What is Holy Communion in the United Methodist tradition?

Holy Communion—also called the Lord's Supper or the Eucharist—is one of the two sacraments of the United Methodist Church. In this sacred meal, we gather at the table of the Lord to receive bread and the fruit of the vine, remembering Christ's life, death, and resurrection and experiencing his real presence among us.

The Meaning of Communion

For United Methodists, Holy Communion carries multiple layers of meaning:

• Remembrance — We recall the Last Supper that Jesus shared with his disciples and the sacrifice he made on the cross for the forgiveness of sins.
• Real Presence — While we do not define exactly how Christ is present in the elements, we believe that Christ is truly present in the celebration. The Holy Spirit makes the risen Christ known to us in the breaking of the bread.
• Thanksgiving — The word "eucharist" means thanksgiving. In communion, we give thanks for all that God has done, is doing, and will do in our lives and in the world.
• Anticipation — The communion table points forward to the great heavenly banquet, when God's kingdom will be fully realized and all creation will be gathered in love.
• Community — Sharing the meal together binds us to one another as the body of Christ. We are fed not as individuals but as a community, called to go into the world together in love and service.

Open Table

One of the most important aspects of United Methodist communion practice is our commitment to an open table. All people are welcome to receive communion—you do not need to be a United Methodist, or even a baptized Christian, to come to the table. We believe that communion is a gift of God's grace, offered freely to all who hunger for God's presence. The table belongs not to us but to the Lord, and we dare not turn away anyone whom Christ would welcome.

Frequency

John Wesley advocated for frequent communion, receiving it himself as often as four or five times a week. While many United Methodist churches celebrate communion monthly, there is a growing movement to recover the practice of weekly communion. The church's official teaching encourages all congregations to celebrate the Lord's Supper as frequently as possible.