From The Pastor’s Desk
From the Pastor’s Desk…
The Real Presence of Christ
Communion, one of the two Sacraments we, as Global Methodists, recognize, holds a unique role in our faith. It is not just a ritual but a spiritual nourishment for everyone who comes as a repentant sinner seeking to live a life called by Christ. It enriches us as we are fed as we go out to minister, nourishing our whole being. This unique role is why it is the one sacrament meant to be received daily or as often as possible. Without it, one petition in the Lord’s Prayer- 'Give us this day our daily bread' lacks the fullness of its meaning.
Every life is nourished by its own kind- the body by material food, the intellect by mental food. But the life we are now concerned with is Christ living in us; the only possible food for us is…Christ. What our Lord was giving us was a union with Himself. "Whosoever shall eat this bread, or drink from this chalice of the Lord shall remember what our Lord did for us”; and "By your, Spirit make us one with Christ, one with each other, and one in ministry to all the world until Christ comes in final victory and we feast at His heavenly banquet."- A reminder that Communion is not only for each person's soul, but for the unity of the Mystical Body. For Global Methodist, nothing could be simpler. Return to what He said. The bread is in remembrance not of the whole Christ but of His body broken for us. The grape juice is not changed into the entire Christ, but of His blood shed for us and for many for the forgiveness of Sin. This unity, this oneness, is what makes us strong and connected.
Christ lives; death has no more dominion over Him. The bread becomes His body, where His body is, there He is; the grape juice becomes His blood but is not thereby separated from His body, for that would mean death; where His blood is, He is. Christ, body and blood, soul and divinity. This is not just a symbolic act, but the Real Presence of Christ in our midst, a powerful and spiritual reality that we experience in Communion.
As we begin 2025, remember Christ is life, His teachings, and the gift He gave to us. Eat, drink, and remember. We went through quite a bit in 2024. But look at all the amazing things God has done for us. I hope and pray that you take the opportunity to share in the body and blood of Christ this coming year. We offer communion monthly during worship and after church on other Sundays. I encourage you to make a commitment to participate in Communion regularly, as it is a vital part of our faith journey. When you do, you will be fed, and then, as you are nourished, you can go and serve as God calls us to serve.
Come Grow with Us,
Misty