holy communion – The Raynville Rambler

This is the body of Christ

Today’s song from Sing Praise is ‘This is the body of Christ’ by John Bell. It’s a short song, in four-part harmony, probably intended for a choir to sing as many times as required during the distribution of Communion. “This is the body of Christ, broken that we may be whole; this cup, as promised by God, true to his word, cradles our Lord: food for the good of the soul”. The paradox of ‘broken that we may be whole’ is at the heart of the service, and indeed the story of Christ. I also like the imagery of the cup or chalice ‘cradling’ the Lord, a reminder that he first appeared as a baby.

Bread is blessed and broken

Today’s hymn from Sing Praise is a communion hymn by John Bell and Graham Maule, “Bread is blessed and broken”. Like many of their hymns, the tune is easy to learn (although with a wide range vocally – bottom B♭ is at the edge of my tenor range, and top E♭ might be stretching it for others).

In the first verse we declare that bread and wine are blessed, broken and poured so that we might remember Christ as Lord. The emphasis is the remainder of the hymn is not on the death of Christ as such, but on the “benefits of his passion” in the words of the Book of Common Prayer. The second verse refers to the sacrament as “food of heaven” and “grace i essence” (also the title of Bell’s tune). The third verse is about forgiveness, restoration and Christ as our friend; and the last is about God’s promise of Christ himself as his gift.

The common last line to all the verses is “Christ the Lord” – the one whom we remember, the one symbolised by bread and wine (or actually present in them, if you prefer), his offer of forgiveness and reconciliation, and the one who is always present (but especially when we come together to worship him in this way).

The Lord is here

Today’s hymn from Sing Praise is “The Lord is here” by Christopher Ellis. I picked it for a Sunday as it’s in the Holy Communion section of the book, and the title is taken from one of the priest’s acclamations in the service.

There is, however, only one direct reference to communion in the hymn (verse 2, “in offered peace, in shared-out bread and wine”). Other references are more subtle and indirect, such as “he gives himself just as he gives his Word”, “he meets us as we share”, and “the Lord is here inviting us to go”. But then, although the communion service is special in some ways, whatever the nature of our worship we should be inspired (literally, ‘in-breathed’ or ‘in-spirited’) to “go and share the news with people everywhere … intent to seek and find, living this hope that God is always near”.

So it may be better to think of this as a missionary hymn rather than a eucharistic one. The set tune is called “Beacon Hill” but was unfamiliar. John chose to play it to ‘Woodlands’ instead, maybe because it’s more familiar, but perhaps because that tune is best known to the words “Go forth and tell” on a similar theme.

One bread, one body, one Lord of all

Today’s hymn from Sing Praise is “One bread, one body, one Lord of all” by John Foley. Unsurprisingly it’s about Holy Communion, or should I say the Mass, since the composer is a Jesuit.

The chorus emphasises the unity of all Christians as the body of Christ: “And we, though many, throughout the earth, we re one body in this one Lord”. The three short verses give some examples of the differences that can divide, but should unite us: Gentile or Jew (religious tradition), servant or free (class/status), woman or man (gender), different gifting. The last verse refers back to the bread itself as a metaphor for gathering: “Grain for the fields, scattered and grown, gathered to one, for all”.

I find this strand of Catholicism, stressing our unity in the Sacrament, to be positive and encouraging, though at odds with the Vatican’s continuing insistence that non-Catholics, even though baptised in the name of the Trinity, should not participate in the sharing of bread.

I come with joy

Today’s hymn from Sing Praise is “I come with joy, a child of God” by Brian Wren. Two tunes are offered: I know this hymn better to the first, “St Botolph”.

It is in fact a communion hymn, so might better have been picked for a Sunday. But then, there is in the Catholic tradition a custom of receiving communion, or at least attending Mass, daily, if one’s life circumstances permit. Certainly what we do in church on a Sunday should stay with us through the week, so this celebration of what the sacrament means to us can be sung at any time.

The first two verses begin “I come…”, a reminder that we should come prepared for the sharing in the bread. Firstly, at a personal level, in the words of the hymn recalling the life of Jesus laid down in love, by which I am “forgiven, loved and free”, thus I come with thankfulness. And then, “with Christians far and near”, for the one body that we become in Communion is that of the whole Church in all times and places, not just the few gathered in one building.

The remaining verses build on that idea of unity. “Each proud division ends” is a message that sadly needs to be repeated, for there are far too many divisions in the Church, whether of culture, practice or belief. As we become friends through Christ’s love (moving into verse 4), the Spirit of Christ is “better known, alive among us here”.

The last verse is a dismissal, an important part of the service and which according to some sources gave its name to the name of “mass”: “Together met, together bound, by all that God has done, we’ll go with joy, to give the world the love that makes us one”. An ideal, yes, but without ideals is there ever action?

Now let us from this table rise

Today’s hymn from Sing Praise is “Now let us from this table rise” by Fred Kaan. Its theme is the dismissal at the end of the Communion service, when Christ’s disciples, fed by his body, are sent out to continue his work in the strength of his spirit (verse 1: “with Christ we die and rise again, his selfless love has made us whole”).

Actually I didn’t receive communion or even attend church today, as we were away visiting family, but it’s still a good reminder at the start of a new week of what my priorities should be: “to spread the word in speech and deed” (v.2), “to fill each human house with love” (v.3) and “to choose again the pilgrim way” (v.4). At the start of the week we “accept with joy the challenge of tomorrow’s day”.

Put peace into each other’s hands

sharing the peace, King of Peace church, Kingsland, Georgia, USA

Today’s hymn from Sing Praise is “Put peace into each other’s hands” by Fred Kaan. Although found in the “God and the world” section rather than the “Holy Communion” section, it is presumably inspired by the practice of sharing the peace before the breaking of bread at the Communion / Mass.

The words of the hymn offer several approaches to the Peace. “Protect it like a candle-flame, with tenderness enfold it” reminds us that there are those in the congregation who are hurting physically or emotionally and need to be treated with tenderness. Likewise, “Give thanks for strong, yet tender, hands, held out in trust and blessing” is a signal that those hands held out to meet ours may look strong, yet may actually be a sign of needing affirmation from us.

“Be gentle in your words and ways, in touch with God’s creation” might be understood as seeing God in the other person: that hand you are touching, as Teresa of Avila reminds us, is Christ’s hand on earth.

“Look people warmly in the eye, our life is meant for caring” calls us to more than merely shake hands and mumble “peace be with you”. It has been said that this has become a mere ritual of shaking hands with as many people as possible, ‘quantity not quality’ and that the time would be better spent with just one person, getting to know someone a bit better or talking to someone you have been avoiding because of some disagreement. That takes more effort but it’s worth it, as you can then approach the actual communion feeling that the words “we being many are one body” have a real resonance in what you have just done.

The last verse begins “reach out in friendship, stay with faith in touch with those around you” and reminds us that the peace and fellowship we share should extend beyond Sunday worship and our lives should be shared throughout the week whether in group meetings or individual friendship. It ends by saying that the peace we offer each other is nothing less than “the Peace that sought and found you”. It is not merely contentment that we offer, but the Peace of the Lord, the ‘shalom’ or wholeness and integrity of life in God.