"THE BODY OF CHRIST GIVEN FOR YOU...THE BLOOD OF CHRIST SHED FOR YOU."

At Shepherd of the Valley, we believe that Holy Communion is a sacred meal in which the presence, love, forgiveness, and mercy of Christ come to us in bread and drink. God is the host and invites everyone, inclusive of age, understanding, or background, to this table where faith is  nourished.  

WHAT IS HOLY COMMUNION?  
Holy Communion is one of the Lutheran sacraments, or “means of grace”— ways in which Jesus Christ is present through the Spirit in everyday material (bread and wine/grape juice). Communion connects us not only to God, but also to the community, the body of Christ, who share in these  sacraments.  

When Jesus celebrated the Last Supper (a traditional Jewish Passover ritual feast) with his disciples, he commanded, “do this in remembrance of me” (Luke  22:19). Today, in response to Jesus’ command, we celebrate with a worship meal of bread (or wafer) and wine/grape juice and understand Holy Communion to be God’s promised gift of grace. Jesus said, “My body, given for you… my blood, shed for you,” and we, mysteriously, eat and drink the true body and blood of Christ himself, in the consecrated bread and wine.  

The gifts we receive at the table are mysterious, but they are not magic. The experience of God’s abundance at the table does not promise a magical curing of ailments, or the physical resurrection of the dead. But what it does promise is a real experience and encounter with Jesus. It promises that Christ will be present, and that we will receive God’s grace, love, and forgiveness with the bread and wine/grape juice. And we trust that it will be enough. Our experience of abundance at God’s table is not just for our own sake. Our hands, heart, and bodies are filled so that we can share what we have received with others. The mysterious, miraculous gift that we receive in Christ presence is that we are turned out and sent from that meal to share God’s abundance with the world.  

WHO CAN TAKE HOLY COMMUNION?  
Anyone who wants to participate in Communion is welcome to do so! At SOTV, we believe that God invites everyone, inclusive of age, understanding, or background to receive God’s gift of grace through Holy Communion. In his Small Catechism, Martin Luther wrote, “... a person who has faith in these words, ‘given for you’ and ‘shed for you for the forgiveness of sin,’ is really worthy and well prepared.”  

This means that all people – without exception – are welcome to receive the bread and drink. We offer Communion classes and strongly encourage families to attend when their children show interest in Communion by asking about it or reaching for the bread. Taking time to learn about Holy Communion and reflect on what it means to us is an important element of our lifelong faith journey, but no one is required to attend a class before receiving Communion.  

CAN I TAKE COMMUNION AT OTHER CHURCHES?  
Over the last 20+ years, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), the bigger church body that includes SOTV, has become “full communion partners” with the Presbyterian, Reformed, United Church of Christ, Moravian, Episcopal, and United Methodist Church, which means that Lutherans can also receive Communion in any of those churches. The Catholic Church and some other Christian denominations require that you be a member of that specific denomination, and have the same understanding of what Communion means, in order to receive Communion during their worship. It is like a “house rule” in those churches.  

DO YOU HAVE TO BE BAPTIZED TO TAKE COMMUNION?  
The tradition of the Christian church is to be baptized before beginning to receive communion. At SOTV we do not want obstacles to receiving God’s grace at The Table, and so we welcome all to the Lord’s Supper. We do strongly encourage anyone not baptized to consider that sacrament to participate in the embrace of loving grace in the family of God.  

HOW AM I SUPPOSED TO ACT OR FEEL DURING COMMUNION?  
We can trust God’s promise to be present for us in the bread and drink, and that this sacred meal nourishes our faith in a way that is difficult or impossible to describe. Even if we have trouble trusting (or feeling anything in particular), it doesn’t make God’s promise less true or the gift less powerful. So if you feel unworthy, giggly, emotional, nervous, confused, sad, or anything else you feel might not be the “right” feeling – know that God loves you and welcomes you as you are.

AND THE TABLE WILL BE WIDE
by Jan Richardson

And the table will be wide.
And the welcome will be wide.
And the arms will open wide to gather us in.
And our hearts will open wide to receive.

And we will come as children who trust there is enough.
And we will come unhindered and free.
And our aching will be met with bread.
And our sorrow will be met with wine.

And we will open our hands to the feast without shame.
And we will turn toward each other without fear.
And we will give up our appetite for despair.
And we will taste and know of delight.

And we will become bread for a hungering world.
And we will become drink for those who thirst.
And the blessed will become the blessing.
And everywhere will be the feast.

UPCOMING COMMUNION CLASSES
Find information on our upcoming Communion Preparation classes here.