Sacrament of Holy Communion / Prayer of Confession, 9.03.17

Coon Rapids United Methodist Church Sacrament of Holy Communion / Prayer of Confession led by Pastor Jeff Utecht, 9.03.17

[revneal]

Thank you for posting this. A minimalist approach to celebrating the Eucharist should have, at the very least, the "Words of Institution" -- otherwise known as the "Anamnesis" -- and an invocation of the Holy Spirit asking God to make the elements be for us the body and blood of Jesus. This communion service included both, so thank you and well done!

So often when I see these minimalist communions celebrated they leave out an epicletical prayer -- i.e., the invocation; this celebration of the sacrament included one that was unambiguously an epiclesis, and I sincerely appreciate it.

While not my preferred style of presiding at the Sacrament -- I prefer using our official liturgy as found in the Hymnal and Book of Worship -- I can and do appreciate this example of how to preside at the table in a minimal fashion, while still being true to our sacramental theology and the requirements of celebration laid out in the UMC's official teaching-statement on Communion: "This Holy Mystery."

Again, thank you and well done.