OT: question about churches & communion

[graceandpeace]

Ok. I have come to believe that a church service should center around the Eucharist/communion. Besides the RCC, EOC, & (I think) Anglican churches, are there other churches that center around or give high focus to communion?

 

[Willie T]

No, I think most focus around Jesus.

 

[Cappadocious]

Ok. I have come to believe that a church service should center around the Eucharist/communion. Besides the RCC, EOC, & (I think) Anglican churches, are there other churches that center around or give high focus to communion?

Traditional Lutherans usually do too; they didn't stray too far from their mother church on that one.

 

[katherine2001]

No, I think most focus around Jesus.

Since the Eucharist is the Body and Blood of Christ, church services centered around the Eucharist are totally focused on Christ.

 

[GoingByzantine]

Since the Eucharist is the Body and Blood of Christ, church services centered around the Eucharist are totally focused on Christ.

Amen to that.

 

[Cappadocious]

 

[Standing Up]

Ok. I have come to believe that a church service should center around the Eucharist/communion. Besides the RCC, EOC, & (I think) Anglican churches, are there other churches that center around or give high focus to communion?

Tricky thing, given what Christ has said.

Maybe OO would fit in with your list.

 

[drstevej]

Plymouth Brethren Churches do.

 

[hedrick]

Disciples of Christ

 

[Albion]

GraceAndPeace,

I think the most accurate answer to give you would be "no."

Certain exceptions come to mind, however, and other posters have already mentioned them.

Lutherans have a high view of the sacrament, but few congregations observe Holy Communion every week. So, you may be able to find a Lutheran church that is similar to an Anglican parish in this regard, but it would be a 'hit and miss' proposition for you.

Also, and as Hedrick said, "The Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)" and their cousins, the Churches of Christ, do have Holy Communion every week and value it highly. However, these are strictly non-ritualistic, unceremonial, churches which think of Communion as entirely symbolic.

I suspect that for a person like yourself who's looking at such churches as the Anglican and Eastern Orthodox, this is not what you have in mind when you say "high focus to communion."

 

[WisdomTree]

To answer the OP, all High Churches I think are centred around the Eucharist. That would be; Catholics, Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox, Church of the East, Anglicans, Lutherans, and maybe Methodists.

 

[WisdomTree]

Plymouth Brethren Churches do.

The ones in NZ don't.

 

[OrthodoxyUSA]

No, I think most focus around Jesus.

The Eucharist is Jesus, the body and blood of Our Lord.

God be gracious to me a sinner.

 

[Standing Up]

The Eucharist is Jesus, the body and blood of Our Lord.

God be gracious to me a sinner.

2 or 3 gathered, there He is. Sort of a non-starter of a question, IMO.

 

[OrthodoxyUSA]

2 or 3 gathered, there He is. Sort of a non-starter of a question, IMO.

I wouldn't want anyone thinking that Jesus in not involved in communion.

God be gracious to me a sinner.

 

[OrthodoxyUSA]

Epiclesis - OrthodoxWiki

In the Epiclesis (or epiklesis), God's Holy Spirit is called on to come down "upon us and upon these gifts" (the bread and wine), so that they may become "truly the Body and Blood of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ" . A distinction is usually made between the invocation over the people (called a 'communion' epiclesis) and the one over the Gifts of bread and wine (called a 'consecratory' epiclesis). This is the main supplication in the Eucharistic Prayer.

God be gracious to me a sinner.

 

[prov1810]

I wouldn't want anyone thinking that Jesus in not involved in communion.

But Jesus is real, and He is present, with or without the communion elements.

 

[OrthodoxyUSA]

But Jesus is real, and He is present, with or without the communion elements.

True enough... but that's not going to get us to the point of partaking of HIS body and blood. Only The Eucharist does that, according to Orthodox Christianity.

God be gracious to me a sinner.

 

[Albion]

But Jesus is real, and He is present, with or without the communion elements.

Certainly, but in a much less specific and personal way.

 

[mont974x4]

Certainly, but in a much less specific and personal way.

I wholeheartedly disagree. That is not what I see in Scripture and that is not what I have experienced. Most of my most personal and most impacting encounters with Jesus were far from any religious ritual.