This Holy MysteryThis Holy Mystery

A United Methodist A United Methodist Understanding of Understanding of Holy CommunionHoly Communion

Names of the SacramentNames of the Sacrament

• The Lord’s supper The Lord’s supper – reminds us that Jesus – reminds us that Jesus Christ is the host and that we participate at Christ is the host and that we participate at his invitationhis invitation

• Holy Communion Holy Communion - invites us to focus on - invites us to focus on the self-giving of the Holy God, which the self-giving of the Holy God, which makes the sacrament an occasion of grace makes the sacrament an occasion of grace and on the holiness of our communion with and on the holiness of our communion with God and one another.God and one another.

• EucharistEucharist – the Greek word for thanksgiving, – the Greek word for thanksgiving, reminds us that the sacrament is thanksgiving reminds us that the sacrament is thanksgiving to God for the gifts of creation and salvation.to God for the gifts of creation and salvation.

• MassMass – derived from the Latin word – derived from the Latin word missio missio meaning “sending forth” and indicates that meaning “sending forth” and indicates that this celebration brings the worship service to a this celebration brings the worship service to a close by sending forth the congregation with close by sending forth the congregation with God’s blessing to live as God’s people in the God’s blessing to live as God’s people in the world.world.

• Divine Liturgy Divine Liturgy – Used most by Orthodox – Used most by Orthodox Christianity.Christianity.

• All the names are for the same practice. All the names are for the same practice.

United Methodist HeritageUnited Methodist Heritage

• The Methodist Movement in the eighteenth The Methodist Movement in the eighteenth century was an evangelical movement that century was an evangelical movement that included a revival of emphasis on the included a revival of emphasis on the sacraments.sacraments.

• The Wesleys recognized the power of God The Wesleys recognized the power of God available in the Lord’s Supper and urged available in the Lord’s Supper and urged their followers to draw on that power by their followers to draw on that power by frequent participation.frequent participation.

The grace available in and The grace available in and through the sacrament was activethrough the sacrament was active

• In convictionIn conviction

• In repentance and conversionIn repentance and conversion

• In forgivenessIn forgiveness

• In sanctificationIn sanctification

• John Wesley described the Lord’s Supper John Wesley described the Lord’s Supper as “The grand channel whereby the grace of as “The grand channel whereby the grace of his Spirit was conveyed to the souls of all his Spirit was conveyed to the souls of all the children of God”the children of God”

The Multifaceted Nature The Multifaceted Nature of the Lord’s Supperof the Lord’s Supper

• It expressed God’s love, grace, sacrifice and It expressed God’s love, grace, sacrifice and forgiveness.forgiveness.

• It was the presence of Christ, a MysteryIt was the presence of Christ, a Mystery

• It was a source of healing, nourishment, It was a source of healing, nourishment, holinessholiness

• It was a pledge of heaven.It was a pledge of heaven.

• The Wesleys wrote 166 hymns for meditation The Wesleys wrote 166 hymns for meditation and singing about Holy Communion.and singing about Holy Communion.

Evangelical and United Brethren Evangelical and United Brethren RootsRoots

• Albright, Otterbein and Boehn left little Albright, Otterbein and Boehn left little written material, so there are few references written material, so there are few references to their theology and practice of Holy to their theology and practice of Holy Communion.Communion.

• The Journal of Christian Newcomer shows The Journal of Christian Newcomer shows that the sacrament had a significant place in that the sacrament had a significant place in the life of the church.the life of the church.

• Early Methodists received communion in Early Methodists received communion in Anglican Churches.Anglican Churches.

• When that source was lost after the When that source was lost after the Revolutionary war.Revolutionary war.

• The need for ordained clergy to provide the The need for ordained clergy to provide the sacrament was a major reason Wesley sacrament was a major reason Wesley provided ordained elders for America.provided ordained elders for America.

• Because of a shortage of elders, communion Because of a shortage of elders, communion was often served only on a quarterly basis.was often served only on a quarterly basis.

• Even after more elders became available the Even after more elders became available the habit of quarterly communion was difficult habit of quarterly communion was difficult to change.to change.

• Holy Communion was considered a sacred Holy Communion was considered a sacred and solemn event.and solemn event.

