Let's hear it for communion...

[Dark_Lite]

I'm so glad the UMC communion is more than a simple "remembrance." The spiritual presence of Jesus is quite... glorious I suppose.

Personally I wish the church I go to would take it more than the standard once a month. We do it more occasionally, but not enough!

[Islander]

I agree. John Wesley led communion twice every Sunday (morning and evening) and I think on other days of the week as well.

[overnight]

fell good my church just recently went to once a month we were taking it once a quarter. Just for this year because we are celebrating 150 years of our church in the community we are taking it twice a month. The one time is at noon and it is just a few people but let me tell you it is a time of just me and God and the spirit moves so greatly that it is a moving experiance that I look forward to each month.

Just as an aside do we (as Weslians) put too much emphasis on communion?

[Dark_Lite]

Just as an aside do we (as Weslians) put too much emphasis on communion?
Not really... It is a sacrament after all.

[alaurie]

Just as an aside do we (as Weslians) put too much emphasis on communion?

no, from my poing of view. I love it, the connection to Christ that participatling in communion brings. A Medodist church I attended in another city had a very reflection communion at the end each sunday night's bible sutdy. Soft hymns and lights, alter call as long as anyone needed to be there. I didn't miss many Sunday nights- it was an incredible way to prepare spiritually for the week ahead.

[overnight]

Just as an aside do we (as Weslians) put too much emphasis on communion?I agree look at Wesley he took communion everyday. It is important I mostly want to see what everyone thinks. I just want to make sure we do not fall into the thought that taking communion somehow "saves" us because it is faith not works that does that.

[ZeroTX]

Could someone please explain fully the idea of Communion in the Methodist/Weslayan church?... How would a Catholic see it?

Thanks,

Michael

[Origen]

Could someone please explain fully the idea of Communion in the Methodist/Weslayan church?... How would a Catholic see it?

Thanks,

Michael

Hi Michael, I don't have the time or the knowledge to "explain fully the idea of Communion in the Methodist/Weslayan church," but I can point you in the right direction (at least from the United Methodist point of view). Just this month the UMC at it's highest level adopted a 40-page teaching document about the Methodist understanding of Holy Communion called This Holy Mystery: A United Methodist Understanding of Holy Communion (http://www.gbod.org/legislation/hcfinal2.pdf).

You also asked, "How would a Catholic see it?", to which I'd respond that a Catholic would find much very familar (and some differences, which I'll also address):

Holy Communion is a sacrament:

Holy Communion is the sacrament that sustains and nourishes us in our journey of salvation. In a sacrament, God uses tangible, material things as vehicles or instruments of grace. Wesley defines a sacrament, in accord with his Anglican tradition, as "an outward sign of inward grace, and a means whereby we receive the same".

Jesus Christ is truly present in Holy Communion:

Jesus Christ, who "is the reflection of God’s glory and the exact imprint of God’s very being" (Hebrews 1:3), is truly present in Holy Communion. Through Jesus Christ and in the power of the Holy Spirit, God meets us at the Table. God, who has given the sacraments to the church, acts in and through Holy Communion. Christ is present through the community gathered in Jesus’ name (Matthew 18:20), through the Word proclaimed and enacted, and through the elements of bread and wine shared (1 Corinthians 11:23-26). The divine presence is a living reality and can be experienced by participants; it is not a remembrance of the Last Supper and the Crucifixion only.

One difference some may note between Catholic and Methodist understanding about Holy Communion is just how Christ is truly present. We're very content to leave that aspect a mystery. We make no claims about what happens to the atoms of the bread and wine. Christ's true presence at Holy Communion, for Methodists, is real and is a mystery.

[ZeroTX]

Thanks!!

How is the actual process of Holy Communion done in the church? Do you all go up to the front and kneel to receive it (in groups/rows), or do you take the elements back to your seat (as in a Baptist church)?... In other words, what is the literal physical process you go through?

Is it typically done once a month? Twice a month? Every week?

