The Eucharist and Congregational Song: Lifting Our Hearts (and Voices) to the Lord!

Abstract

The eucharist, the sacrament of Holy Communion, and the Lord ’ s Supper all refer to one of the central acts of our faith –– sharing the bread and the cup with the gathered assembly, remember-ing the meal that Jesus shared with his disciples in an upper room on the night before his cruci-fixion and death. Regardless of whether one believes in transubstantiation, consubstantiation, trans-elementation, or just symbols of something greater than ourselves, the eucharist is a time of celebration, commemoration, discernment, praise, prayer, remembrance, and thanksgiving. 1 It is the culmination of our worshiping life as followers of Jesus Christ: called to remember that his body is broken for each one of us, and his blood is poured out for each one of us, every time we gather together. One