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Communion (Breaking of Bread) |
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The communion service is usually held weekly on a Sunday morning, as one part of the normal service of worship and teaching about God. Although the person who leads this is asked in advance, during the time of singing and praying there is a chance for anyone to ask for a song they would like, or to pray out loud to God. This is often called 'open worship'. |
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Before the communion is shared, whoever is leading the service will read from the Bible, where it describes Jesus sharing a loaf of bread and a cup of red wine with his disciples at the Last Supper, before he died. Then they will pray and thank God. Jesus told his disciples that the bread was to remind them of his broken body on the cross, and the red wine of his blood, that forgives all those who believe in Him. Christians share bread and wine to remember Jesus; that he died for them on the cross, rose from the dead and promised to come back again. Sometimes the bread and wine are shared in different ways, so that it does not become a routine. Usually a few people are asked to serve everybody else. The wine is in small glasses and carried in a special tray, so that every person has their own small glass, and when everybody has been served, the whole church can drink together as one. The bread is broken and carried around on plates, and everyone who wants to share tears a piece off. At this time, people talk to God themselves, to thank him for what he has done for them. This is very important, not as a time to think about death, but to humbly thank God that they are forgiven and can have a relationship with him. |
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