I ask these questions, because I'm dating and presently going to church with a Catholic, but she's exploring some other options. She's very, very set on the Eucharist/Communion as "real presence" belief AND on having it every week.... But outside of that belief, she disagrees with many Catholic beliefs.... So, I'm trying to see if UMC is a place that she might fit in.

Thanks,

Michael

[Origen]

Thanks!!

My pleasure.

How is the actual process of Holy Communion done in the church? Do you all go up to the front and kneel to receive it (in groups/rows), or do you take the elements back to your seat (as in a Baptist church)?... In other words, what is the literal physical process you go through?

This can vary quite a bit between Methodist churches across town, across the state, and across the country. I've never been in a Methodist church where we took communion in our seats, but I can't say it never happens. Usually (in my 30+ years experience, anyway) communion takes one of two forms: kneeling at the alter in groups of twenty or thirty (by rows), or by intinction in which folks take communion one-by-one (imagine twenty or so folks standing in line to receive the bread and then dipping it into the cup).

Two things that might be surprising to a Catholic: 1) we use grape juice instead of wine, and 2) you might see little "shot glasses" of grape juice at the alter. If one is used to partaking of the wine from a common cup, these might seem quite different.

Is it typically done once a month? Twice a month? Every week?

Typically Methodists celebrate Holy Communion on the first Sunday of the month. More and more churches, however, are moving to more frequent observance (weekly or twice/month) as we better educate folks about Holy Communion (hence the need and publication of the document This Holy Mystery mentioned above). And I can't confirm this, but I've read that some Methodist churches celebrate The Lord's Supper less frequently than once-a-month, perhaps instead once-a-quarter. I don't understand this.

I ask these questions, because I'm dating and presently going to church with a Catholic, but she's exploring some other options. She's very, very set on the Eucharist/Communion as "real presence" belief AND on having it every week.... But outside of that belief, she disagrees with many Catholic beliefs.... So, I'm trying to see if UMC is a place that she might fit in.

Best wishes on your relationship! Many former-Catholics (and former-Baptists and former-NameYourOwnDenomination-Here, for that matter) find a home in the Methodist church. And I understand your girlfriend's desire to find a church that observes weekly communion--we're working toward that goal, so I hope you can find a church in your area that understands this. We're getting there.

As I mentioned, Methodist churches can vary quite a bit. I'd do this: call the closest Methodist church to you and ask the secretary for the number to the "District Superintendent's office." The DS will be very familiar with the Methodist churches in your small part of the state. Ask the DS which local churches are the most "high Anglican" (these will be most "Catholic" in practice and therefore most familiar to your girlfriend); tell him you're dating a Catholic girl and she/ he will understand.

[overnight]

There are two major things about the Catholic communion we are forgetting to point out.

One The Catholic church believes in Transsubstantiation (sorry about spelling) which is a very big word meaning that they beilive that the euchrust (spelling dolt) literaly becomes the body and blood of Christ. The UMC beilives it is a memorial and yet holy (Sacrament).

Two the Catholic church holds colsed communion meaning only catholics can take it. Where the UMC holds open communion.

There are three reconginzed ways of taking communion. The little "shot glasses. inticiton, and the sharing (much like catholic church). SOme research done by my pastor suggeted the most used way by UMC's in Iowa is intinction.
Before changing churches :prayer: :prayer: :prayer: and speak with your :priest: see what you think God is leading you to do. Good luck and I will be praying for you.

[elanor]

Our particular congregation (UMC) celebrates communion using intinction, also. (Intinction means breaking off a piece of the bread and dipping it into the cup so that both are received at one time.) We also go to the front of the church for this. Kneeling at the altar is optional, and many of us do so. As with other Methodist churches, we celebrate communion at an open table. :)

[Celticflower]

The 2 Methodist Churches I have been a member of celebrated communion either at the altar rail or by passing the elements while the congregation was seated and all partook together.

