COMMUNION
All baptized Christians, regardless of denomination, are welcome to partake of the Holy Eucharist at St. Paul's, as this is not an invitation from our church but from Jesus Christ himself. If you are not baptized or do not feel comfortable receiving, you are still welcome to come forward to the altar during the service and the priest will say a prayer for you. All baptized Christians, regardless of age, are welcome to receive. While some churches celebrate a First Holy Communion during childhood, at St. Paul's, children are welcome to receive as soon as they are baptized.
The word Eucharist comes from a Greek word for Thanksgiving. The Holy Eucharist is also called the Lord's Supper, and Holy Communion; it is also known as the Divine Liturgy, the Mass, and the Great Offering. It is the sacrament commanded by Christ for the continual remembrance of his life, death, and resurrection, until his coming again. (See Bible: Mark 14:22-25; Matthew 26:26-29; Luke 22:13-20; 1 Corinthians 11:23-25.) The Eucharist, the Church's sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving, is the way by which the sacrifice of Christ is made present, and in which he unites us to his one offering of himself.
The outward and visible sign in the Eucharist is bread and wine, give and received according to Christ's command.
The inward and spiritual grace in the Holy Communion is the Body and Blood of Christ give to his people, and received by faith. The benefits we receive are the forgiveness of our sins, the strengthening of our union with Christ and one another, and the foretaste of the heavenly banquet which is our nourishment in eternal life. Before receiving the Eucharist, it is required that we should examine our lives, repent of our sins, and be in love and charity with all people.
Adapted from the Book of Common Prayer, page 859
The word Eucharist comes from a Greek word for Thanksgiving. The Holy Eucharist is also called the Lord's Supper, and Holy Communion; it is also known as the Divine Liturgy, the Mass, and the Great Offering. It is the sacrament commanded by Christ for the continual remembrance of his life, death, and resurrection, until his coming again. (See Bible: Mark 14:22-25; Matthew 26:26-29; Luke 22:13-20; 1 Corinthians 11:23-25.) The Eucharist, the Church's sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving, is the way by which the sacrifice of Christ is made present, and in which he unites us to his one offering of himself.
The outward and visible sign in the Eucharist is bread and wine, give and received according to Christ's command.
The inward and spiritual grace in the Holy Communion is the Body and Blood of Christ give to his people, and received by faith. The benefits we receive are the forgiveness of our sins, the strengthening of our union with Christ and one another, and the foretaste of the heavenly banquet which is our nourishment in eternal life. Before receiving the Eucharist, it is required that we should examine our lives, repent of our sins, and be in love and charity with all people.
Adapted from the Book of Common Prayer, page 859