WHAT’S UP WITH HOLY COMMUNION?

In The United Methodist Church we value and practice diversity in many different ways. One of them is the manner in which we celebrate the Sacrament of Holy Communion, also called the Lord’s Supper. Let me say first that there is no right or wrong way of doing it because every practice conveys a particular history, theology and understanding of the Scriptures. The two most  common forms of Holy Communion practiced in Protestant churches (mainline and evangelical) in the U.S. are the “Intinction Method” and the “Swiss Reformed Method.”

A. Intinction Method: This practice goes back to the Roman Catholic Eucharist. It centers on the altar table where the minister and communion helpers stand, representing the historical setting where Jesus of Nazareth had the last supper with the disciples before His betrayal and crucifixion. After reading the liturgy, praying and consecrating the elements of bread and cup, the minister invites congregants to come forward and receive the elements. They are invited to the table of God’s pardoning grace in Jesus Christ who says, “Take it; this is my body…this is my blood of the covenant” (Mk. 14:22-24). For many people the walk to the Lord’s Table is a powerful spiritual experience, deepening their sense of awe for the mystery of faith. The Intinction Method is different from the Eucharist in that the congregant receives a piece of bread and dips it into the grape juice (hence the name intinction), partaking of it at once so that there is a flow and unity in administering this Holy Sacrament. But the main theological difference is that in the Roman Catholic Eucharist the elements change substance so as to literally become the body and blood of Christ upon consecration by the priest (doctrine of transubstantiation), whereas in the Intinction Method the Lord is present by the Holy Spirit (doctrine of spiritual representation). Initially, the cup was strictly reserved for the priests out of concern that parishioners might spill Christ’s precious blood.  Arguably, the Apostle Paul subscribed to the transubstantiation doctrine when he wrote, “whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of sinning against the body and blood of the Lord” (1 Cor. 11:27, emphasis mine). 

B. Swiss Reformed Method: During the European Reformation of the 16^th century a dispute arose between the German theologian Martin Luther and the Swiss pastor Ulrich Zwingli. While Luther believed that the elements turned literally into the body and blood of Christ (“this is my body…this is my blood”), thus adhering to the Roman Catholic transubstantiation doctrine, Zwingli insisted that the Lord was only symbolically, not physically, present (doctrine of symbolic representation), thereby breaking with a long-standing church tradition. Eventually, Zwingli parted ways with Luther and started his own reformation movement in Zurich, Switzerland. In what is known as the Zurich Liturgy of 1525, Zwingli wrote, “…the bread shall be carried round by the designated servers on broad wooden plates from one seat to the next—to allow each person to break off a morsel or mouthful with his hand and eat it. In the same fashion, they shall go round with the wine, so that no one need move from his place” (Bard Thompson, Liturgies of the Western Church, 1961, p. 150). The main difference here is that the elements go to the congregants in the pews. Later it became impractical to pass around a loaf of bread and cup so they were replaced with small wafers and individual cups (public health being one reason!). The Swiss Reformed or the wafer-and-small-cups method is practiced in many evangelical and conservative congregations today. The underlying theology is that of the Gospel of John, “The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us” (Jn. 1:14, emphasis added). The idea conveyed is that Christ—symbolically represented by the elements—comes to us and is one among us, thus expressing the democratic ethos of non-mainline denominations. Historically, the  Intinction Method is a compromise between the traditional transubstantiation and the Zwinglian symbolic representation doctrines.

The Worship & Music Team wants to incorporate more theological diversity into the practice of Holy Communion at Downey UMC. Hence, we have decided to use both methods and alternate between intinction and wafers-and-small-cups on a trial basis, starting in September 2009. We’d love to receive your feedback as we are trying to make worship and Holy Communion as meaningful as possible for everyone when we gather as the Body of Christ.

Blessings, Pastor Lui Tran

As you know I came from a country which became sadly and deeply divided by a political

system, when never before this situation had

happened over there.  Now it happens in the Christian church globally when by controversial issues the body of Christ is divided by people who prefer be called conservatives or liberals.

Jesus came to call us his friends and no servants of any cause which damages the truth and the unity of the Church, no forgetting we are a friendly people called to give God’s love to any human being in the whole world.

I would like to share any comments from you about this article “Hispanic-From Legend to

Reality” by Rev. Emilio Muller, Director of Latino Ministries, which appeared on the final number page 19 of Circuit West.  I hope it would help to develop new visions for our Hispanic Ministry.

Peace and Love

Pastor David Achón

Como ustedes saben yo vine de un pais al cual vino a ser tristemente y profundamente dividido por un sistema politico, cuando nunca antes habia ocurrido esta situacion en mi pais. Ahora esto sucede en la Iglesia Cristiana globalmente cuando por asuntos controversiales el Cuerpo de Cristo es dividido por personas quienes prefieren llamarse conservadores o liberales.  Jesus vino para llamarnos sus amigos y no servidores de cualquier causa que daña la verdad y la unidad de la Iglesia, no olvidando que somos un pueblo amigable para dar el amor de Dios a cualquier ser humano en todo el mundo.

Me gustaria compartir cualquier comentario suyo sobre este articulo “Hispano-de Leyenda a       Realidad” por el Rev, Emilio Muller, Director de Ministerios Latinos publicado en el final numero de Circuit West pag. 19.  Espero que ello

ayudaria a desarrollar nuevas visiones para nuestro Ministerio Hispano.

Paz y Amor

Pastor David Achón

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www.downeypreschool.com
 

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The Finance Committee

Downey United Methodist Church

10801 Downey Avenue

Downey, CA 90241

Phone: (562) 861-9777

Fax: (562) 861-1749

Monday—Thursday

9 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.

Friday

9-12 p.m.

Sunday

Worship Time

10 a.m.

Rev. Lui Tran

Preaching

Servicios en español con

 Pastor David Achón