Communion – Family Faith Companion

Are you encircled by an uplifting, nurturing, cloud of saints?

Posted on November 7, 2016January 6, 2017 by Carol Hulbert

On All Saints Sunday we wrote on a tablecloth the names of saints in our lives This weekend during worship at FUMC, we celebrated All Saints Day.

As always happens during this day of remembrance, we think about the “saints” – those who have contributed to the spiritual journeys of people whose lives they have touched.

On All Saints Day we recognize those from our church who have died over the last year; a bell tolls with the name of each saint that is read.

But people don’t have to be dead to be called a saint! Anyone who personifies God’s extravagant love, or serves others tirelessly, or who nurtures and inspires us, is a saint!

They represent the face of God in our lives.

So to remember all of these saints in our lives, we wrote their names on a tablecloth. Since it was a Communion Sunday, we were invited to make note of our saints as we came up to share bread and juice in community.

I like how after Communion had been served, the pastors took the tablecloth and laid it over the Communion elements. It sort of looked like a cloud.

The tablecloth covers the Communion elements

We call our saints “a cloud of witnesses.” Isn’t that a wonderful metaphor? Can you picture yourself protected and supported by a puffy cloud?

I hope we see more of this tablecloth in the future.

The tablecloth is set up for the 2nd service — The tablecloth is ready for the 2nd service on Sunday. A lot of saints are noted!

a blue line

Photo credits: Photos are from my archives.

A great big party, all around the table!

Posted on October 3, 2012October 1, 2015 by Carol Hulbert

This Sunday is World Communion Sunday.
You might ask: What does that mean for my family?

Answer: It gives you an excuse to talk about what will take place at worship…

Christians from all around the globe…

Approaching the table…
Speaking different languages…
Wearing different styles of clothing…
to eat bread and drink from the cup…
To remember Jesus.

It’s a world-wide celebration!

But how do you talk about Communion?

A way to start is to relate Communion to things that your child already understands: compare Communion to a recent special family banquet. Try this:

At your family feast…	At Communion…
Everyone was gathered together.	Communion is also like a family meal. Christians participating in Communion, from all around the world, are all members of Christ’s family
We told “remember when” stories.	Jesus told his followers at their last meal together to “Do this to remember me.” Communion is a way to remember how Jesus died for us. In his death our sins (anything that separates us from God) are forgiven!
Because everyone was there, we felt thankful.	Communion fills us with thanksgiving, Jesus’ death – and his resurrection – offer us to chance to be God’s friends forever!
Yum, yum. We filled up on good grub.	By participating in Communion we are nourished in a different way – we can feel empowered to do God’s work in the world.

Your family might also be interested in a special Communion class this Sunday. It is geared toward kids K-6th and their parents/guardians, and is designed to prepare kids to participate in the sacrament of Communion. After the “Time with Children,” families may go to the Wesley Lounge to learn about Communion and the basics of how we do it. (And to practice!) After the class, families will return to the sanctuary in time for Communion with the rest of the congregation.

If you are in the area please join us at 9:30 this Sunday at First United Methodist Church in Ann Arbor, MI.

Photo credits:
Globe-gazing by eren {sea+prairie), who licensed this photo on Flickr under a Creative Commons License.

Are you seeing ads? They are not from me! They are placed by WordPress, who otherwise offers a free platform from which to share lots of good-ness. If you see an inappropriate ad, please report it to support@wordpress.com. Include the URL, the date/time the ad appeared, and a screenshot of the ad.

Communion Questions

Posted on July 29, 2010 by Carol Hulbert

This Sunday is the start of a new month! This means that Communion will be served at FUMC in Ann Arbor, MI. The Cool Disciples worship with their families this Sunday.

Do you prepare your kids for a worship service that includes Communion?

What words do you use?

Try out some of these:

We celebrate Communion to remember Jesus. What do you suppose we should remember about Jesus?
I wonder how bread and juice help us remember Jesus?
Communion is based on the Last Supper that Jesus shared with his disciples. I wonder what the disciples were thinking when Jesus said, “This is my body which is given for you?”
I wonder why Jesus used bread and wine for us to remember him, and not other food items from the Passover meal that they were sharing? (Like roasted lamb, bitter herbs, etc.)
I wonder what Jesus would like for us to think about when we take Communion?
At most meal times we eat food so that we can have strength. I wonder how receiving Communion gives us spiritual strength?

Note: Don’t worry about having definitive answers to your pondering!

Even Charles Wesley acknowledged the mystery surrounding Holy Communion when he penned his hymn O the Depth of Love Divine…

O the depth of love divine,
the unfathomable grace!
Who shall say how bread and wine
God into us conveys!
How the bread his flesh imparts,
how the wine transmits his blood,
fills his faithful people’s hearts
with all the life of God!

As you prepare for worship, what will you share with your kids about Communion?

Remember when…

Posted on July 9, 2010 by Carol Hulbert

a family sharing a laugh

Remember when we went to the corn palace?
Remember when Jorge “left part of his car behind?”
Remember when mom got so frustrated she threw the apple peels at the wall?

All memories that bring smiles in our household! (Yes, even that last one!)

How often does your family tell “remember-when” stories?

On the first Sunday of every month at FUMC in Ann Arbor, MI, we tell a remember-when story. Celebrating Communion together is a remember-when story! We are remembering Jesus.

Jesus gave us instructions about remembering him at the Last Supper. This Last Supper was actually a Jewish Passover seder. A seder is a way that Jewish people remember when God saved his people from slavery in Egypt.

At this special seder Jesus gave new meaning to the bread and cup of the meal. They no longer are just reminders of what God did to save the Hebrews in Egypt, but are what God did for the entire world when Jesus died on the cross! Jesus wants us to remember him when we break the bread, and eat with one another. When we take part in Communion in church we remember how Jesus loves us.

Take time to talk about the remember-when stories of Jesus.

Photo credit: From my personal collection.

Gathering at the Table

Posted on July 2, 2010February 26, 2014 by Carol Hulbert

A family gathers around the table for a meal

Do you have 4th of July plans that include a gathering of family and/or friends around the table?

How about plans to join a different kind of family table?

This “gathering at the table” is another way of saying… “sharing Communion”… at the table of God’s family.

What does your child know about Communion?

How do you explain Communion?

A way to start is to relate Communion to things that your child already understands.

Children understand the concept of special meals. Describe Communion as a special meal. Relate your discussion about Communion to a recent special family banquet

At your family feast…	At Communion…
Everyone was gathered together.	Communion is also like a family meal. Christians participating in Communion are all members of Christ’s family
We told “remember when” stories.	Jesus told his followers at their last meal together to “Do this to remember me.” Communion is a way to remember how Jesus died for us. In his death our sins (anything that separates us from God) are forgiven!
Because everyone was there, we felt thankful.	Communion fills us with thanksgiving, Jesus’ death – and his resurrection – offer us to chance to be God’s friends forever!
Yum, yum. We filled up on good grub.	By participating in Communion we are nourished in a different way – we can feel empowered to do God’s work in the world.

It’s a way to start the discussion!

In July (starting on July 11th) our Cool Disciples, our rising 1st through 6th graders, at FUMC in Ann Arbor, MI, will be studying about the Sacrament of Communion. Do you have questions about Communion that your kids have asked? (Or maybe that you’ve wanted to ask.) Submit them here and lets ponder together!