[4] Preparation For The Holy Communion

Participation in the Holy Communion (also known as The Eucharist, The Lord's Supper) is the sacrament offered in the service of Holy Communion. Anglicans gather around Word and Sacrament, two highlights of their churchly service to God.

The Nature of The Holy Communion

The Holy Communion is a contentious subject within Anglicanism (as it is in the broader Church itself) although to be an Anglican no one is required to accept a certain doctrine/practice concerning Holy Communion.

How the sacrament is viewed carries with it certain practices: for example, for an Anglo-Catholic who subscribes to the belief that the words of institution bring about a changing of the Communion elements into the actual body and blood of Christ, bowing or genuflecting to the aumbry (a small, lockable safe on the wall of the sanctuary) which holds the reserved sacrament (bread that has been blessed) is common.

Evangelicals, on the other hand, would rarely reserve the sacrament and do not usually bow to the reserved sacrament or the sacrament as newly consecrated, though practices will vary from person to person.

Anglicans regard the Communion as a sacrament, as a means of grace (and not just an ordinance or command Jesus gave us to remember his death). Some would say that the sacrament 'works' regardless of the heart of the recipient while others (notably Evangelicals) would contend that it conveys grace only through the medium of faith.

Preparation

This Preparation section §20-21 refers to each congregant taking time to prepare him/herself to take the Lord's Supper in response to Paul's call to 'eat in a worthy manner' (1 Cor 11.27-32). It's important that this latter phrase is emphasised because some have erred in not going forward because of believing that they are not worthy; but the Apostle's words have nothing to do with being worthy inherently but of partaking in a worthy fashion.

All Christians can only partake at His Table on the basis of the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ AND because of His present advocacy on our behalf at the Father's right hand!

§20 A selection of sentences of Scripture (five are given as examples) may be used at this point (e.g., Matt 11.28; Jn 6.35; Jn 13.34; Mark 11.25; Jn 3.16) and any other suitable scriptures.

§21 Prayer of Preparation

This prayer is justly famous from the prayer books of 1548, 1549 and 1552, and then in the Book of Common Prayer (BCP) of 1662. It is also known as the Prayer of Humble Access. It is thoroughly reformed in its emphases on the Mercy of God and our trust in that mercy rather than our own goodness.

The notion of eating the flesh and drinking the blood of Jesus is based on John 6.53-68 but as Jesus pointed out his words were 'spirit and life' (i.e., spiritual life). We don't eat the actual flesh and drink the actual blood of Jesus but our feeding on Him is done 'in our hearts by faith with thanksgiving' (APBA, 1995, p. 142). A spiritual feeding on His words is what is meant.

We do not presume

to come to your table, merciful Lord,

trusting in our own righteousness,

but in your manifold and great mercies.

We are not worthy

so much as to gather up the crumbs under your table.

But you are the same Lord,

whose nature is always to have mercy.

Grant us therefore, gracious Lord,

so to eat the flesh of your dear Son Jesus Christ, 

and to drink his blood,

that we may evermore dwell in him,

and he in us. Amen.

Some doubt whether Jn 6 has any reference to the Holy Communion at all (and they may be right). The subject of John 6 is clearly about Jesus as the Bread of Life (Jn 6.35) and his superiority to the 'manna in the wilderness' (Jn 6.30-35). In the context of the whole Gospel account a contrast between the old Mosaic covenant time and the New Covenant's coming with Jesus is common (See Jn 1.17; 26; 51; 2.6, 20-21; 3.14; etc). The call to his hearers is to believe on Him (Jn 6.29).

 

The whole of §20-§21 has been designated as '[o]ptions which would normally be omitted' which is interesting because I've never been in an Anglican Holy Communion service using the APBA which has omitted this section! The reason I've drawn attention to this omission is that many Anglicans would believe I think that personal preparation for the Lord's Supper is very important.