Worship Notes:

On the Great Thanksgiving, Words of Institution and Holy Communion

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For most of our history the two pinnacles of each Sunday worship service have been the hearing of the Word and the receiving of the Word. We hear the Word by reading and reflecting on the scriptures. We receive the Word by “ingesting” his forgiveness and becoming a part of Christ’s body through Holy Communion.

The two major points of Communion are nourishment and unity. Communion refreshes the Word of forgiveness proclaimed at Baptism, and it embodies the forgiveness proclaimed in the Confession & Forgiveness. Communion is a physical Word for the grace and nourishment that we need constantly during our Christian journeys.

Communion also provides unity with the “Word in the flesh,” to Jesus. It happens in at least two ways. First, ingesting the bread and wine—the living Body and Blood of Christ—physically demonstrates that we accept the Word that was read and preached, and that we accept Christ into our personal lives and minds. Second, eating together, we show that we join the whole Body of Christ in the World. For instance, when pastors or lay ministers take communion to those unable to attend services, it is not a “personal communion,” but an extension of the congregation. Eating from the same bread, and drinking from the same wine is one of the ways we show that they remain a part of their congregation and Church.

The Great Thanksgiving and the Words of Institution describe these purposes of Holy Communion. The congregation and presider sing of their unity with each other: “P—The Lord be with you. C—And also with you. P—Lift up your hearts. C—We lift them to the Lord.” Or, “P—The family of God is never more connected than it is at the Lord’s Table…” When we sing, “Holy, holy, holy Lord…” we are singing a song that has been repeated from the Old Testament to the Book of John’s Revelation. It shows our unity with believers throughout the generations, even those yet to come!

The Words of Institution draw us back to the time that Jesus first “instituted” the sacrament: “We remember how, in the night of his betrayal, our Lord Jesus took bread…” It reminds us that Jesus established this meal, gave us the physical elements, commanded us to do it, and told us why: "He took bread," and "He took the cup." He told us to “Take and eat,” and to “Drink this, all of you.” He said, “This is for the forgiveness of sin,” and “for the remembrance of me.”

For Lutherans and others, Holy Communion is a place where we receive God’s incredible free grace and mercy. At the very same time, it is our weekly “altar call,” where we each show that we accept that grace and faith in Christ by coming forward, opening our palms, receiving Christ Incarnate in bread and wine, and saying, “Amen: So be it.”

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