On the first Sunday in October, World Communion Sunday encourages those of the Christian faith to experience Holy Communion together. The day also demonstrates unity among various denominations in the church.
Holy Communion is also known as Eucharist or the Lord’s Supper. Many Christians observe communion because Jesus commanded them to do so. Communion is a way for Christians to recognize they are part of the body of believers and that Jesus is the head of the Church.
The Last Supper
In the Bible, Jesus and his disciples shared their last meal together before Jesus was crucified on the cross. This meal is called the Last Supper. During the meal, Jesus broke bread with his disciples and shared wine. The bread signified the body of Christ and the wine his blood. This event constitutes the biblical basis for the practice of Holy Communion.
Hugh Thomson Kerr, a pastor at Shadyside Presbyterian in Pittsburgh, began the tradition of World Communion Sunday in 1933. He had come up with the idea in 1930. This is when he served as a moderator of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church. In 1936, the U.S. Presbyterian Church adopted World Communion Sunday. Each year, other denominations in the country began to embrace the day. In 1940, the National Council of Churches endorsed World Communion Sunday and promoted it to churches across the globe.
No comments:
Post a Comment