Comments on: First Communion http://erikanderica.org/erica/2010/01/05/first-communion/ A blog by Erica Schemper Mon, 21 May 2012 23:42:03 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.4 By: Meika http://erikanderica.org/erica/2010/01/05/first-communion/comment-page-1/#comment-54660 Meika Wed, 06 Jan 2010 02:37:34 +0000 http://erikanderica.org/erica/?p=485#comment-54660 I love this, Erica. Chloe's first communion was when she was maybe three months old at our Lutheran church in Japan. She'd been baptized, but it was well before she'd started solids - in fact, I do believe that the body of Christ may have been her first solid food. :) Anyway, who is to say that God cannot administer his sacramental graces to small children? I love this, Erica. Chloe’s first communion was when she was maybe three months old at our Lutheran church in Japan. She’d been baptized, but it was well before she’d started solids – in fact, I do believe that the body of Christ may have been her first solid food. :) Anyway, who is to say that God cannot administer his sacramental graces to small children?

]]> By: sko3 http://erikanderica.org/erica/2010/01/05/first-communion/comment-page-1/#comment-54651 sko3 Wed, 06 Jan 2010 00:05:58 +0000 http://erikanderica.org/erica/?p=485#comment-54651 When I was a student intern, I took this on as a project, and led a parents and kids workshop on communion. It was a one-timer, and was clearly advertised as not required, and that kids already taking communion were welcome, too. It was AWESOME. We had kids from 3-13 come, each with one or more parents. We let them get up close to the communion table and touch all the pieces there. They got to pick up a tray and see how heavy it was. They interviewed other adults about what communion meant to them, and we did something with the communion story. It was the highlight of my internship, I think, as it was just exactly what I'd hoped for---and I still remember some of the parents sharing with the kids---so powerful. When I was a student intern, I took this on as a project, and led a parents and kids workshop on communion. It was a one-timer, and was clearly advertised as not required, and that kids already taking communion were welcome, too. It was AWESOME. We had kids from 3-13 come, each with one or more parents. We let them get up close to the communion table and touch all the pieces there. They got to pick up a tray and see how heavy it was. They interviewed other adults about what communion meant to them, and we did something with the communion story. It was the highlight of my internship, I think, as it was just exactly what I’d hoped for—and I still remember some of the parents sharing with the kids—so powerful.

]]> By: Liv Larson Andrews http://erikanderica.org/erica/2010/01/05/first-communion/comment-page-1/#comment-54640 Liv Larson Andrews Tue, 05 Jan 2010 19:08:56 +0000 http://erikanderica.org/erica/?p=485#comment-54640 woot woot! I too love the sweet desire of children to partake in the sacraments. what isn't fun about splashing in water and eating? It makes me think of infants first desiring their parent's solid food: hey - that looks yummy. Of course the weight and meaning of communion goes beyond yummy, but thinking any of us can come to an "age of reason" about it kinda bugs me. Really? We all know what this is? In its fullness? No way. We are guests, and this food is gift. What a lovely story about the gift being shared abundantly. woot woot! I too love the sweet desire of children to partake in the sacraments. what isn’t fun about splashing in water and eating? It makes me think of infants first desiring their parent’s solid food: hey – that looks yummy.
Of course the weight and meaning of communion goes beyond yummy, but thinking any of us can come to an “age of reason” about it kinda bugs me. Really? We all know what this is? In its fullness? No way. We are guests, and this food is gift.
What a lovely story about the gift being shared abundantly.

]]> By: Katherine http://erikanderica.org/erica/2010/01/05/first-communion/comment-page-1/#comment-54639 Katherine Tue, 05 Jan 2010 16:36:07 +0000 http://erikanderica.org/erica/?p=485#comment-54639 I am so with both of you on this. One of my worst memories from church growing up was being prohibited from receiving communion - by my parents, not the UMC theology or policy. It rankles me to think that anyone's first experience of Communion would be exclusion. Great story. Thanks for sharing it! I am so with both of you on this. One of my worst memories from church growing up was being prohibited from receiving communion – by my parents, not the UMC theology or policy. It rankles me to think that anyone’s first experience of Communion would be exclusion.

Great story. Thanks for sharing it!

]]> By: Bromleigh http://erikanderica.org/erica/2010/01/05/first-communion/comment-page-1/#comment-54636 Bromleigh Tue, 05 Jan 2010 16:22:55 +0000 http://erikanderica.org/erica/?p=485#comment-54636 I love that you posted this today -- I'm planning our "class" on Holy Communion for second and third graders that starts this week, and I'm a bit lost. The UMC also welcomes folks to the table at any age... and I think it's good to teach kids about what's going on, and I'm certainly excited for the theological exercise of trying to figure out how to teach the sacrament to kids, but I can't get behind parents holding their kids back until some magical age where they know what's going on at the table (as if any of us really get it). We do announce that all people, children included, are welcome at the Table each time we celebrate it. Fiona takes communion -- as of relatively recently -- and I love that she is included. I can't serve her myself, though. I'd just cry and cry. I love that you posted this today — I’m planning our “class” on Holy Communion for second and third graders that starts this week, and I’m a bit lost. The UMC also welcomes folks to the table at any age… and I think it’s good to teach kids about what’s going on, and I’m certainly excited for the theological exercise of trying to figure out how to teach the sacrament to kids, but I can’t get behind parents holding their kids back until some magical age where they know what’s going on at the table (as if any of us really get it). We do announce that all people, children included, are welcome at the Table each time we celebrate it. Fiona takes communion — as of relatively recently — and I love that she is included. I can’t serve her myself, though. I’d just cry and cry.

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