Holy Communion: the Heart of the worship
10. Now comes a very important point in the service, called 'The Peace'. It's important because God wants everybody in church is in a loving relationship with each other. After the minister (priest) has said 'The peace of the Lord be with you', we are all invited to 'exchange the Peace'.
People usually shake each other by the hand, and say 'peace be with you!' Sometimes they walk around the church to share the peace with everyone, and it's quite common to give a hug and a kiss to people, especially those you are close to.
This is often a happy, informal time - the vicar may have trouble getting everyone back to their seats for the next bit of the service, because they are enjoying themselves!
11. A hymn or song follows for the 'Offertory',when we 'offer' the bread and the wine and our money to God.
In many churches people from the congregation bring the plate of bread, a small flask of wine and the plate containing everyone's offerings forward to the minister at the holy table.
The bread, wine and money represent the whole of our lives, and in offering them to God we are offering him ourselves. (For a full explanation, please see my posting called 'Choosing the right present' in December 08.)
There are different ways of offering our money. Lots of churches have a plate at the door for people's gifts, and it's brought up to the altar at this point. In other churches, people take round a plate or a bag to each member of the congregation. Lots of churches have a 'stewardship scheme', which encourages church members to give a certain amount, that they feel they can afford, on a regular basis.
12. Now follows the most important and central part of the Communion. In the Common Worship book it is called the 'Eucharistic Prayer', which (as I've already said) means 'Thanksgiving'. It is the time of the service when the minister prays over and blesses the bread and wine, asking God to send his Holy Spirit to make the bread and wine the spiritual body and blood of Jesus for us.
There are at least 8 variations of this very special prayer, and your service booklet will tell you which one. It will be printed out in full, and there are words for the congregation to respond to the wonderful things that are prayed here.
13. Next the Lord's Prayer, the prayer Jesus himself taught us, because he was the first person to teach us to call God 'Our Father in heaven'. This is either in its traditional or more modern form.
14. Now comes a deeply meaningful moment, the heart of the worship, when the priest breaks the bread, to remind us that the body of Jesus was broken for us on the cross. It also teaches us that although we are many, we all belong to the body of Jesus, the church, and so we are one in him.
Churches vary in the bread they use. Some use ordinary bread and break it into little pieces. Others have a very big, flat white disc of bread which they also break up. Many churches have small discs, made of the finest flour and water, and each person who goes for Communion is given one.
(These small flat discs remind us of the 'manna' in the wilderness, a story in the Old Testament when God's people were wandering in the desert and were hungry. God fed them by sending special food that fell from the sky and lay in white flakes on the ground. The people collected them up and ate them. You can find this story in Exodus 16, verses 9 to 36).
15. People are then invited to come up to the holy table, or altar, for Communion. Most people kneel at the rail, but some stand and that's OK. Communion is for those who believe in Jesus as the Son of God and their Saviour. Normally people who believe this have been baptised and confirmed in the Church of England and so they are able to take the bread and wine. They do this by holding up their hands, and the piece of bread or the wafer is placed in them with the words 'The body of Christ given for you'. This is followed by the cup (or 'chalice') of wine and water, with the words 'The blood of Christ, shed for you', and each person takes a sip.
At this holy moment people respond by saying 'Amen', with deep thankfulness in their hearts. When the person next to them has also received the bread and wine, they stand up and go back to their seats.
If people are not going to take the bread and wine, they are always welcome at the Communion table. Often you are invited to take the service book with you, to indicate to the priest that you don't want to receive them. Instead, the priest or minister will stop and give you a blessing, and say a prayer for you.
Often there is singing during this part of the service, led by the choir (if there is one). It's great when people join in - it helps us to stay focussed on Jesus and what He has done and is doing for us.
When everyone has received the bread and wine, or a blessing, and are back in their seats, the minister washes the special cup and plate and puts them on the holy table, covered with a cloth. He then says a prayer which is different each week, thanking God for his gift and blessing of Communion.
16. Everyone joins in with a prayer of thankfulness. There is usually a final hymn or song, and then the priest gives everyone
17. the blessing of God. Finally, a minister dismisses the congregation by saying 'Go in peace, to love and serve the Lord' and everyone answers 'In the name of Christ! Amen.'
This reminds us that our worship and our Communion is to be carried into our daily lives.
Taking part in Holy Communion is a deeply spiritual experience in which we draw closer to God and are fed by him, in our minds by teaching from his word, the Bible; physically with the bread and the wine; and emotionally and spiritually by worshipping together with our brothers and sisters in the faith of Christ.
It is also a time of great joy, because it is the celebration of Jesus' death for us on the cross, and his rising to life again to prepare a place for us in heaven and to fill our lives with his Holy Spirit.
What a privilege and blessing!
If you've never taken Communion but would like to know more, about this or about any aspect of the Christian faith, contact your local vicar and ask for a chat about it. His name is nearly always on the board outside the church.
May God bless you with joy and fulfilment as you come to know his Son Jesus more and more, led by the Holy Spirit!
