Get Ready for Online Communion - Sundays @ 11am
WHAT IS COMMUNION?
God speaks to and shares grace with humanity is so many ways. While God's grace is abundant and can be found in every corner of life, God has also established a special and unique way to share grace with God's people. We call these special and unique ways of God sharing grace sacraments. Sacraments were established by Jesus and given to the church as a vehicle for sharing God's grace. Sacraments use an outward sign to show an inward grace that the believer then receives. In The United Methodist Church, we recognize two sacraments: Baptism and Holy Communion.
In Holy Communion we give thanks, we "commune" with other believers, we remember Jesus, we offer and re-present Jesus' sacrifice, we receive God's grace through the Holy Spirit, and we anticipate God's perfect future for creation. In Holy Communion Jesus is truly present with the church as we taste and see the goodness of God.
When we share communion we receive the bread and receive the fruit of the vine (grape juice or wine) and in doing so we receive the presence of Jesus.
WHAT IS ONLINE COMMUNION?
Through the history of the church, communion has been a special vehicle of sharing God's grace. It sustains the believer and it also draws new believers to repentance and new life in Jesus. One of the markers of Holy Communion is that it is communal. It is something that the church does as a gathered community. But what happens when the church cannot gather physically? During the COVID-19 crisis, the church is forced to reconsider what it means to be gathered. Most functions of the church are done virtually: online and over the phone.
Even as the church cannot physically gather, God is no less present in these virtual gatherings. Perhaps, we find that virtual gatherings are not virtual at all. Instead, the virtual is real and present in the lives of real and present people. Into these irregular times, we believe that God's sustaining and special grace of communion is a unique way to share in the life giving love of Jesus. Through sharing of communion, even online, the communal act of the church brings people together in spirit and in reality to share in the presence of Jesus. This is the why of celebrating communion online.
HOW DO WE DO ONLINE COMMUNION?
When we celebrate communion online, you are encouraged to prepare. This means that you need to set a table that you will invite Jesus to dwell at as the host.
Here's what you can do:
Find a special plate (it doesn't have to be fancy, just something that is special to you) and a special cup. Set these aside for communion.
Then prepare you elements. Traditionally bread and wine (or grape juice) are used. Since we are preparing for a special encounter with God, it is important to take care in what elements you prepare. We encourage you to make your own bread. See the video above for Pastor Will's super easy communion bread recipe. If you are not able to make your bread or use bread, you can use a substitute such as a cracker. Then prepare some grape juice or wine. If you don't have grape juice or wine, consider using water.
After you have set aside your elements, gather them prior to an online worship service where we will have communion. Then set the table. Place your bread on your plate, prepare the cup with wine or juice.
During the service there will be a time when we will share in communion together. We participate, together, in the telling of the communion story and in the prayers. Then, you will be asked to partake of this blessed grace found at Jesus' table where you are. If you are gathered physically with others, please take time to serve each other; we recognize that Christ came to serve, so we too serve. If you are gathered spiritually together but physically alone, serve yourself, knowing that in this you are actually being service by Jesus, the host of our table.
As you take and eat and drink, recognize the presence of Jesus. Ask Jesus to fill you with his love and his grace.
HOW CAN I MAKE THE BREAD?
1 cup flour
1/2 cup water
pinch of salt
1/2 tsp baking powder (optional)
Heat a heavy skillet on the stove with you mix your ingredients.
Pour dry ingredients into a bowl and mix well.
Add the water and mix the dough.
Once it comes together as a ragged dough roll it out on a floured surface.
Kneed the dough for about 5 minutes.
Pinch off a piece about the size of a golf ball.
Roll out the dough to the thickness of a tortilla.
Move it to a hot pan. Cook on the first side briefly then flip it until both sides are sealed.
Then flip it back to the first side and allow it to cook about a minute.
Flip it to the second side and cook about a minute until done.