I have to agree that the Methodist service of the table is quite moving and I miss it now that I am attending a non-denom where communion at times seems to be just a blip in the service followed by the offatory (communion is every Sunday). I often find the words spoken over the bread and the cup in the Methodist service to be ringing in my head because they are never said in the service. Also, there is no time of confession before communion, which I personally feel should be included.

Celtie

[Dark_Lite]

There are two major things about the Catholic communion we are forgetting to point out.

One The Catholic church believes in Transsubstantiation (sorry about spelling) which is a very big word meaning that they beilive that the euchrust (spelling dolt) literaly becomes the body and blood of Christ. The UMC beilives it is a memorial and yet holy (Sacrament).

Two the Catholic church holds colsed communion meaning only catholics can take it. Where the UMC holds open communion.

There are three reconginzed ways of taking communion. The little "shot glasses. inticiton, and the sharing (much like catholic church). SOme research done by my pastor suggeted the most used way by UMC's in Iowa is intinction.
Before changing churches :prayer: :prayer: :prayer: and speak with your :priest: see what you think God is leading you to do. Good luck and I will be praying for you.
UMC communion is a spiritual presence and rememberance.

[wvmtnkid]

Our particular congregation (UMC) celebrates communion using intinction, also. (Intinction means breaking off a piece of the bread and dipping it into the cup so that both are received at one time.) We also go to the front of the church for this. Kneeling at the altar is optional, and many of us do so. As with other Methodist churches, we celebrate communion at an open table. :)
This is how we take communion in the church I attend.

We don't take communion on a regular monthly basis, it revolves more around the start and end of a new church season. Like we take communion on the beginning of Advent and at the beginning of Lent. We take commuion on Good Friday. Of course, we take it in between those times, too. We have a service on New Years Eve where you can come in to the church and take communion and just spend some time in reflection and mediatation.

[dsdumpling]

I'd like to ask you all a question I asked my minister. Why don't we use unleavened bread for communion. At the Last Supper, Jesus and his disciples were celebrating the Passover which would mean unleavened bread. Why don't we do that?

p.s. My minister said it's because we aren't Jews. I disagreed with him but that's for another thread.

[WesleyJohn]

.

[Celticflower]

I'd like to ask you all a question I asked my minister. Why don't we use unleavened bread for communion. At the Last Supper, Jesus and his disciples were celebrating the Passover which would mean unleavened bread. Why don't we do that?

p.s. My minister said it's because we aren't Jews. I disagreed with him but that's for another thread.


The church I grew up in would use unleaven bread on Maundy Thursday sometimes. A couple of the ladies in the church would make it. Regular bread was cubed the rest of the year (had to help my Mom cut it a few times).

The church I went to in PA used a variety of breads on World Wide Communion Sunday, and regular bread the rest of the year, sometimes a real loaf to tear pieces off of.

The church we attend now uses tiny little wafers that taste like cardboard.

Celtie

[wvmtnkid]

Hmmmm....we used to use those little cardboard like wafers. Then a few years ago we started using bread. It was about the time we started doing communion by intinction (?). I don't recall the reasoning why we switched. I'll have to ask.

[WesleyJohn]

.

[dsdumpling]

What we have is a common loaf but we have those little tiny cups of juice. My previous minister used the common loaf/common cup and we dunked the bread.

[Islander]

The reason unleavened bread isn't used more is a problem with symbolism. There were only Jesus and 12 disciples at the last supper and Passover is generally done with family members. When a seder meal is done with a large number of people are seated at different tables unleavened bread is broken at each table. We think it's important that we all partake of the same loaf of bread but it is a symbol of Christ. Unleavened bread is just a thin cracker and although longer than a regular cracker it's not enough to give some to each member of the congregation. For that reason unleavened bread is used when there is a small number of people but communion with an entire congregation uses a loaf of bread. Not good reasons, but the fact a loaf of bread is cheaper and tastes better also plays a part.

