The Lord's Supper (Communion, Eucharist)
The Lord's Supper is a holy meal of bread and wine that symbolizes the body and blood of Christ.
The Lord's Supper recalls the life, death and resurrection of Jesus and celebrates the unity of all the members of God's family.
By sharing this meal, we give thanks for Christ's sacrifice and are nourished and empowered to go into the world in mission and ministry.
We practice "open Communion," welcoming all who love Christ, repent of their sin, and seek to live in peace with one another. *from UMC.org
Why do Methodists use grape juice in communion instead of wine?
The days of John Wesley were marked by England’s Industrial Revolution. Alcoholism was rampant and ruined the lives of those who drank as well as their families. Wesley preached strongly against its use. Today we carry on that tradition in the United Methodist Church. Factoid: Welch, the founder of Welch’s Grape Juice Co., was a devoted Methodist layman.
Why do we call the sharing of bread and cup by different names?
United Methodists call communion by names such as “the Lord’s Supper,” “Holy Communion,” and “the Eucharist.” Each of these names is taken from the New Testament and highlights certain facets of this sacrament’s many meanings. Calling it the Lord’s Supper reminds us that it is a meal instituted by the Lord Jesus and hosted by him at his table whenever it takes place. Calling it Holy Communion reminds us that it is an encounter of the most holy and intimate sharing, making us one with Christ and a part of his body (the church). Calling it the Eucharist, a term taken from the Greek word meaning thanksgiving, reminds us that giving thanks to God for all that God has done is an essential part of the meal itself. By using different names, we acknowledge that no single name can contain the rich wealth of meanings in this sacred act.
Do United Methodists believe that the bread and “juice” physically or chemically change into Christ’s flesh and blood in the sacrament of Holy Communion?
Neither, actually. We believe the change is spiritual. The bread and juice signify the body and blood of Christ for us, helping us to be Christ’s body in the world today, redeemed by Christ’s blood. We pray over the bread and cup that they God may use them to make us “one with Christ, one with each other, and one in service to all the world.”
I am not a United Methodist. May I be able to receive Communion in a United Methodist church?
Yes, definitely! We practice the concept of an “open table” approach to communion. We see communion as the Lord’s Supper, not the Methodists’ Supper. It is Christ who invites you to this table. As our ritual puts it: “Christ our Lord invites to his table all who love him, who earnestly repent of their sin and seek to live in peace with one another.” We do not refuse any who present themselves desiring to receive. Whether you should receive Communion with us is between you and God. However, we do not want anyone to feel unwelcome because, for whatever reason, they do not choose to receive Communion. If someone does not wish to receive communion, they may simply remain seated while others go forward, and no one will question him/her afterwards.
May young children receive Communion? Do young children know what they are doing when they receive Communion?
Children may receive Communion! The United Methodist Book of Worship says, “All who intend to lead a Christian life, together with their children, are invited to receive the bread and cup.” We remember that when some of Jesus’ disciples tried to keep children away from him he said: “Let the children come to me, for of such is the Kingdom of God (Matthew 19:14).”
The children may not entirely understand what happens in Holy Communion, but then again, most adults do not entirely understand this act of God’s grace either. Fortunately for human beings, God’s grace does not depend our own understanding of it. It is a wonderful mystery, and children (and the young at heart) can sense wonder and mystery. Children cannot understand the full significance of family meals, but we nonetheless feed them at our family tables and at Christ’s family table. What matters is that the children experience being loved and fed. They sense the difference between being included and excluded at a family meal. They have the faith of a child, appropriate to their stage of development, which Jesus recognized and honored. Indeed, he said to adults, “Whoever does not receive the Kingdom of God as a little child will never enter it.” (Mark 10:15)