Z
Zabdi_Premjit
Guest
Non-Catholics: How do you prepare for reception of the Eucharist?
- Status
K
Kliska
Guest
I depends on the denomination. Some have formal preparation much like a Catholic Church, some it is extremely informal and every which way in between. I just realized you may be asking a different question; how do we prepare before receiving communion for the first time ever, vs. how do we prepare before receiving each time? Which were you wondering about?
H
Hatikvah
Guest
I go to a United Methodist church with my family (my theology is not Methodist, so I don’t identify).
The United Methodist Church has open communion per Wesley’s teaching that we should be in “constant communion” with our neighbors and with Christ, open to all who are willing to receive Christ (read about that here). Contrary to popular assumptions, Methodists do believe in the real presence of Christ in the Eucharist (defined as a “holy mystery,” as in Eastern Orthodoxy).
Wesley says that it is “the duty of every Christian to receive the Lord’s Supper as often as he can.” As for spiritual preparations, nothing prevents one from receiving except for their own conscience inasmuch as I’ve known.
Z
Zabdi_Premjit
Guest
I was wondering about how people prepare for communion in general in their church.
However, if there is a special preparation for first communion, I’d be interested in knowing about it too.
Z
Zabdi_Premjit
Guest
Does the United Methodist Church have weekly communion then?
I didn’t know United Methodism believed in some form real presence, though I am not too surprised either. Wesley was from the Anglican tradition and a big proponent on valuing tradition, if I recall correctly. Isn’t the Wesleyan tradition the source of prima scriptura instead of sola scriptura?
L
Lenten_ashes
Guest
I went to a UMC church once a few years ago just see what it was like…and the pastor was talking about Yoga they were having on wednesday and how the three wise men were like pagan astrologers, therefore justifying paganism. Couldn’t believe my ears lol. Is it like that where you attend?
K
Kliska
Guest
I’ve attended several different denoms, but there is a usual order to it. Mainly a short sermonette on communion, specific songs or music to accompany it, the blessing of the elements (or a prayer said over them) and then the reception of it (going to an altar rail or staying in ones seat depending). The sermonette varies; some of it is to examine oneself to make sure one is in the faith, and then putting all focus on Jesus. Some speaking of the crucifixion and the new covenant. Some emphasizing the body of Christ of believers. Some emphasizing the fulfillment of Passover and what all that means.
I’ve mainly been in open communion churches, which tend to have a more laid back approach to first communion. The education mainly falls to the parent and the parent usually decides when to allow their children to receive. When it happens only the family usually knows.However, if there is a special preparation for first communion, I’d be interested in knowing about it too.
K
Kliska
Guest
We had it once a month in the Methodist Church I attended.
The official teaching is that it is a mystery that can’t quite be understood. There definitely is seen to be a change, but it’s not defined. Where I attended they didn’t retain or consume the leftover bread and juice in any special sense.
L
Lenten_ashes
Guest
LCMS and faithful Anglicans practice closed communion. Interview with the pastor before they communicate you. Just want to be sure you are a baptized Christian and understand the ancient Christian belief of real presence in the Eucharist.
Some Churches only have it monthly, some even worse than that, QUARTERLY.
Anyway, the fundamentalist churches do not seem to care who receives it they just pass that tray around to anybody who wants it. In fact, some of these churches are reducing the Lord to a condiment in pre-packaged material
C
ComplineSanFran
Guest
You know, don’t you, that the Roman Church in the early middle ages had to insist that people take Communion at least once a year? Quarterly would have been a jackpot.
P
puzzledtoo
Guest
“…they just pass the tray around to anybody that wants it…” I attended a catholic weekday mass a couple years ago and that is exactly what happened. The priest handed the tray to one person saying “the body and blood of Christ” and that person handed it to the next saying the same thing etc… When it came my turn I responded saying amen then handed the tray to the next person. Right now I don’t recall whether I said body and blood of Christ or just passed the tray along. I believe I was the only one there(small group) who didn’t partake of the eucharist.
G
Graceful_Lamb
Guest
A Catholic only has to receive Communion once a year around Easter time, as well as go to Confession before receiving Communion if they have any mortal sins to confess.
