Communion
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."
— Matthew 26:26
The sacrament of Holy Communion (also called the Lord's Supper) enables Christians to hear, taste, touch and receive the grace of God revealed through Jesus Christ by way of the invited and guiding Holy Spirit before, during, and after the splendor and simplicity of the holy meal. Pastors share different thoughts on communion, as do members of our congregation. Our pastor views communion as:
- A joyous act of thanksgiving for all God has done, is doing, and will do for the redeeming of creation;
- A sacred memorial of the crucified and risen Christ, a living and effective sign of Christ's sacrifice in which Christ is truly and rightly present to those who eat and drink;
- An earnest prayer for the presence of the Holy Spirit to unite those who partake with the Risen Christ and with each other, and to restore creation, making all things new;
- An intimate experience of fellowship in which the whole church in every time and place is present and divisions are overcome;
- A hopeful sign of the promised Realm of God marked by justice, love and peace.
What about children?
In many Christian churches, baptized children and even infants are able to receive communion. Practice in the United Church of Christ varies, but here at First Congregational-UCC, we welcome children to the Table at their parents' discretion following a period of instruction about the sacrament's meaning.
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