Milestones: Part 2 - 'Moments of Communion'

This Sunday, Simon Lace brings us the talk in the latest of our EBC services. We encourage you to reflect on the bible text and join us in the prayer that follows below.
 
Here are some questions to consider:

Readings:

John chapter 6 verses 25-40
When they found him on the other side of the lake, they asked him, “Rabbi, when did you get here?”
Jesus answered, “Very truly I tell you, you are looking for me, not because you saw the signs I performed but because you ate the loaves and had your fill. Do not work for food that spoils, but for food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. For on him God the Father has placed his seal of approval.”

Then they asked him, “What must we do to do the works God requires?”

Jesus answered, “The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent.”

So they asked him, “What sign then will you give that we may see it and believe you? What will you do? Our ancestors ate the manna in the wilderness; as it is written: ‘He gave them bread from heaven to eat.’”
Jesus said to them, “Very truly I tell you, it is not Moses who has given you the bread from heaven, but it is my Father who gives you the true bread from heaven. For the bread of God is the bread that comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.”

“Sir,” they said, “always give us this bread.”

Then Jesus declared, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty. But as I told you, you have seen me and still you do not believe. All those the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never drive away. For I have come down from heaven not to do my will but to do the will of him who sent me. And this is the will of him who sent me, that I shall lose none of all those he has given me, but raise them up at the last day. For my Father’s will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise them up at the last day.”



Prayer and Reflection:

Loving God, we thank you for your offer of Communion with us. We thank you for our Christian communion as brothers and sisters in Christ together. And we thank you for this special, beautiful and Holy act of Communion, through which we share in your perfect agape love. May we never forget but always remember with love and reverence, all that you did and do for us. In the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.




Questions to Consider

1. How would you define the word ‘communion’ generally?
2. What do you think is going on when we share Communion in church?
3. How do you hold together the two ideas of communion (as you define the word) and Communion as we share it in church?
4. What do you make of the idea that something really special is happening when we share Communion?
5. Given that the word ‘holy’ actually means ‘set apart’, would you agree that our act of Communion in church might well be described as “Holy Communion”?
6. With whom do you share in Christian communion in that broader sense of sharing on a deep level?
7. Any next steps for you on that?