Celebrating the Eucharist

Dear 5th Grade Parents,

I am so excited about seeing your students in Middle School Chapel this school year. The biggest change students experience in Chapel is the celebration of Eucharist (also known as The Lord’s Supper or Holy Communion) on Wednesdays. The Episcopal Church defines Eucharist as 

The sacrament of Christ's body and blood, and the principal act of Christian worship. The term is from the Greek, “thanksgiving.” Jesus instituted the eucharist “on the night when he was betrayed.” At the Last Supper he shared the bread and cup of wine at a sacred meal with his disciples. He identified the bread with his body and the wine with his blood of the new covenant. Jesus commanded his disciples to “do this” in remembrance of him (see 1 Cor 11:23-26; Mk 14:22-25; Mt 26:26-29; Lk 22:14-20). Christ's sacrifice is made present by the eucharist, and in it we are united to his one self-offering (BCP, p. 859). The Last Supper provides the basis for the fourfold eucharistic action of taking, blessing, breaking, and sharing. Christ's body and blood are really present in the sacrament of the eucharist and received by faith. Christ's presence is also known in the gathered eucharistic community. (www.episcopalchurch.org)

When we celebrate the Eucharist, your students have two options. They may come forward up the center aisle with their arms crossed on their chests indicating the desire to receive a blessing but not the Sacrament, or they may hold their hands open in front of them indicating that they will participate in the Eucharist. If you are not comfortable with either of these options, they may stay in their seat. Please discuss in advance with your student which choice is right for your family and best honors your own faith tradition. 

If your students choose to participate, they may take only the wafer or they may receive the wafer and dip it into the wine (called intinction). Receiving only the wafer is considered full communion in the Episcopal tradition.  If you have concerns about your students receiving the wine, please speak to them about this in advance.

Gluten free wafers will be made available. Please contact me if you require gluten free so our Altar guild can prepare, and we can avoid cross-contamination. 

Our first celebration of the Eucharist will be Wednesday, September 9 at 11:30am. All 5th grade parents are invited to join us for chapel that day and participate. We will worship this year in the Williams Gallery in the Fine Arts Building.

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me.  It is a joy and a privilege to share in worship with your students each day.

Many blessings,

The Rev. Shannon Weisenfels

Director of Spiritual Life and Community