“Unite us to your Son, that we may be acceptable through him, being sanctified by the Holy Spirit.” (The Book of Common Prayerp. 369).

Dear Friends:

We’re on the move. Beginning Sunday, we’ll join with The Fairfax County Bicycle and Pedestrian team in the celebration of “Bike & Walk to Worship Week”! So, ride your bike to worship on Sunday morning. Or, walk to worship! We’ll be blessing your bike, your scooter, and your feet following worship. Park on the sidewalk just outside the worship space. Thanks for participating in “Bike & Walk to Worship Week”. Healthy church goers lead to stronger churches!

We’re blessing shoes on Sunday as well. The shoe drive will come to its completion. There’s still time to bring in your gently worn and/or new shoes. Once they are blessed, they’ll be weighed and shipped to those countries where folks will be able to sell the shoes for a small profit to benefit their efforts as independent business entrepreneurs. Epiphany benefits as well. For every pound Epiphany receives a small proceed which accumulates and eventually supports Epiphany’s mission trip. Time to clean out your closest! Bring your shoes to the back of the worship space by Sunday!

Bread and Cup continues with Session III on Sunday. Through the meal of holy thanksgiving, we ask for God’s blessing upon the bread and the wine. Once made holy, we’re invited to share in this real presence of Christ in the bread and the cup. In so doing, we believe this holy meal feeds us and fuels us to live atransformedlife in Jesus Christ.

Thank you for your questions regarding Holy Eucharist. Keep them coming as they are fascinating. Hopefully, you’re finding some answers in the weekly teaching. As well, in this message, we’ll address some…

*What is the Episcopal position on the connection between the bread and the body?

We are a people who seek “the middle way”. Those who practice the belief of transubstantiationwill say the bread and the cup actually become the true body and blood of Jesus Christ at the words of institution (“On the night Jesus died for us…he took bread…”). Yet, the mystery prevails as the effect of the institution does not change the visible appearance of the bread and the wine. We can liken it to God’s incarnation in the person of Jesus Christ. God came among us as human. If the bread becomes the body and blood of Jesus Christ, why doesn’t it appear so? Therefore, many will practice the belief ofconsubstantiation,the belief that the real presence of Christ is in the bread and the wine at the words of institution. God is present among us as fully human and fully divine in Jesus Christ. Somehow God coexists the bread and the wine as fully divine and as human elements. God takes the ordinary of every day and transforms it and us into the divine. Episcopalians are known to be “broad” in their interpretation of God’s work in our holiness. We hold several positions but for certain there is a divine mystery in this most holy meal Jesus commands us to share to know his strength and healing love.

*What is the connectivity of the mass to the foretaste of the heavenly banquet?

In Holy Communion we say the memorial words of acclamation, or the anamnesis, “we remember his death, we proclaim his resurrection and we await his coming in glory.” We proclaim these words recognizing that in the mystery of the holy meal, time is suspended. The holiness of Christ through the bread and cup is as real for us as then, is now, and will be forever more. In this meal we have a taste of the promises of God fulfilled. Because Jesus teaches us in the gospel message: “I will never again drink of the fruit of this vine until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father’s kingdom” we are getting a glimpse of what our heavenly life will be. God’s heavenly banquet will include dinner with Jesus as he waits for us.

*Jesus’ gospel command is to sell our possessions and give alms. How does the command connect to the Eucharist?

We remember Holy Eucharist is a meal of blessed thanksgiving. We give thanks that God feeds us and fuels us with the strength to follow Jesus. Often, following Jesus is not easy. But, if we’re to know God in Christ, often sacrifices are necessary. In Luke 12:34 we learn from Jesus, our treasure comes from giving in the name of Jesus. His meal fortifies us and strengthens us to follow Jesus’ command.

Thank you again! Please, keep the questions coming. See you Sunday as we look at God in Christ transforming us through Christ’s holy supper. Don’t forget to ride your bike to worship!!!

Many Blessings,

Hillary