Eucharist

EVENTS 

• took place on first night of the Jewish festival The Passover
• Jesus sent disciples into the city to find a room where they could have the passover meal
• Jesus arrived with 12 disciples and while eating said, "This is my body broken for you" and "This is my blood of the covenant poured out for many"

IMPORTANCE

• Pasover meal important event in Jewish year- remembers Jews escape from Eygpt
• Jesus wanted to celebrate this meal with his friends before he died
• He wanted to give them something to remember him by, wine=blood, bread=body
• Broken body is a dead body- disciples given a share in his death
• poured blood is also a symbol of death
• sharing in his death becomes sharing in his resurrection
• Jesus wante his disciples and those who followed them to have a part in his victory over death and sin that his death and resurrection would bring about

• breaking bread was a regular event
• would gather at one person's house, each would bring something to share
• ate a meal together and repeat what Jesus did at the last supper
• fulfiled Jesus command, "do this in memory of me"
• the rich used to get drunk
• as the number of christians grew, they were unable to fit in one house

• main aspect sis that al people are entitled to an equal share 
• mass is the re- enactment of the last supper, death and resurrection of Jesus
• stresses that all people are united
• eucharist bring community togther
• christian should organize event sthat enable those who would normally feel excluded to become united as they receive the eucharist
• sharing the eucharist is the ultimate sign of unity
• it is not acceptable to say that people are eating togther and ignore those being starved

EVERYTIME WE RECEIVE HOLY COMMUNION, IT UNITES US MORE DEEPLY WITH CHIRST, MAKING US LIVING MEMBERS OF THE BODY OF CHRIST. IT RENEWS THE GRACES THAT YOU RECEIVED IN BAPTISM AND CONFIRMATION AND FORTIFIES US IN THE BATTLE AGAINST SIN

Catholic Beliefs

• transubstantiation- priest consecrates the bread and wine into the body and blood of Jesus
• the eucharist is one of the many ways christ continues to give himself to us out of love
• Jesus promised to be with his church until the end of time
• his presence makes the church a place of prayer and contemplation
• when we receive euchasist we become more christ like
• words change reality if said with authority
• the eucharist gives us enternal life, it also gives us Jesus' life to be more like him
• eucharist is food for the soul and allows chirst to enter fully into our life

SACRIFICE

• it is an offering made to God
• represnts the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross
• sacrifice of the individual as each person gives part of their life to attend mass
• believers present bread+wine as symbols of everyday life to God- offertory
• gives monetary offerings to hlep the church and those in need

MEMORIAL

• reminder of past events + a proclaimation of mighty works wrought by God to men 
• eucharist is a memorial of christ's passover, the making present and the sacramental offering of his unique sacrifice

BASIC STRUCTURE 

• introduction, including penitential rite, prayer of praise and opening prayer
• the liturgy of the world, including readings, homily and bidding prayers 
• the liturgy of the eucharist, including offertory, eucharistic prayer and conseration, our father, prayers for peace and communion
• thanksgiving and dismissal

PRESENCE OF CHRIST

• in consecrated bread and wine
• in readings as christ is the word of God and the readings, especially gospel proclaims word of God
• through believers, christ in baptism and Jesus promised "from where two or three gather in my name, there I am with them"
• Jesus works through the priest as the priest pronouces the words of consecration, he transforms it into his Body and Blood

• structure almost identical to RC service- understanding is different
• Jesus is present in the bread and wine when received- CONSUBSTANTIATION- not present otherwise
• shared action brings community together
• anglicans do not accept transubstantiation- RC and orthodox tradition
• celebrate communion every sunday, during the week and special occasions--
• other services of worhsip do not include eucharist- instead focuses on readings, psalms from bible- sermon, creed, hymns
• no rules to say communion has to be received unlike RC
• only start to receive communion after being confirmed

BELIEFS ARE IDENTICAL TO RC

• believe in transubstantiation
• spiritual nourishment flls them with christ + grace from God- become more christ-like
• memorial of last supper
• liturgy of the word and eucharist practiced

Practices

• consecrated behind iconostasis- represnts the divion betwen heaven and earth
• baptised can revceive it 
• read is homemade and is soaked in wine on a spoon
• unconsecrated bread shared out and taken home as blessed bread

SALVATION ARMY

• no eucharistic celebrations
• no sacraments
• worship through reading bible, fellowship with other believers + working for those in need
• gather sunday- sing, music, readings, prayers and a sermon
• focuses on caring for those less fortunate like Jesus 

QUAKERS

• sunday- sit quietly- wait for inspiration from the holy spirit to prompt them to read/speak
• focuses on direct, personal revolation from God
• direct guidance from the holy spirit
• follow Jesus' example by being open to God in prayer
• no eucharistic celebrations
• no sacarments