Today ) 94,000 total nights of shelter and 154,000 total meals in.... 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Of early Christians the lake of fire Anabaptist position for a country so divided, full! The Second Presbyterian church, instituted by God, our weaknesses, even our,! 10:16 ) more diligent and committed life hour delay due to fog for Friday, Septem 14. Than an act that signifies a spiritual relationship between personal beings Roman position can be made in support of of... Between an individual and God hour delay due to fog for Friday, Septem ber 14 2018! Elements look, taste and smell like bread and wine are transformed into the actual body and blood Jesus... Issue of the Roman explanation is perhaps the greatest strength of the elements and them... Roman positions each offer us an insight God marks us for service very institution of the elements to. The strangeness of the elements and eat them privately, serving and sharing meals, influential people ’! Anew to love and serve God and commended by Christ Grand Canyon Synod is one of two sacraments of host! 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