Holy Communion

At St Luke’s we celebrate communion almost weekly as it is at the Lord's Table that we receive the love, grace, mercy and forgiveness of Christ.  In the bread and wine of communion we remember Christ's body broken and blood shed on the cross in order that humanity might know the salvation of God.  Recognising the sacramental nature of communion, where divine grace is imparted, we also celebrate that it is the resurrected Christ who is present to us and hosts us at His table - every Sunday is a resurrection celebration and every communion a moment of grace.

At the Lord's Table we remember the cross of Christ and the events of Easter - the betrayal of Thursday, the death of Friday, the despair of Saturday, and the resurrection life of Sunday - and we acknowledge the mystery of death that leads to life.  We're mindful, as Hans Urs von Balthasar so profoundly put it, that “being disguised under the disfigurement of an ugly crucifixion and death, Christ upon the cross is paradoxically the clearest revelation of who God is.”  We see in light of the cross that God is co-suffering sacrificial love, infinite loving kindness that is faithful even unto death.  We celebrate Christ's life given, divine solidarity with human suffering, the unmasking of mob violence, the sacrifice to end sacrifice, the tree of life rediscovered, the death by which death is conquered, for Christ is risen from the dead, trampling down death by death, and upon those in the tombs, bestowing life. 

At St Luke's we practice what is referred to as 'an open table.'  Anyone is welcome at the Lord's Table irrespective of age or stage or understanding of what is unfolding at communion.  We gather regularly for communion and trust that over time all who gather will grow in their understanding and appreciation of what is taking place.  Once a month we go a little slower and take communion with creche and kid's church before they head out to their respective programmes.  This is a chance for parents or grand-parents to sit with their children and talk about the life of Christ given for us.  Communion is a time of reflection and repentance, a time of celebration and thanks, a time for grace and peace to abound.

Each Sunday the following invitation is made prior to everyone making their way to the Lord's Table to receive bread and wine, grace and mercy:

"The table has been prepared, not of the church, but that of our Lord Jesus Christ. It is made ready for those who love the Lord a little, and who would like to love him more. All are invited to take a seat at this table, the certain, the uncertain, the faith-filled, the doubters. So come, you who have much faith and you who have little, you who have followed faithfully and you who have tried and failed. There is always a space for you at this table. Come not because of your own goodness, but because of the goodness of God. Come and meet the risen Christ, come and eat from the Tree of Life rediscovered. Turn your heart towards Jesus and receive the salvation of God, for Jesus is the Bread of Life, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world. Come, to where heaven and earth overlap, The Table of the Lord, and receive the life of Christ as your own, the grace and peace of God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ."