Outline for Overview Study of This Holy Mystery: Three 1.5-hour Sessions

Using the Study Edition of the official statement on Holy Communion adopted by the 2004 General Conference

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The plan of study as presented in This Holy Mystery: A United Methodist Understanding of Holy Communionby Gayle Carlton Felton (Discipleship Resources, 2005) is designed for seven sessions. We recognize that a study of that length may not be feasible in every congregation. The following outline offers help in covering some of the material in three sessions instead. Such a plan will have great value in itself and may also stimulate sufficient interest to make additional sessions possible later.

Preparation for Participants

Please bring to every session your Bible, paper and pen, and your copy of the Felton study edition of This Holy Mysterythat contains the text of the document along with commentary and learning aids.

Try to read the referenced pages of This Holy Mystery prior to the sessions. Write down your questions and comments to share with the group.

Preparation for Leaders

• Plan each segment of the sessions with careful attention to allotment of time.
• Become thoroughly familiar with This Holy Mystery and with "A Service of Word and Table I" in The United Methodist Hymnal (pages 6-11).
• Provide copies of the hymnal and The Book of Discipline for use by participants during the sessions.
• If appropriate for the group, provide nametags.

Arrangements:

If the size of the group allows it, have participants sit at tables. Provide amplification if needed. An overhead projector or large marker board will be helpful.

Session 1
The Significance of Holy Communion
Part 1 (pages 3-13; all page references are to the Felton edition of This Holy Mystery)

The goal of this study is the renewal of worship in United Methodist congregations through enhanced appreciation of the sacrament of Holy Communion. Unfortunately, many of our churches have strayed far away from the rich liturgical and sacramental heritage of Christian tradition. Our continuing decline in membership and worship attendance are indicators, warnings even, that our worship life is in crucial need of revitalization. It is not so much that we desire larger numbers of people. It is that we need to provide — to as many people as possible — deepened experiences of encounter with God through our worship.

The document By Water and the Spirit: A United Methodist Understanding of Baptismwas adopted by the 1996 General Conference. This official interpretive and teaching resource has already elevated and expanded our understanding of baptism as the source of our identity and mission as Christians. (A study version with commentary and study guidei s available from Discipleship Resources.) Its provisions have been incorporated into The Book of Discipline to clarify the relationship between baptism and church membership and the role of the sacrament in the lifelong journey of faith.

This Holy Mystery: A United Methodist Understanding of Holy Communion, adopted by the 2004 General Conference, has a similar purpose. We believe that study of this document will yield increased appreciation of the centrality of the sacrament in the worship experience andwill enable United Methodist people to draw nourishment and strength for the ongoing journey of faith.

Teaching and Learning Suggestions

1. Examine the Table of Contents on page 3, noting the overall organization of the document and the topics discussed.
2. Does the little girl's cry, "I want more," express the feeling of people in your congregation? If so, how can this desire be responded to? If not, how can that desire be engendered?
3. Read Luke 24:13-34 aloud and talk about how this story helps us to grasp the power of the Eucharist.

Part 2 (pages 15-21)

United Methodism is characterized by a theology of grace that emphasizes God's free gift of salvation to all who will accept it. Grace is manifested in our lives in several functions. We believe that God channels divine grace to us through a variety of means or instruments that God has chosen. The sacraments should be understood as especially potent means of grace.

Although there is no fully developed theology of Holy Communion laid out in the New Testament, several major ideas are present — thanksgiving, fellowship, remembrance, sacrifice, action of the Holy Spirit, and eschatology. All of these contribute to our understanding of the sacrament today. We come to the Table of the Lord seeking to have our spiritual needs met. These benefits include forgiveness, nourishment, healing, transformation, ministry and mission, and eternal life.

Teaching and Learning Suggestions

1. Read aloud the biblical references that are cited for the New Testament meanings of Holy Communion (pages 17-18) and discuss their meaning. How does this material relate to our understandings of the sacrament today?
2. Find places in the Service of Word and Table I (pages 6-11 in The United Methodist Hymnal) that express the spiritual benefits to be gained by partaking of Holy Communion.

Session 2
The Experience of Holy Communion
Part 1 (pages 23-31)

For many United Methodists, the remembrance or memorial aspect of the Eucharist is the sole, or at least prime, meaning that they recognize. But Holy Communion involves much more. A sacrament is a sign-act in which God uses the tangible and material as vehicle for spiritual grace. In Holy Communion, Jesus Christ, through the power of the Holy Spirit, is truly present with and for the church. Christ's presence is not physical; Christ cannot be seen or touched. But Christ can be perceived and experienced by those who come to the Table.

The divine presence is not in the elements of bread and wine (as Roman Catholicism holds). Neither does the reality of the presence depend upon the faith of the worshipers. The presence is an act of God and is objective — existing independent of any human thought or act. This truth is a mystery; it is far beyond our human capacity to grasp or explain.

Christ is the host who invites us to the Table. Therefore, we are to be careful in imposing our own views as to who is eligible to come. Historically, baptized Christians have been considered members of the body of Christ and, therefore, qualified to eat the meal of the Christian community. Many branches of Christianity require baptism and some insist upon the test of an acceptable moral life. Methodism in America has moved in another direction, and most United Methodists deeply value the "open table." This does not mean that the table is open to any who might choose to partake for whatever reason. The table is open to any who honestly respond to the invitation as given in the ritual. For this reason, it is very important that every Eucharistic service include the invitation in the ritual, followed by confession and pardon in preparation for receiving.

It is essential that we recognize and teach the relationship between the two sacraments. Baptism initiates a person into the church, incorporates an individual into the body of Christ. In baptism, we are claimed by God and made a part of the community of faith. Holy Communion is the sacred meal of that community of faith, celebrated in eating and drinking with one another and with Christ. Eucharist nourishes and sustains Christians as we continue striving to live as the people God told us in baptism that we are.

Teaching and Learning Suggestions

1. Notice that the remainder of the document is organized into principles, backgrounds, and practices as is explained on pages 8-9.
2. How does the realization of the presence of Christ affect your experience of the Lord's Supper?
3. Discuss the meaning of the sentence, "Holy Communion always offers grace."
4. How would you explain to people who are not baptized why they need to receive that sacrament if they are to continue partaking of the Lord's Supper?

Part 2 (pages 33-41)

Perhaps the most enthusiastic recommendation made by the committee that created This Holy Mystery was that congregations increase the frequency of their celebration of Holy Communion. The goal is ultimately to offer the Eucharist weekly at Sunday services. This would be a restoration of the fullness of Christian worship that includes both Word and Table.

It needs to be made clear to congregations that Holy Communion is a celebration that includes all of the worshiping community. Pastors are not the sole actors, while the people watch passively. Baptized Christians share in the ministry of the church, including that of sacrament.

The Great Thanksgiving prayer is at the heart of the Eucharist. It is led by the presiding pastor with responses by the congregation. The prayer includes thanksgiving for the divine work of creation, summary of God's action in salvation history, institution of the Lord's Supper by Christ, invocation of the Holy Spirit, and praise of the triune God.

Probably in every congregation there are people who are unavoidably absent from services of worship and thus unable to receive Holy Communion with the gathered community. These people are members of the community of faith and should be offered the sacrament at another time and place. If consecrated elements from the congregational service are used, either clergy or laity can carry out this ministry. See pages 77-79 for a service from The Book of Worship. It is designed for use by clergy, but can be adapted for lay use.

The ritual texts in The United Methodist Hymnal and The Book of Worship are the culmination of a long process of development by the church. They draw upon the best of Christian tradition and authentically express the sacramental understandings of the church. These rituals are designed for rich and meaningful celebrations. Pastors are to use these rituals in their leadership of the Eucharist. This does not mean that there are no circumstances in which other rituals might be used or in which the creativity of leaders can be expressed. It does mean that pastors are not free to substitute their individual preferences and practices in the place of those instituted by the church.

Teaching and Learning Suggestions

1. How often does your congregation celebrate the Lord's Supper? Are there special occasions of offering the sacrament in addition to this regular schedule? Suggest some ways by which your congregation might be encouraged toward more frequent Eucharist. What objections might be raised and how would you answer them?
2. Does your congregation extend the table by taking Holy Communion to those who cannot attend? Discuss ways to get more laypeople involved in this ministry.
3. How closely does the usual service of Holy Communion in your church accord with the rituals in the hymnal? What important aspects might be missing in the service if the ritual is not used? Suggest some variations in the service that might be both meaningful and faithful.

