F.A.Q.
About Holy Communion on the Web

  1. "What is this about?" -- Celebrating Holy Communion Over the Internet is a place for Christians to participate in the Eucharist (aka "The Lord's Supper") via their computer and an internet connection. They may do so through the video presentations on the Communion Video Resources page and/or the many various liturgies on The Communion Liturgy Resources page.
  2. "Can one really partake of Holy Communion over the internet?" -- While many will deny that it is possible, after several years of experimenting with the practice I have come to believe that it is, indeed, possible to partake of the sacrament over the internet. If you would like to read an in-depth discussion on this subject, you are welcome to read my article here. All one needs is some bread and some wine (grape juice will do), faith in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, and a willingness to accept his Grace. The Eucharist is not magic; it is a means of receiving God's powerful grace. Just because the elements on your side of the internet are not under my hands when I pray the prayer of consecration, does not mean that God cannot or will not "make them be for us the body and blood of Christ." If you eat and drink the elements with your faith focused upon the Real Presence of Jesus, scripture (Ephesians 3:17) tells us that Christ will dwell in your heart anew.
  3. "What Denomination are you?" -- I am an ordained United Methodist Elder (which is English for the New Testament Greek term "Presbyter," and is the Protestant equivalent of the Latin "Priest"). I am currently serving as the Senior Pastor of St. Stephen United Methodist Church in Mesquite, Texas, the United States of America.
  4. "Is it ok for me to take Communion with you if I'm not a Methodist?" -- Yes! This is not my table, nor is it a Methodist Table; it is the Lord's table. If you feel drawn to partake of the Sacrament through the materials presented on this website, do not ignore the prompting of the Holy Spirit. Partake, with faith, and give thanks that God's grace is more powerful than our human divisions.
  5. "Holy Communion is just a memorial meal, right?" -- Wrong. While the Eucharist does contain many aspects of a "memorial," it is far more than "just" a reenactment of the Last Supper. It is a Means of Grace through which Christians, when they eat and drink with faith, receive into themselves the Real, powerful, life-transforming Presence of Jesus Christ. This is not just a mental exercise, it is an outward act of faith. This is far more than just a commemoration, it is a true participation in the life transforming grace of our savior in which we feed on him in our hearts, by faith. As the Apostle Paul wrote: "The bread which we break, it is indeed a means of partaking in the body of Christ. And the cup over which we give thanks, it is indeed a means of partaking in the blood of Christ." (1 Corinthians 10:16)
  6. "Do you believe that the bread and wine become the literal flesh and blood of Jesus?" -- No. As a United Methodist and a "Protestant-catholic" I believe that Jesus is Really Present in Holy Communion, but that the bread and the wine do not, themselves, change. The Roman Catholic doctrine of Transubstantiation is one way -- but not the only way -- of talking about the Real Presence of Jesus in the Eucharist. Along with most Anglicans, United Methodists believe that the elements of bread and wine remain unchanged while, nevertheless, truly conveying -- or "transmitting" -- the body and blood of Jesus. In other words, this approach understands the elements as being conduits through which the Real Presence of Jesus is imparted to believers, transforming them into the body of Christ. Methodists affirm that, while the ontological substance of the bread and wine remain bread and wine, the ontological substance of the believer is transformed into the Body of Christ when they commune with faith.
  7. "If I don't agree with you on the nature of Holy Communion is it still ok for me to partake?" -- Absolutely! God is bigger than our differences. If you feel called to partake, then by all means partake. There should never be any barrier to a believer receiving the Grace that Jesus died to give.
  8. "What does the word "Eucharist" mean?" -- It is the Greek word for "Thanksgiving," and is one of the Biblical terms for "The Lord's Supper." Another common term for the Sacrament is "Holy Communion."
  9. "Can I partake alone, or does someone have to be with me?" -- While it is always appropriate to celebrate the Eucharist in the company of other Christians, the doctrine of the "Communion of the Saints" tells us that we are always surrounded by a great cloud of glorified witnesses: believers who have already gone on to be with Jesus. This is no where more true that at the Table of the Lord. In a mystical sense, the Eucharistic Altar extends beyond every Church and every denomination and every moment in time and space to every other moment and every other point in time and space where the sacrament is being celebrated. When you receive Holy Communion, wherever and whenever you may be, you are receiving it with Billions of other Christians -- past, present, and future -- who have ever or will ever receive it. And, by the wonderful tools of the internet and computer technology, you will be receiving the Sacrament along with myself, my Associate Pastors, the members of my congregations, and anyone else receiving via the internet.
  10. "What do I need in order to participate?" -- Please click HERE for a simple set of directions to prepare the Table of the Lord.
  11. "Have you given any thought to the Theology of Holy Communion over the internet?" Yes. Read this article.
  12. How did this experiment begin? Read my "Thank you to Dr. Gene Scott."
  13. "Can I contact you if I have any questions?" -- Yes! Please feel free to E-mail me at: revneal@aol.com



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