Home | Diary | Services | Readings | Churchyard | Photo Gallery | Contacts | Warm Welcome | FAQs
The Vicar's Letter | To Help You Pray | Enquiry Form | Resources

English Chinese Français Español Russian Portuguese Nederlands Korean Japanese Italiano Ελληνικά Deutsch
Click on a flag to translate
Flag Graphics Courtesy of 3DFlags.com

Thinking about.. Holy Communion

Holy Trinity.

Candle
Copyright © Robin Wood; 1997
Used with Permission
Holy Trinity CofE Church, Henley-on-Thames.
Candle
Copyright © Robin Wood; 1997
Used with Permission

Henley-on-Thames

Vicar:
Rev Duncan Carter
Vicarage, 16 Church St, Henley-on-Thames, Oxfordshire, RG9 1SE ((574822)

Licensed Lay Minister:
Michael Forsdike

Churchwarden:
Barbara Williams


"I am the bread of life," Jesus told them
"I am telling you the truth; if you do not
eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink
his blood you will not have life in you."
John 6 v 35,52 See 25-71



What is happening at a service of Holy Communion?
What to Christians mean as the celebrate The Lord's Supper together?
How do we get the most from the service?

WE COMMEMORATE
                              ...the backward look.

'Do this is remembrance of me.' Jesus, hours before his death, left us a fellowship 'meal' by which we could draw close to him and remember His death on the Cross. 'The Last Supper' (Matthew 26 v 26-28), wa a PASSOVER meal, with the difference that Jesus used it to symbolise our deliverance from sin. Whilst the Passover was the annual feast, when all Jews remember theri God given release from slaery and their beginning as a nation (Exodus 12).
It is a memorable meal.

WE COMMUNICATE
                              ...the upward look.

It is not a dead Christ who is worshipped in the Holy Communion, but a risen Saviour. As we share in the Bread, which represents the broken body of Jesus and the Wine, which represents his blood that has obtained a new agreement between God and man, we give thanks and praise and use the opportunity to renew our fellowship with God. We recharge the spiritual batteries, we are sustanied for service.
"Whoever eat... lives in me, and I live in him."
It is a substantial meal.

WE APPROPRIATE
                              ...the inward look.

Jesus told his disciples to 'take' the bread (Mark 14 v.22), as he sat with them. Here is no one-man drama. We are not spectators, but deeply involved; if we come to the Lord's Supper with a right attitude (1 Cor !! v.27-29), he will provide for our spiritual needs. When we rake part in Communion we are saying:-

  1. Thank you Jesus for dying for me.
  2. I am a sinner and often a failre and so I look to you for forgiveness and help and ask you to feed me spiritually.
  3. I hold out empty hands asking you to provide for all my needs, to learn fomr you and follow you in all things.
  4. I hold put my hands in Christian fellowship to those joining with me in this meal.

It is an enjoyable meal.

WE PARTICIPATE
                              ...the outward look.

The disciples all drank from the cup as it was passed round. It is a sharing occasion (1 Cor 10 v 16,17). We come together as a family not as mere indivuals. Right relationships are important (Matthew 5 v.23; 18 v.15,16). The Peace is an act of reconciliation and a way of expressing out togetherness, before we receive communion.
It is a communak meal.

WE ANTICIPATE
                              ...the forward look.

We celebrate this meal until Jesus returns (1 Cor 11 v.26). We proclaim the Lord's death until he comes, until, we share the heavenly banquet and meet Jesus face to face. 'I will not drink this wine until the Kingdom of God comes.' Luke 22 v.18.
It is a foretaste of a heavenly meal.

Return to Front page.

Go to top.