The Sacrament of Eucharist/Holy Communion

• What is Eucharist?

  ❖ 'Eucharist' is a Greek word which means 'thanksgiving'. It is one of the names given to the bread and wine service held by Christians.

  ❖ It began with the Last Supper that Jesus had with his disciples where he shared bread and wine with them and told them to eat and drink it in remembrance of his sacrificial death:

  “And he took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me. In the same way, after the supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you.”” (Luke)
• Eucharist in the Catholic Church:

  ➢ In the Catholic Church it is part of a service known as Mass. Catholics are expected to attend Mass every

  Sunday and on certain holy days.

  ➢ The service follows a set pattern with the same words which can be followed in the Catholic service book called the Missal.

  ➢ The words of the Last Supper are recalled and the priest will say a prayer of consecration over the bread, which is usually in the form of individual thin wafers, and red wine. The word consecration means 'to set apart' or 'make holy'.

  ➢ Worshippers will come to the front of the church where they will kneel before the altar.

  ➢ The priest will give them a wafer of bread and a sip of red wine from a large cup called a chalice.

  ➢ Catholics believe that although the bread and wine still look and taste the same, they somehow become the actual body and blood of Christ. This belief is called transubstantiation.
• What is the term used for Eucharist in the Methodist Church?

  Holy Communion
• How often is Holy Communion celebrated in most Methodist churches?

  Once a month
• Is attendance at Holy Communion compulsory for Methodist members?

  No, it is not compulsory
• Why might there be differences in the Eucharist service between individual Methodist churches?

  There is no set service with set words
• Who consecrates the bread and wine during the Eucharist in the Methodist Church?

  The minister
• What type of bread is usually used in the Methodist Eucharist?

  Ordinary loaf of bread
• What type of wine is typically used in the Methodist Eucharist?

  Non-alcoholic wine or grape juice
• How is the bread distributed during the Eucharist?

  Broken into small pieces
• How is the non-alcoholic wine usually served during the Eucharist?

  In small individual glasses
• What are the two methods of receiving Communion in Methodist churches?

  Coming to the front or receiving in seats
• What do Protestant Christians, including Methodists, believe about the bread and wine?

  They represent the body and blood of Christ
• What is the belief called that Methodists hold regarding the bread and wine?

  Consubstantiation
• Do Methodists believe that the bread and wine actually change into the body and blood of Christ?

  No, they do not believe that
• Why is the Eucharist important to Christians?

  • When Christians eat the bread and drink the wine they are obeying Jesus’ words at the Last Supper to “Do this in remembrance of me.”

  • The bread and wine recall Jesus’ sacrificial death on the cross and remind Christians that their sins are forgiven and they can have eternal life with God in heaven.

  • Holy Communion is a reminder that Christians are all members of the worldwide Church and share a common faith.

  • The Eucharist is regarded as a sacrament by most Christians; it is an outward, visible sign of God’s grace and a way of receiving spiritual strength.