CHILDREN and COMMUNION SUNNYVALE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH This information has been prepared to assist parents and guardians of children: 1. In the decision of when the child should begin to celebrate the sacrament of Communion and 2. In discussing Communion with the child to help him/her prepare for, participate in and process this important experience. Ultimately, each parent must decide when it is right for a particular child. Our church is seeking to help you with information as well as by providing an opportunity for the child to learn about Communion within the church school class and to observe or experience the sacrament as a part of God s family s celebration in this place. What is Communion? Our church, along with other Protestant churches, celebrates two sacraments: Baptism and Communion. What is Communion? Let s look at a few names for this sacrament. The Lord s Supper is a name that reminds us that the table belongs to the Lord. It also reminds us that the invitation to that table first came from Christ, and we extend it to others in his name. We are celebrating the Last Supper when Jesus and his friends ate the Jewish Passover meal together in the upper room. As Jesus broke the bread, he said, Take, eat. This is my body broken for you. Do this in remembrance of me. He also took a cup and after giving thanks he gave it to them saying, Drink from it, all of you. This cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood. Each time we join in the Lord s Supper, we can remember Jesus his life, his ministry, his death and sacrifice, his resurrection, and his presence with us as we gather at the table. Jesus was always ready and willing to share meals and life with all people including the sinners, the sick and the outcasts of his society. He set an example where we can be welcomed no matter who we are or what we ve done. The Eucharist is a name for Communion that comes from the Greek word meaning to give thanks. Participating in Communion is a way to give praise for all that God has given and accomplished: for creation, for family and friends at the Sunnyvale Presbyterian Church, for the church in our world today, and especially for the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
Holy Communion is a name some Christians use for the sacrament because it reminds us both of our union with Christ and our unity in the faith. As we eat the bread and drink the cup, we can think of all the people from our past who have influenced our faith. We can also sense the presence of those gathering with us and the sense in which we are recommitting ourselves to be the church. Still other names have been used for Communion. Augustine called it a visible word because it provides a picture of who God is and what God has done. This is one of the reasons Communion can be a meaningful experience for children; the sacrament is a picture, a drama using sights, smells, tastes to tell them that God loves them. We all benefit from coming to the table with the openness and imagination of a child. Communion, after all, is a mystery that gives us a glimpse of God. Communion is a sign of God s grace. It reminds us that we are called by Christ to be servants of reconciliation to others. We, too, are to be signs of Christ s love. We come to the table in trust and relying on God s mercy. As we receive God s grace through the bread and the cup, we become grace-filled. We become the body of Christ. Communion is one of those things in life that becomes more meaningful and is better understood as we participate in it, as we experience it. The question with regard to Communion and children is, When does that understanding begin? When is a Child Old Enough to Take Communion? Because Communion is such a special part of our Christian faith, we want to be sure a child senses its importance and gives it the respect and attention that it deserves. Some of us were raised to believe one needs to be baptized before taking Communion. Others were taught that they had to wait until after confirmation. How much, though, does a child need to understand before taking Communion is a meaningful experience? Colleen Britton in an article titled Celebrate Communion (Educational Ministries, Inc. 1984) says, Christ does not require a full knowledge and understanding of the meaning and symbolism surrounding the Lord s Supper before we can participate. Instead he invites all to come to him with the simple trust of children and with the expectation that through participation in the Supper, within the fellowship of the church, the Holy Spirit will move in each of our lives and join us in Holy Communion. Studies in faith development show that a child s understanding of faith, though not as intellectualized as an adult s, can still be affirmed as faith. It is just appropriate to the age of the child. Our church believes that worship is for all ages and that people of each age group bring a special understanding to the Communion table. Each individual understands at his/her own level of maturity.
