Communion and Kids

I’m not writing about what I said I would, but as I remembered that this Sunday is World Communion Sunday I felt that this topic was more timely. Don’t worry, in two weeks I’ll get back to building a positive relationship with your minister.

Communion is pretty important, and likely this is the first one you will be celebrating this fall. When I was growing up, it was a big deal reserved for adults. One Sunday the junior choir sat in the congregation and an elder served us, so I happily took some to the shock of the others around me. I even heard about it from my brother after. Now, many years later, many denominations welcome children to take part in the sacrament with the permission of parents.

I’m thrilled for the recognition that this feast is for everyone and that in many places children are no longer seen as not worthy, not able to understand and respect it (sometimes I think they get it more than many adults do), or not “qualifying” as they aren’t professing members. The balance of letting go of the legalism and welcoming children at the table is helping them to be able to participate in a meaningful way and with understanding of what is happening.

I love the approach of Carolyn Boyer in The Joyful Feast in God’s Household (The Presbyterian Church in Canada, 2004). In 7 sessions, she peels away some of the confusion children may have and also acknowledges that Communion means different things to different people at different times. Particularly if your Sunday school time begins at the start of your worship service and the children return later for Communion, choosing one of the sessions or topics from her curriculum is a great way to prepare them for what they will experience. Debriefing afterwards is also valuable.

The book begins with an overview and notes for leaders and helpers. Whether or not you use the actual book, it’s interesting to consider the 7 lenses she uses for reflecting on the sacrament, all of which kids can understand:
1. Communion is an act of belonging
2. Communion is an act of forgiveness
3. Communion is an act of remembering and remembrance
4. Communion is an act of thanksgiving and praise
5. Communion is an act of worldwide celebration (most appropriate for this Sunday)
6. Communion is an act of celebrating the resurrection
7. Communion is an act of nourishment

For this coming Sunday, find out if the service will use the normal wafers or bread cubes or if a more international flavour will be present, such as different types of bread from around the world. If not, you could bring some naan, flatbread, crackers, pretzels and any other kinds of bread you can think of and talk about people celebrating this special day in churches around the world. Let the children sample the different breads. Which do they like? Which have they seen made? Where do they think that each of the breads are eaten?

You could tie in John 3:16, emphasizing that Jesus came for all of us, all different people from all different countries and cultures. Bring in encyclopedias and atlases for the children to flip through. Have whatever pictures you can find of people from different places, and possibly even where you are doing mission work. Read the story of the Last Supper from one of the gospels and ask them to listen in the service for when the minister retells the story. Ask them to imagine that they were in the room that night. How would they feel hearing Jesus’ words?

Prepare the children for what else they will experience when they go in the sanctuary for communion. Talk about why it may take a long time before they can eat their bread, and why, if everyone is to eat at the same time, that is important and what it means. Talk about the juice or wine and how it is a symbol for us to remember what Jesus did for us and what happened the night of the Last Supper. Talk about what it is like to be still and open to feeling God around you, and how Communion makes many people feel especially close to God and to Jesus.

Be sure to leave room for questions and emphasize that this is a special way that we remember and celebrate Jesus, along with all the people who love Him around the world. It’s a pretty powerful thing! Have a wonderful World Communion Sunday!