The Arcola Presbyterian Church celebrates the sacrament of communion or Eucharist the first Sunday of each month. Any disciple of Jesus Christ is welcome to receive the sacrament, as are baptized children with their parent’s permission.
The sacrament of communion has deep meaning. It recalls how Jesus, sitting with His disciples the evening before His crucifixion, took a piece of bread, broke it and said, “This is my body broken for you.” Jesus then pours out the wine, saying, “This is my blood shed for the remission of your sins.”
The word “communion” calls us to commune with God and to create community, to remember that we are brothers and sisters in Christ. The meal remembers how Jesus eats with tax collectors and sinners, how He welcomes us all.
During the feeding of the 5000, Jesus tells the crowds, “I am the Bread of Life.” So communion is a time of spiritual feeding, a time to be nourished and strengthened by Jesus to do His work. And the word “Eucharist” means thanksgiving. We are thankful for Jesus bearing our sins in his own body.
Jesus gave us the sacrament of communion to strengthen us, to draw us closer to one another, to break down barriers, and to challenge us to reach out to the least of our brothers and sisters. It calls us to live in union with Jesus, knowing that our life and strength depend on Him.
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