A good question to ask is, How many adults truly understand Communion? The fact is that the understanding of each person, regardless of age, swings back and forth between action and reflection, between devotion and doctrine, and between practice and understanding. Throughout our lives we will all find that our concept of Communion changes and grows. David Ng, late Professor of Christian Education at San Francisco Theological Seminary, and his co-author, Virginia Thomas, suggest in their book Children in the Worshiping Community that the basis for participation in the sacraments is not knowledge but faith. Children are an important part of our worshiping community: When they are present, our energy level rises, we sense a spontaneous joy, and we are reminded of Christ s words that to experience God s Kingdom, we need to become like a child! Perhaps children can be our leaders so that we don t just take this sacrament but truly celebrate it with a child s joy! The Book of Order of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) states: In this meal the Church celebrates the joyful feast of the people of God, and anticipates the great banquet and marriage supper of the Lamb. Brought by the Holy Spirit into Christ s presence, the Church eagerly expects and prays for the day when Christ shall come in glory and God be all in all. Nourished by this hope, the Church rises from the table and is sent by the power of the Holy Spirit to participate in God s mission to the world, to proclaim the gospel, to exercise compassion, to work for justice and peace until Christ s Kingdom shall come at last (W-2.4007). Baptized children who are being nurtured and instructed in the significance of the invitation to the Table and the meaning of their response are invited to receive the Lord s Supper, recognizing that their understanding of participation will vary according to their maturity (W-2.4011.) At our church, we believe that Communion is the covenant meal of the people of God and so it is appropriate and most fitting that those who partake of the covenant meal to have also received the sign of entrance into the covenant community, which is baptism. How do you decide if your child is ready? These questions might be helpful. 1. Does your child have a sense of trusting in a God who loves them? 2. Does your child see himself/herself as a disciple, follower or friend of Jesus? 3. Is your child interested enough to learn where Communion came from and why it is such an important part of our Christian faith experience? 4. Do you think taking Communion at this age would trivialize or spoil it for your child? Sometimes the degree to which our children can be attuned to spiritual matters can surprise us. If your child has been baptized, take time to talk with them about your memories of their baptism, showing the certificate and pictures of that day.
If you think it might be better for your child to wait until later, these thoughts might be helpful. 1. Tell him/her that there are others who will not be taking Communion. This lets a child know that they are not left out or have any reason to be embarrassed by not taking Communion. 2. Talk about the meaning of communion and what they have to look forward to after they are baptized or confirmed. 3. Let them know they can choose to be baptized when they feel ready. Many choose to be baptized when they are a part of the Confirmation Class in Grades 9 and up, but they can discuss their interest in baptism with our ministers at anytime. How Can I prepare My Child for Communion? Before Communion: 1. Read some passages from the Bible to teach how Communion started. You can use a current translation of the Bible or a story from a children s Bible. Matthew 26:17-30 Mark 14:12-26 Luke 22:14-23 Paul has some helpful thoughts in his letter: I Corinthians 11:23-29 2. Talk about the different names for Communion and how they help us understand a little more about it. (Included in earlier section of this information.) 3. Recall your own first experience of Communion, if appropriate, and share with your child what you remember about that day. Was it scary or did you feel a sense of belonging? What was positive or negative about it for you? 4. Sometimes we re reminded that we are to come to the communion table only after we have been reconciled to those with whom we disagree. Talk about ways in which reconciliation, confession, and God s forgiveness are important in life and worship. 5. Communion is like a meal with our church family, and your child is an important part of that family. Because we feel more comfortable when we know what to do, talk about how to pass the cup and take the bread. Bread: The bread is in small pieces and is passed on a plate. Each person takes the plate as it is passed and takes a piece of bread. Everyone is asked to hold the piece of bread until all others have been served. This is a good time to think about the life, ministry and gifts of Jesus death and resurrection. It s a good time to thank God for those gifts and to pray about other concerns. When everyone has been served, the minister will invite everyone to eat the bread. Juice: When the tray of cups is passed to you, you need to hold it carefully (with two hands) while that person takes a cup. Then you pass the tray to the person on the other side of you. After that person has a good hold on that tray, you can let go and take a cup. Again you wait to drink it until all are served and the minister invites to do so. It may be best to put the cup of juice in the rack provided in the pew while you wait. Again it is a good time to think and pray. After drinking the juice, the cup is put in the pew rack.
At some services, we take communion by intinction. In this case, those who are receiving communion walk to a front station, tear a piece of bread off the loaf and dip it into the juice. The minister, elder or deacon will speak words such as This is Christ s body broken for you and This is Christ s blood shed for you. The bread can then be eaten immediately. After Communion: 1. Talk about the experience with your child. Which of their senses did they use? What did the bread and juice smell and taste like? What did they see happening around them? What sounds did they hear? 2. What was positive or negative about Communion? Is there something that can be changed to make it a better experience the next time they take Communion? 3. How did Communion seem special or holy or sacred or mysterious? Did they have questions? Do not be afraid to say, I don t know, or Let s try to find out. We can never understand Communion fully; mystery will always be a part of it.