The high point of the Mass in the Catholic Church is The Sacrifice. The Sacrifice happens at every Sunday Mass and in a number of parishes, at daily Mass, too.
catholicnewsagency.com/resources/catechism/baltimore-catechism/lesson-24-on-the-sacrifice-of-the-mass/
L
LutheranScholar
Guest
How does one " prepare" oneself to receive the blessings of the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ in Holy Communion? Have faith that you’re receiving exactly what the Lord says you are. Pay attention to the rest of the Divine Service, from the Invocation right up to " May the Lord be with you," which signals the beginning of the Sacrament of the Lord’s Supper. Contemplate the Corporate Confession and Absolution, the Readings, the Nicene Creed and the Sermon. Think about the Prayers of Petition, even think about the Offertory. When you walk from aisle to aisle shaking hands and passing the Peace, remember that you are all of One Body, the Church and that the saints who are in Heaven now have been doing exactly the same thing from the early days of the Church. Think that generations yet unborn will continue the practice all until the time of Christ’s Return.
C
ComplineSanFran
Guest
Yes, of course. That is common knowledge.
P
philipl
Guest
Kinda like a snack pack !LCMS and faithful Anglicans practice closed communion. Interview with the pastor before they communicate you. Just want to be sure you are a baptized Christian and understand the ancient Christian belief of real presence in the Eucharist.
Some Churches only have it monthly, some even worse than that, QUARTERLY.
Anyway, the fundamentalist churches do not seem to care who receives it they just pass that tray around to anybody who wants it. In fact, some of these churches are reducing the Lord to a condiment in pre-packaged material
L
LutheranScholar
Guest
Oh, honestly! That’s just carrying the American obsession with convenience far too far!LCMS and faithful Anglicans practice closed communion. Interview with the pastor before they communicate you. Just want to be sure you are a baptized Christian and understand the ancient Christian belief of real presence in the Eucharist.
Some Churches only have it monthly, some even worse than that, QUARTERLY.
Anyway, the fundamentalist churches do not seem to care who receives it they just pass that tray around to anybody who wants it. In fact, some of these churches are reducing the Lord to a condiment in pre-packaged material
In all truth, it’s just blaspheming the Body and Blood of Our Lord.
L
Lenten_ashes
Guest
Not sure how any informed Christian does not object to this. It really is blasphemous.Oh, honestly! That’s just carrying the American obsession with convenience far too far!
H
Hatikvah
Guest
Unfortunately, no. Like many other Protestant traditions, communion takes place on the first Sunday of every month. However, I’ve read that many congregational and Methodist churches in early America had communion only four times a year due to pastors having to go from church to church after shortages of clergy. Luckily, that’s no longer the case.
Yes, traditions deriving from Wesley use prima scriptura. I actually asked my pastor about this a few weeks back: “Why do Methodists use prima scriptura rather than sola scriptura?” The answer was that the Wesleyan Quadrilateral (scripture, tradition, reason, experience) is used to interpret the Bible.
The truth is, Luther used a form of prima scriptura (though he called it sola scriptura, confused with Calvin’s literal meaning at times). It was like what Wesley used, but with reason and experience not being mentioned.
I also think that “experience” means the testimony of the Holy Spirit and that it applies to faith in general and not to specific doctrines.
It’s not like that where I attend, I could only imagine!
As for activities, we don’t do yoga but I’m aware of some missionary work and we have a night of singing performances monthly for the community.If it is “symbolic,” (not my view, just that of some others) then there’s nothing really wrong with it. It isn’t “really” of the presence of Christ, it is simply a symbol: and even that idea is pretty vague.
J
jane_doe
Guest
We partake of the Sacrament (aka the Lord’s Supper every week). Before Sacrament meeting that week, a person should should reflect about Christ, His sacrifice, it’s impact on that person’s life, and what it is to take His name upon us. Right before the passing of the Sacrament, we sing hymns of reflection on these topics, the priests bless the bread, and members contemplate before/after it is their turn to partake.
Nearly anyone can take the Sacrament and does. However, it doesn’t “do” anything sacramentally for non-baptisized individuals. The few people whom shouldn’t are those whom are not ready yet because they are in the process of confessing/repenting of serious sins. These individuals are not singled out in away to the congregation.
L
ltwin
Guest
I’ve never been to a church that did not warn people to examine themselves before taking Communion. No, most churches don’t have ushers stopping people from taking part, but we are told to examine ourselves and only those who have faith in Christ are invited to partake.Anyway, the fundamentalist churches do not seem to care who receives it they just pass that tray around to anybody who wants it. In fact, some of these churches are reducing the Lord to a condiment in pre-packaged material
In response to the pre-packaging, we aren’t “reducing the Lord” into anything, since we don’t think the Lord can be reduced to bread and grape juice in the first place. I have been in Communion services where the elements were “pre-packaged”, but the service was reverent and powerful all the same.
- Status