• The tone of the ritual was deeply The tone of the ritual was deeply penitential, calling on people to repent and penitential, calling on people to repent and having less emphasis on celebration of having less emphasis on celebration of God’s grace.God’s grace.

• During the nineteenth and twentieth During the nineteenth and twentieth centuries the rich Wesleyan understandings centuries the rich Wesleyan understandings of Eucharist were largely lost, and the of Eucharist were largely lost, and the sacrament became understood only as a sacrament became understood only as a memorial of the death of Christ.memorial of the death of Christ.

• In many churches attendance on In many churches attendance on communion Sundays became low.communion Sundays became low.

• A revitalization of the sacrament started in A revitalization of the sacrament started in the mid-twentieth century.the mid-twentieth century.

Communion within the context Communion within the context of United Methodist Theologyof United Methodist Theology

• We are sinners.We are sinners.

• We are constantly in need of divine grace.We are constantly in need of divine grace.

• God is gracious and loving, always making God is gracious and loving, always making available the grace we need.available the grace we need.

• Grace is God’s love towards us, God’s free Grace is God’s love towards us, God’s free and undeserved gift.and undeserved gift.

• All grace is prevenient.All grace is prevenient.

• The grace of God is made available through The grace of God is made available through the life, death and resurrection of Jesus the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ and works in our lives through the Christ and works in our lives through the presence and power of the Holy Spirit.presence and power of the Holy Spirit.

• God has designated certain means or God has designated certain means or channels through which grace is most channels through which grace is most surely and immediately available.surely and immediately available.

• These channels convey to us preventing, These channels convey to us preventing, justifying and sanctifying grace.justifying and sanctifying grace.

The Theology of SacramentsThe Theology of Sacraments

• The Greek word used by the early church for The Greek word used by the early church for the sacrament is the sacrament is mysterionmysterion, translated mystery., translated mystery.

• In Latin the word used is In Latin the word used is sacramentumsacramentum, , meaning a vow or promise.meaning a vow or promise.

• The sacraments were instituted by Christ and The sacraments were instituted by Christ and give to the church.give to the church.

• Jesus Christ himself is the ultimate Jesus Christ himself is the ultimate manifestation of a sacrament.manifestation of a sacrament.

• Holy Communion is the sacrament that Holy Communion is the sacrament that sustains and nourishes us in our journey of sustains and nourishes us in our journey of salvation.salvation.

• God uses tangible, material things as God uses tangible, material things as vehicles or instruments of grace.vehicles or instruments of grace.

• ““An outward sign of inward grace, and a An outward sign of inward grace, and a means whereby we receive the same.”means whereby we receive the same.”

The Meaning of The Meaning of Holy CommunionHoly Communion

• Holy Communion is Eucharist, an act of thanksgivingHoly Communion is Eucharist, an act of thanksgiving

• Holy Communion is the communion of the church – the Holy Communion is the communion of the church – the gathering community of the faithful, both local and gathering community of the faithful, both local and universal.universal.

• Holy Communion is remembrance, commemoration, Holy Communion is remembrance, commemoration, and memorial, but this remembrance is much more than and memorial, but this remembrance is much more than simply intellectual retelling.simply intellectual retelling.

• Holy Communion is a type of sacrifice. It is a re-Holy Communion is a type of sacrifice. It is a re-presentation, not a repetition of the sacrifice of presentation, not a repetition of the sacrifice of Christ.Christ.

• Holy Communion is eschatological, meaning that Holy Communion is eschatological, meaning that it has to do with the end of history, the outcome of it has to do with the end of history, the outcome of God’s purpose for the worldGod’s purpose for the world

• Holy Communion is a vehicle of God’s grace Holy Communion is a vehicle of God’s grace through the action of the Holy Spiritthrough the action of the Holy Spirit

Who can receive communionWho can receive communion??

Is Communion Jesus’ body?Is Communion Jesus’ body?

Can children receive communion?Can children receive communion?

Can non-UM members receive?Can non-UM members receive?

How often should we have it?How often should we have it?

Who can serve communion?Who can serve communion?

Who consecrates communion?Who consecrates communion?

How is the table extended?How is the table extended?

What is the role of the Deacon?What is the role of the Deacon?

Wine or grape juice?Wine or grape juice?

What do you do with left-overs?What do you do with left-overs?

How does communion How does communion express unity? express unity?