God speaks to and shares grace with humanity is so many ways. While God's grace is abundant and can be found in every corner of life, God has also established a special and unique way to share grace with God's people. We call these special and unique ways of God sharing grace sacraments. Sacraments were established by Jesus and given to the church as a vehicle for sharing God's grace. Sacraments use an outward sign to show an inward grace that the believer then receives. In The United Methodist Church, we recognize two sacraments: Baptism and Holy Communion.
In Holy Communion we give thanks, we "commune" with other believers, we remember Jesus, we offer and re-present Jesus' sacrifice, we receive God's grace through the Holy Spirit, and we anticipate God's perfect future for creation. In Holy Communion Jesus is truly present with the church as we taste and see the goodness of God.
When we share communion we receive the bread and receive the fruit of the vine (grape juice or wine) and in doing so we receive the presence of Jesus.
WHAT IS ONLINE COMMUNION?
Through the history of the church, communion has been a special vehicle of sharing God's grace. It sustains the believer and it also draws new believers to repentance and new life in Jesus. One of the markers of Holy Communion is that it is communal. It is something that the church does as a gathered community. But what happens when the church cannot gather physically? During the COVID-19 crisis, the church is forced to reconsider what it means to be gathered. Most functions of the church are done virtually: online and over the phone.
Even as the church cannot physically gather, God is no less present in these virtual gatherings. Perhaps, we find that virtual gatherings are not virtual at all. Instead, the virtual is real and present in the lives of real and present people. Into these irregular times, we believe that God's sustaining and special grace of communion is a unique way to share in the life giving love of Jesus. Through sharing of communion, even online, the communal act of the church brings people together in spirit and in reality to share in the presence of Jesus. This is the why of celebrating communion online.
HOW DO WE DO ONLINE COMMUNION?
When we celebrate communion online, you are encouraged to prepare. This means that you need to set a table that you will invite Jesus to dwell at as the host.
Here's what you can do:
Find a special plate (it doesn't have to be fancy, just something that is special to you) and a special cup. Set these aside for communion.
Then prepare you elements. Traditionally bread and wine (or grape juice) are used. Since we are preparing for a special encounter with God, it is important to take care in what elements you prepare. We encourage you to make your own bread. See the video above for Pastor Will's super easy communion bread recipe. If you are not able to make your bread or use bread, you can use a substitute such as a cracker. Then prepare some grape juice or wine. If you don't have grape juice or wine, consider using water.
After you have set aside your elements, gather them prior to an online worship service where we will have communion. Then set the table. Place your bread on your plate, prepare the cup with wine or juice.
During the service there will be a time when we will share in communion together. We participate, together, in the telling of the communion story and in the prayers. Then, you will be asked to partake of this blessed grace found at Jesus' table where you are. If you are gathered physically with others, please take time to serve each other; we recognize that Christ came to serve, so we too serve. If you are gathered spiritually together but physically alone, serve yourself, knowing that in this you are actually being service by Jesus, the host of our table.
As you take and eat and drink, recognize the presence of Jesus. Ask Jesus to fill you with his love and his grace.
HOW CAN I MAKE THE BREAD?
1 cup flour
1/2 cup water
pinch of salt
1/2 tsp baking powder (optional)
Heat a heavy skillet on the stove with you mix your ingredients.
Pour dry ingredients into a bowl and mix well.
Add the water and mix the dough.
Once it comes together as a ragged dough roll it out on a floured surface.
Kneed the dough for about 5 minutes.
Pinch off a piece about the size of a golf ball.
Roll out the dough to the thickness of a tortilla.
Move it to a hot pan. Cook on the first side briefly then flip it until both sides are sealed.
Then flip it back to the first side and allow it to cook about a minute.
Flip it to the second side and cook about a minute until done.
Location
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P.O. Box 1255 | 145 Vernon Street | Decatur | TN | 37322
423.334.4130 |
WorshipSunday Worship | Weekly @ 11am
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To create hope in our community, we connect families and children with the life changing love of Jesus.