Noun: The sharing or exchanging of intimate thoughts and feelings, especially when the exchange is on a mental or spiritual level.

So what is it to be in communion with someone? It’s that relationship you have with a spouse, good friend, or neighbor that takes it to ‘the next level’ of a relationship. You are at that point that you can share almost anything without fear of losing that relationship.

In the Church, Communion takes on a different meaning, it is a meal shared with those around you who have a similar belief system. It is a special meal, one that represents the last meal Christ shared with his disciples. Back then, the meal was simple, bread, lentils, fruits, vegetables, dates, nuts, and maybe some fish with wine as a drink. It’s that meal Christians try to emulate with our now traditional bread and wine event in the hope that they too can be in communion with God.

When I came to the Methodist Church, I was always puzzled how the first Communion for a child or even an adult just didn’t seem to be a big deal. There was no special time, no special age, kids just looked up at their mom or dad and said ‘Can I today?’ Growing up in the Catholic church, First Communion was a big event, one of the many first’s you will have in your lifetime. A celebration, a time for the family to get together and witness the event where you partake in Communion with the Church congregation for the first time and then enjoy fellowship afterward.

Yesterday, now that Suzanne is eating solid foods again, she was able to have communion, another chance for a celebration. Our pastors both came to visit, pray and provide her the blessed bread and wine for her meal. It definitely was not her first Communion, but possibly, it could have been her last traditional Communion. The simple task of eating a small piece of bread followed by a sip of grape juice may not be possible after her upcoming surgery.

So from here on, every time you approach the altar to share in that meal with your fellow congregation, do so humbly and thankfully. As you commune with God, do it for your self, those around you, and those that can’t be there with you, there are thousands of Suzanne’s in the world that would love to be where you are at that moment.

Now as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and after blessing it, broke it, and gave it to the disciples, and said, “Take, eat; this is my body.” And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he gave it to them, saying, “Drink of it, all of you, for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.
Matthew 26:26-28