Session 3
The Ministry of Holy Communion
Part 1 (pages 42-47)

People participating in Eucharistic ministry include both clergy and laity. Within the clergy category, there are elders, licensed local pastors, and deacons. Recent changes (1996) in the ordering of ministry in The United Methodist Church have raised new questions about the proper roles of each of these groups. Clearly, ordained elders are authorized to administer the sacraments at all times and places. The Discipline describes their ordination as being to service, word, sacrament, and order. Licensed local pastors are not ordained elders, although they may be in the process of working toward ordination. Since 1976, our denomination has authorized them to administer the sacraments in the places of ministry to which they are appointed by their bishop. This authorization is an exception to the requirement of elders' orders. It is accepted because licensed local pastors serve as pastors-in-charge in many congregations. Those congregations can best receive the sacraments regularly if their pastor is able to serve them. Indeed, in some cases, people in these (usually small) churches might be denied the sacraments for long periods if their local licensed pastor were not able to baptize and commune them.

Deacons are also ordained clergy in our church. This category of ministry was established by the General Conference in 1996, and the church is still coming to understand it fully. Deacons are ordained to word and service, but not to sacrament. This means that for the first time in our denomination's history, ordination and sacramental authority are separated. Deacons serve in a variety of very significant ministries, but they are not expected to be pastors-in-charge of congregations. They assist elders in administering baptism and Holy Communion and should have distinct roles in these services. For more on this, see "The Role of the Deacon and Assisting Minister" by Daniel Benedict and M. Anne Burnette Hook, pages 130-136, in Worship Matters (Volume I), edited by E. Byron Anderson.

In accord with the tenet that the whole gathered community should be actively engaged in Eucharistic celebration, laypersons should read Scripture and lead prayers (not the Great Thanksgiving), prepare the table and elements, bring the elements forward in offering, help distribute the consecrated elements to those communing, and render other appropriate service.

(pages 42-47)

The architecture and arrangement of our worship spaces are important because they communicate nonverbal messages to worshipers. For Holy Communion to be appreciated as a community meal with Christ, the table that holds the elements is significant. The table should be freestanding and situated so as to allow the presiding pastor to stand behind it facing the people. It should not be cluttered with other worship paraphernalia that might distract from the elements. It is preferable that the table not be referred to as the "altar," since that term carries the meaning of sacrifice and may obscure other rich meanings of the sacrament.

The bread used in Holy Communion is a sign of the body of Christ offered for our redemption and a sign of the church constituted as the body of Christ. While necessary variations in its content and form are allowable, the bread should always communicate these meanings as clearly as possible. Use of a whole loaf, which after consecration is broken and distributed to those communing, illustrates the unity of the church.

In contrast to the practice of historic and ecumenical Christianity, The United Methodist Church customarily uses unfermented grape juice in the Eucharist. This practice is the outcome of the temperance and prohibition movements of the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. Use of a single cup or chalice for drinking or intinction expresses the unity of the church. The symbolism of Christ's blood of the new covenant is clearest when red or purple juice is served.

Disposal of the consecrated elements that are left over after all are served is a significant theological action. These elements are no longer physical bread and juice only; they have been set apart for holy use. They are to be used to take the sacrament to those unable to attend. If there is more than is needed for that purpose, they may be reverently consumed by clergy and laity or disposed of by returning them to the earth.

Care should be taken in the preparation and serving of the elements to protect their cleanliness. In our concern about communicable diseases, actions within the service may reassure congregations that hygiene is being considered.

Teaching and Learning Suggestions

1. Consider the role of ordained clergy in the church. Why is such a designated group of people needed? Read Section I of Chapter Two in the Book of Discipline for help.
2. Discuss as many ways as you can think of that laypersons can be involved in the Eucharistic ministry of the church.
3. Describe the arrangements of and around the Communion Table in your congregation. Are there ways that these arrangements could be changed in order to enhance services of Holy Communion?
4. What kinds or forms of bread have you seen served in the Lord's Supper? What do think communicates most powerfully the significance of the sacrament?
5. Read 1 Corinthians 10:16-17 and discuss its significance for fellowship and unity in the community of faith.
6. On a markerboard or sheet of newsprint, list the arguments for and against the use of wine rather than grape juice in Holy Communion.