A similarity between Methodists and Catholics is that Methodists believe we partake of communion with the entire church or another words in a spiritual sense we are united with Christians in different congregations, in different nations, in different time periods including the ancient Christians, and this true no matter the ethnicity or denominationk of those other Christians. A difference between how UM's (I'm not sure about other Methodist/Wesleyan denominations) do communion than Catholics and many other Protestants is that children are able take communion even if they haven't been through confirmation yet.

[wvmtnkid]

I wonder if the wafers simply don't work as well for intinction.
I thought about that reason after I posted. When we used the wafers, we also used the small cups like dsdumpling mentioned. The wafers would be harder to use with the common cup, harder to dip. Well maybe not harder, but messier.

I like using the bread better than the wafers. I think breaking the bread has more meaning in tune with the brokeness of Christ's body. And I like receiving communion from a person and not picking up a wafer from a plate on the altar.

[Filia Mariae]

A difference between how UM's (I'm not sure about other Methodist/Wesleyan denominations) do communion than Catholics and many other Protestants is that children are able take communion even if they haven't been through confirmation yet.


Catholic do not have to be confirmed to receive the Eucharist. Generally, Catholics receive the Eucharist for the first time about 7 years before they are confirmed.

Dark-Lite,

Forgive my thread drift, but I thought you were Catholic?

[AngelAmidala]

I'm the Communion Steward at my church...so I can tell you we don't use unleavened bread. They do use it on the Maundy Thursday service...because the past couple years we've had a Seder Meal in conjunction with the service. But the biggest problem people had was using unleavened bread with a community cup...the juice just didn't stay on the bread.

Mostly we do intinction. A few times we've actually used a loaf of bread that people would break off their own piece to dip in the cup, however we mainly use bread that's been cut up ahead of time (by me) into nice little squares.

Throughout Lent (2 Sundays) we had communion at the rail...where the pastor walks down the prayer rails and people take the bread...and eat it. Then one of the communion servers brings a tray of little plastic cups (also bought from Cokesbury....very addicting store! :D ) with grape juice in them. We will also be serving communion like this in June on the day we have confirmation. The confirmands first task as new members in the church is to help serve communion to the congregation.

[dsdumpling]

The confirmands first task as new members in the church is to help serve communion to the congregation.
That is great! We had 2 Native Americans in church a couple Sunday's ago and they served communion to the congregation. This was the first time I had received it from other than a minister in church.

Ok, here is another question. Do you ever take communion at home? Perform it yourself? My husband and I do quite often.

[WesleyJohn]

.

[wvmtnkid]

Until recently, I have always had communion administered by my pastor or the communion stewards. But we have a new one and he does things a little differently. At a weekend retreat for one of the committees I serve on, we started the retreat with communion. While the pastor blessed the bread and the juice, we went around the circle and served communion to each other. The person beside of you served it to you and you in turn served it to the next. It was a very humbling experience from me to serve one of my peers communion.

At a recent church retreat, a District Superintendent lead the retreat and had us do the same thing. He blessed the bread and juice and then we went around the circle serving communion to each other. Communion has a different feel to it when done in this manner, at least to me.

[WesleyJohn]

.

[ChiRho]

While some might disagree, I would say that the Pastor or DS still "administered" the sacraments in these instances. My concern is more with a private "self-administration." I agree with you that this is a very powerful service.

Peace,

WJ

Powerful in what sense?

Pax Christi,

ChiRho

[WesleyJohn]

.

[ChiRho]

Powerful/meaningful. When we participate in serving one another, we celebrate that we are all a part of the Body of Christ. And that, in part, is what the Service of Holy Communion is all about.


I am not sure I understand that. Where is the Body and Blood, given and shed for each of us for the forgiveness of sins fit in?

Pax Christi,

ChiRho

[Celticflower]

I am not sure I understand that. Where is the Body and Blood, given and shed for each of us for the forgiveness of sins fit in?

