PROGRAMS

The term “communion” means “a shared or mutual participation.” It is not a word that we find in the Bible. It comes from the word “community.” In communion, you can see there is a shared or a mutual participation of the redeemed community; therefore, it is called communion.

This celebration is also called the Eucharist in some traditions, particularly in the Roman Catholic tradition. Eucharist comes from a Greek word meaning “to give thanks.” Jesus gave thanks, broke the bread, and gave it to his disciples; raised the cup and gave thanks, and gave it to his disciples.

However, the Bible has a word that it uses for this celebration, and the term is “the Lord’s Supper.” Paul actually uses that phrase in 1 Corinthians 11 to describe what we are going to do today. The Lord’s Supper is what he calls it.

 

Why do we observe Communion?

communion is about connection and embodiment. We take communion to join with our brothers and sisters in Christ across the globe, and then to embrace strangers and persons of other faiths.

 

Communion reminds us that God is present in the ordinary media of bread and wine, but communion also inspires us to experience God in sharing meals with friends and family.

In observing Communion we are remembering Christ and all that He has done for us in his life, death and resurrection:

And when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, "This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me." 1 Corinthians 11:24 (NIV)

Communion as a Memorial

Only Luke and Paul give the memorial view of the Lord’s Supper, the memorial view of communion. Only Luke and Paul say that Jesus said, “Do this in remembrance of me.” Matthew and Mark probably knew that he had said it, but for some reason chose not to include it in their historical retelling of the events of the Last Supper.

Jesus said, “Do this in remembrance of me.”

We are reflecting upon our redemption. it is as a redeemed community that we reflect upon our redemption that we have in Jesus Christ. What a beautiful picture!

 The Lord’s Supper is also a time to be in communion. We are connected not only with the Lord , but also with past and present believers. Among members of God’s family, we find comfort and support, just as the disciples and the early church did.

 

 

The Bread, Representing the Body of Jesus

By partaking of the bread in communion, we acknowledge that Jesus is our source of life. Indeed, He is the Bread of Life whereby we may satisfy our spiritual hunger. He said,

"I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever: and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world" (John 6:51).

Bread signifies life, so when Jesus broke the unleavened bread and gave it to His disciples, He illustrated that His body (life) would be broken in order that they might have life.

The breaking of bread with other believers signify fellowship within the Body of Christ and unity by the Holy Spirit (see Acts 2:42). The Body of Christ is strengthened and Jesus is glorified when the Body serves one another in humility and shares blessings in selfless love.

"For we being many are one bread, and one body: for we are all partakers of that one bread [Jesus]" (I Corinthians 10:17).