Used from UMC.org
During a confirmation class, the pastor asked a group of mostly 13- and 14-year-old students to name some things Christians — and specifically United Methodists — do that most other people do not. One of the girls raised her hand and said with a smile, "We dunk our bread in grape juice."
Yes, that is different.
The sacrament of Holy Communion is such a common occurrence in the landscape of our worship that its uncommon richness sometimes gets lost.
One sacrament, several names
The Lord's Supper, Holy Communion and the Eucharist are all names for this sacrament celebrated by United Methodists. Each of these names highlights an aspect of this act of worship.
According to This Holy Mystery, The United Methodist Church's official document on communion, "The Lord's Supper reminds us that Jesus Christ is the host and that we participate at Christ's invitation." Jesus invites us to take part in the special meal he ate with his disciples the night before his crucifixion, and other meals he shared in homes and on hillsides.
The Services of Word and Table in the front of The United Methodist Hymnal lead us in celebrating the fullness of the sacrament. This service includes:
- The Invitation
- Confession, Pardon and Peace
- The Great Thanksgiving
- Prayer
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