Pax Christi,

ChiRho

All of that is included in the service of the table. The elements are usually given accompanied by these words (or similar):

"The Body of Christ broken for you as a sign of the new covenent, the Blood of Christ shed for you, and for many, for the forgiveness of sins. Take and eat, feasting upon him in your heart with thanksgiving for all that Christ has done for you."

Before the elements is the are prayers, and a time of remembering the events that led to the first Lord's Supper as well as the story of the Upper Room. the service is in the Methodist hymnal if you have access to one.

Celtie

[ZeroTX]

The Church of the Nazarene requires that only ordained Elders or Deacons may administer the Sacraments, except in certain circumstances when a District Licensed Minister may administer the sacraments.

I believe that Communion is an act of worship best partaken within the Community of Faith. While I will offer it to shutins and those who cannot participate in our community worship services, I would not encourage anyone to self-administer the sacraments.

That's just my opinion. I realize that others have different opinions! :)

Grace and Peace,

WJ
Jesus didn't define sacraments. He just said "do this in remembrance of me..." While I think it's best served in a worship community, I think a small group at home is sufficient as a worship community. It's the meaning that counts. My church (non-denom.) does it in Small Group bible study class in people's homes.

-Michael

[Dark_Lite]

Catholic do not have to be confirmed to receive the Eucharist. Generally, Catholics receive the Eucharist for the first time about 7 years before they are confirmed.

Dark-Lite,

Forgive my thread drift, but I thought you were Catholic?
If I had to label myself with the word "Catholic" I would label myself something of a "half-Catholic."

I pray to Mary and the Saints. However, I am not a member of the Catholic Church. I've been to Mass twice, I'll probably go again tomorrow if I can because I feel like it. Been awhile since I've been there. And since the stupid winter sun won't be there burning my eyes for an hour straight it might be slightly mor enjoyable.

I'll leave the decision of converting to Catholicism up to God and my 18th birthday.

[AngelAmidala]

Last I knew in the United Methodist Church, the elements of communion (bread and juice or wine) had to be blessed by a minister before being served, be it by the pastor or others. It's why, at least in my church, any time the pastor was going to be gone the 1st Sunday of the month the worship committee would try to arrange for another pastor to preach (instead of having a lay speaker preach) so that Communion could be celebrated. Though now my pastor is open to having a "Love Feast" (which I had to do once :eek: ) if she will be gone the typical day for communion.

[Filia Mariae]

If I had to label myself with the word "Catholic" I would label myself something of a "half-Catholic."

I pray to Mary and the Saints. However, I am not a member of the Catholic Church. I've been to Mass twice, I'll probably go again tomorrow if I can because I feel like it. Been awhile since I've been there. And since the stupid winter sun won't be there burning my eyes for an hour straight it might be slightly mor enjoyable.

I'll leave the decision of converting to Catholicism up to God and my 18th birthday.
Okay, gotcha. For someone reason I had thought you were Catholic. I guess I was confused, surprise surprise.;) :D

[overnight]

I know this is an old thread but I have a question. At my church when we take communion the pastor states that after taking the bread and cup that an approprate responce is to say "amen". However, even though we are not Catholic I often find myself wanting to genuflect (make the sign of the cross). Could someone tell me why Catholics genuflect and why that it may be inapproprate to do?

[MattMMMan17]

We genuflect out of respect for the Real Presence of our Lord, who is truly present in the consecrated host, the Eucharist. It would be the equivalent to kneeling before your King prior to taking a seat in his audience chamber :) Great thread idea

[Kryzoz]

The communion service has a WHOLE LOT of Liturgy, many many prayers, and many amens.
We kneel at the altar to receive communion in "tables" depending on your role in the church (at least in Prince Chapel) officers, children, chior, members, ushers, stewardess, respectively. To receive both the bread and the cup hands are placed right over left and cupped. The Pastor litterally breaks the bread for you going down the altar. She/He returns again to give the cup. After you are served both elements you are told "You have renewed your covenant, arise and go in peace"
That's it !