Last Sunday, Lara Milford and I began the first in a four-week series about the Eucharist with the children in Sunday School. The title of this class is “Do This in Remembrance of Me,” and the purpose of our time together is fairly straightforward: we turn to the whole story of God with us, as we find it in Scripture, to learn what exactly Jesus means in these words of institution. When we think about the Eucharist in this way we discover layers of remarkable truth about the depths of God’s love for us.

Now, this is a sharp group of kids with amazing insights into God’s character, but even they would be overwhelmed by going through all of what the Bible says about God’s promises to us that we are reminded of in the Eucharist. For that reason, we are focusing on three events from the Bible. The first is the story of the first Passover meal, when the blood of a lamb on the doorpost of every Jewish family’s house told the spirit of death to pass over that home. As the blood of a lamb spared God’s chosen people from death, they ate the flesh of this lamb to sustain them in their escape from bondage in Egypt. Next, we are talking about the marriage supper of the Lamb from the Book of Revelation, where we are given a glimpse into the promised life that awaits those who are protected and sustained by the body and blood of the Lamb of God. Finally, we are going to talk about Jesus’ crucifixion from the Gospel of John, which is the event that fulfills all of God’s past and future promises, making God’s constant presence with us a reality by breaking the power and authority of death. During the last week of the class the children will have their own feast together to celebrate what God has done for us in Jesus.

Obviously, we are painting with some really broad brush strokes in the few weeks we have together to talk about such a big topic. However, I do think there are a few reflections that will break into the hearts and minds of our little ones as a result of our time together, which I hope are a blessing to all who receive the Eucharist at Christ Church Anglican.

As we feast together we remember that when the fullness of time had come, God emptied himself and took the form of a servant and subjected himself to the life we live as human-beings. We remember that he died for us on the Cross as the innocent and true Lamb, whose blood cleanses us and protects us from the sting of death. Finally, we remember all that God has promised for us today and for the future, as the body and blood of the New Covenant signify the reality of the new Resurrection lives we live in Christ Jesus. This promise will find its fullest expression in the eternal feast presided over by the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world, to which we have all been invited. As we receive this Holy Feast in our hearts by faith with thanksgiving, we enjoy the presence of Jesus Christ, who fulfills all of God’s promises to us for us.

In Him,
Deacon Matt Rucker