And they devoted themselves to the apostles'' teaching and fellowship, to the breaking of bread and prayers.
Acts 2.42
| Text size: +/-Holy Communion
Since earliest times, Christians have shared in 'the breaking of bread' or Holy Communion. This recalls Jesus ' Last Supper with his disciples, on the night of his arrest.
On this occasion, Jesus, in a traditional Jewish way, interpreted some elements of the meal as having symbolic significance. But instead of relating them to the past, he linked them to what God was doing now, through him.
He took bread and wine and blessed them, and shared them with his disciples, saying 'this is my body', and 'this is my blood.'
After his death and resurrection, Jesus' disciples went on breaking bread together when they worshipped. This custom became the sacrament of Holy Communion.
This sacrament is an act of worship in which we share ordinary material things (bread and wine - the latter is always non-alcoholic in a Methodist Church). Through God's grace, the bread, the wine and the gathered people come to embody the transcendent love of God in Christ.
John Wesley encouraged Methodists to share in Holy Communion regularly. It is a feast in which we encounter Christ present with us now. It is one of the most important ways in which we learn, over time, what it means to be a Christian disciple. And we learn through being nourished and fed.
Read a review of Share this Feast - reflecting on Holy Communion. This is a devotional book to enable individuals to go deeper into the meaning of the sacrament.
Or go to the full Conference Report of 2003 - 'His Presence makes the Feast.' This explores a range of Methodist experience and practice around Holy Communion.
