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UM's and Holy Communion

The United Methodist Church recognizes two sacraments, baptism and communion. These two acts have a special place in the church because Jesus commanded them and participated in them. Through the years, Christians have used other sacramental acts to draw closer to God. While we do not recognize these others as sacraments, we participate in many of them.

The Lord’s Supper, Holy Communion, and the Eucharist are all names for this sacrament celebrated by United Methodists. Each of these names highlights an aspect of this act of worship.

According to This Holy Mystery, The United Methodist Church’s official document on communion, “The Lord’s Supper reminds us that Jesus Christ is the host and that we participate at Christ’s invitation.… The term Holy Communion invites us to focus on the selfgiving of the Holy God which makes the sacrament an occasion of grace, and on the holiness of our communion with God and one another.… Eucharist, from the  Greek word for thanksgiving, reminds us that the sacrament is thanksgiving to God for the gifts of creation and salvation.”

Who can assist the pastor in communion?

Communion is one of the responsibilities and duties of a pastor. The pastor may "train deacons and lay members to serve the consecrated communion elements.” During worship "lay persons as well as other clergy may assist the pastor in giving the bread and cup.”

This Holy Mystery explains, "The Communion elements are consecrated and consumed in the context of the gathered congregation. The Table may be extended, in a timely manner, to include those unable to attend because of age, illness, or similar conditions. Laypeople may distribute the consecrated elements in the congregation and extend them to members who are unavoidably absent…."

Do United Methodists believe the communion elements actually become the body and blood of Christ?

This Holy Mystery says, “The Christian church has struggled through the centuries to understand just how Christ is present in the Eucharist. Arguments and divisions have occurred over the matter. The Wesleyan tradition affirms the reality of Christ's presence, although it does not claim to be able to explain it fully.… Our tradition asserts the real, personal, living presence of Jesus Christ. For United Methodists, the Lord's Supper is anchored in the life of the historical Jesus of Nazareth, but is not primarily a remembrance or memorial. We do not embrace the medieval doctrine of transubstantiation, though we do believe that the elements are essential tangible means through which God works. We understand the divine presence in temporal and relational terms.”

Why do we serve grape juice instead of wine for Holy Communion?

In the history of the church, wine has been the normal drink. In the 19th century, Methodists and other denominations were persuaded that unfermented juice was an important witness to the grace of God and of the churches’ resistance to the abuses of alcohol. The United Methodist Book of Worship explains, "Although the historic and ecumenical Christian practice has been to use wine, the use of unfermented grape juice by The United Methodist Church and its predecessors since the late nineteenth century expresses pastoral concern for recovering alcoholics, enables the participation of children and youth, and supports the church's witness of abstinence.


Can children take communion?

In The United Methodist Church, children are welcome to receive communion. Our Book of Worship explains, "All who intend to lead a Christian life, together with their children, are invited to receive the bread and cup.”

May a person who has not been baptized participate in Holy Communion?

Yes, our church does not seek to close God's Table, although the historic and normal order of the sacraments is baptism first – as birth into the family – and communion following, as continuing nurture at the family table.

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Sunday Worship Times

8:00 a.m Morning Chapel
10:00 a.m Worship in the Sanctuary

With Holy Communion on the 1st Sunday of the month. As United Methodists, we practice Open Communion. All who are seeking God are welcome at Christ’s table.

PLEASE NOTE  Worship services will not be held through at least the end of March. They will reconvene based upon the direction from the Marathon County Health Department, Wisconsin Department of Health, and/or CDC. Holy Week Worship Opportunities   Watch our Facebook page (facebook/wausaufumc) or website (fumcwausau.org) or our weekly mailings (for those without internet access) for information about Holy Week activities April 5 Palm Sunday / Passion Sunday If all goes as hoped, our Palm Sunday service will post on Facebook at 8am Sunday morning. Click here to download the April 5th Order of Worship April 9 Maundy Thursday If I (Jayneann) can figure out how to do live streaming, I will invite you to join me as we look at Jesus call to “do as I have done.” More information later. April 10 Good Friday Rather than a Good Friday service, scripture lessons and meditations will be posted on Facebook throughout the day.   April 12 Easter Sunday t.b.a.

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Not sure how to access First Church’s Facebook page? 

1. Open the browser on your computer—Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Safari... 

   
    
2. In the Address Bar at the lop of the window, type in “facebook.com/wausaufumc” then press ENTER. 

   
    
3. Scroll down to look around. You’ll probably find a link to the latest worship service or devotional as well as other useful or simply fun notices. 

   
    
4. If you haven’t already “liked” our webpage, this might be a good time to do so. Then you can receive messages when something new is posted.
   

Having trouble accessing First Church’s website?

1. Open the browser on your computer— Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Safari...
   
    
2. In the Address Bar at the lop of the window, type in “fumcwausau.org” then press ENTER.
   
    
3. This is the “homepage” to the First Church website. Notice the list (called a “ribbon”) on the left side. You can click on anything there to explore what else Jon Goertz has included.
   
    
4. f you scroll down on the homepage, you will see a big box entitled, “COVID-19 OUTBREAK.” In that box, you’ll also find a link to the latest worship service or devotional. (Click on the picture.)
   

 

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Follow FUMC Wausau on YouTube

 

 

 

If you the hit the "SUBSCRIBE" button in the upper right corner you will be notified when new videos are posted.

 

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Growing Generous Givers. It’s another part of the MCCI resourcing initiative. What we do is look at First Church’s ways and talk about how we do things that encourage (or discourage) people from being active and involved in church, and about ways we can teach people to practice the kind of generosity that we are called to model in our lives as Christ-followers.)

Beginning this year, we are holding “Family Worship” times during the 10 a.m. worship service on 5th Sundays (which generally happen quarterly).

Wait, you say, we already have family worship! What makes this different? Yes, we have families - oldsters, youngsters and in-betweeners in worship.

On 5th Sundays, we will have some of each of these participate in the service leadership (and not only in ushering and greeting). We will have more family friendly songs, scriptures and sermon (shorter, too). And we will encourage families to worship with their youngsters who usually play in the nursery. Afterward everyone’s invited to gather for juice (okay, coffee, too), snacks and conversation in the Parlor, as usual.