Part 2 (pages 55-62)

The significance of Holy Communion is not limited to the participating congregation or to the occasion of the sacramental celebration. Encounter with the living Christ at the Table transforms people and empowers them for the ministry of evangelism. The church must never be content simply to enjoy fellowship with those familiar people who share the Table. It must engage in the active work of outreach — proclaiming the gospel, bringing sinners to repentance, welcoming those who respond to the good news, and incorporating them into the community of faith.

Sacramentalism and evangelicalism have sometimes been considered to be in opposition to each other. This is a distortion of the gospel message and, particularly, of the teaching of John Wesley. Participation in the sacraments is one of the most potent ways by which people are imbued with the imperative to engage in evangelism. The sacraments are not chiefly ends in themselves; they are means to enable the church to continue Christ's ministry of redeeming the world. This is a ministry that should reach out to all people — all are valued and loved by God — and especially to those who are oppressed, discriminated against, and rejected.

The grace received in the Lord's Supper is a "grace unto ... ." It is grace unto forgiveness, new life, and sanctification. There should be a direct linkage between our partaking of Holy Communion and our living lives of Christian discipleship. Sacramental grace can transform our lives and enable us to live in ever-growing holiness, both personal and social. Holiness involves our personal ethical decisions and actions. Holiness also involves our work for justice and peace in the world.

The sacrament of Holy Communion is God's gift to the entire Christian church. As United Methodists, we understand that we are only one small part of that greater body of Christ. Partaking in Eucharist reminds us of both our unity with all Christians and of the divisions within the church. United Methodists join in the Eucharistic celebrations of other Christians when we are welcome to do so. We invite all baptized Christians to commune with us when they are present at our celebrations. Our church has been in the past and is now involved in bilateral dialogues with other denominations — the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America and the Episcopal Church, for example — in the hope of establishing full communion. We are also working with Churches Uniting in Christ toward similar goals. United Methodists enter into these discussions with faithfulness to our own tradition and sources of authority, and with respect for those of other groups.

Teaching and Learning Suggestions

1. Discuss the meaning of the following phrase from the prayer after Communion: "Grant that we may go into the world in the strength of your Spirit, to give ourselves for others."
2. Discuss and make a list of categories of people who are absent from the Communion Table in your congregation. How can you work to bring them in? Why must you do so?
3. Read aloud "Our Social Creed" (found at the end of the "Social Principles" part of the Discipline) and analyze the meaning of each of its paragraphs.
4. Investigate and take advantage of opportunities to celebrate Holy Communion together with other Christian bodies in your local community.

For Additional Reading and Study

• Anderson, E. Byron. The Meaning of Holy Communion(available only in packs of 10).
  
• Felton, Gayle Carlton. By Water and the Spirit: Making Connections for Identity and Ministry.
  
• Felton, Gayle Carlton. This Gift of Water: The Practice and Theology of Baptism Among Methodists in America.
  
• Felton, Gayle Carlton. This Holy Mystery: A United Methodist Understanding of Holy Communion.
  
• McElvaney, William K. Eating and Drinking at the Welcome Table.
  
• Stamm, Mark W. Sacraments and Discipleship.
  
• Stookey, Laurence H. Baptism: Christ's Act in the Church.
  
• Stookey, Laurence H. Eucharist: Christ's Feast with the Church.
  
• Tucker, Karen Westerfield. American Methodist Worship.
  
• White, James F. Sacraments As God's Self-Giving.
  
• Willimon, William H. Remember Who You Are.
  
• Willimon, William H. Sunday Dinner.

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This study outline was prepared by Dr. Gayle C. Felton, author of This Holy Mystery: A United Methodist Understanding of Holy Communion.

"Outline for Overview Study of This Holy Mystery (Three Sessions)" Copyright © 2005 Discipleship Ministries, PO Box 340003, Nashville TN 37203-0003. Worship website: www.umcworship.org.

This study guide may be printed, copied, distributed, reprinted or otherwise used for nonprofit local church worship or education with the inclusion of the may be printed, copied, distributed, reprinted in church bulletins or newsletters, or otherwise used for nonprofit local church worship or education with the inclusion of the copyright citation and Discipleship Ministries Worship website as its source. It may not be used for profit or republication without prior permission. It may not be reproduced on another website, although other websites are welcome to link to it.