Communion at Valley View
At his last supper with his disciples,
Jesus said of the bread,
"Take, eat; this is my body broken for you.
Do this in remembrance of me."
And he said of the cup,
"Drink from this, all of you; this is my blood of the new covenant, poured out for you and for many for the forgiveness of sins.
Do this in remembrance of me."
And so Christians, from the evening of Jesus’ resurrection onward to this day, find that in the breaking of the bread and the drinking of the cup together, Jesus reveals his living, life-giving presence to us.
Centuries of Christians have speculated on the nature of bread and wine at communion. Some believe that they literally change into the body and blood of Christ. Some believe that the body and blood of Christ are mixed with the bread and the wine. United Methodists talk about communion in many ways. Some believe that by faith, as they eat and drink, they are symbolically receiving Jesus into themselves. Others might believe that the significance of the bread and wine change, to be unique bearers of the spiritual life of Jesus Christ into them. We do not require that every person who comes to the table believes exactly the same.
United Methodists practice "open communion." That means that all are welcome at the table: children and adults, guests and members. We do not require that children be old enough to "understand" what this is about. The greatest of theologians do not fully understand. In the breaking of the bread and the drinking from the cup, Jesus bids every person welcome, in ways appropriate to that person.
We do not make ourselves "worthy" to come. Only Jesus’ grace makes us worthy; and it is when we feel at our most unworthy that we are most in need of the the fulness of Jesus Christ’s healing and forgiving presence in us and with us at this table.
The first Sunday of the month, we celebrate Communion. Come with joy or come broken. Come restless or at peace. Come in hope or despair. Jesus Christ will be at the table to meet your need and continue the loving, healing, transforming work that he yearns to do in every one of us.