What is the Holy Communion:

• The holy communion is a sacrament, that uses bread and wine to celebrate Jesus’ sacrifice and his resurrection; it recalls the last supper.

• During the holy communion, Christians give thanks to God for his sending of Jesus to save people from sin.

• Also known as the Eucharist (which literally means ‘thanksgiving’)

Why do they do this:

• An act of fellowship and communion with God; brings them closer to each other as the centre of their lives

• Protestants believe the holy communion is a reminder of Jesus’ words and actions and the last supper.

• Many Christians see the holy communion as an act of fellowship with other Christians and as a communion with God.

• Holy Communion encourages Christians to put the love they have experienced from God into practice by loving others

Catholics & Orthodox: Bread and Wine actually become the blood and body of Christ. Jesus is actually present in the bread and wine. (this is called Transubstantiation) They then are present at the death and resurrection of Christ.

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Protestant: A reminder of Jesus’ words and actions. The bread and wine symbolize the sacrifice and allows them to reflect on the meaning of his sacrifice.

“The lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, took bread and he broke it and said ‘This is my body, which is for you’. In the same way he took the cup saying ‘This cup is the new covenant in my blood, do this whenever you drink it in remembrance of me’” 1 Corinthians 11:23-26