On Saturday, March 23, some of our second- and third-graders had their First Communion Retreat at Bethany Lutheran Church in Iowa Falls. Pastor Joy assisted Pastor Maureen as we all came together to learn about Holy Communion.
We had five children attend this event, including Maycee Henderson, Guinevere (Winnie) Dial, Aaliyah Hansen, Wyatt Thelen, and Nora Scott. They had the best time!
We started in the sanctuary where the kids interviewed their parents about baptism and first communion. Then, we went into the fellowship hall where we learned even more about baptism and communion.
Pastor Maureen told us a story about Moses and the Israelites. They were slaves in Egypt but after 10 plagues brought upon the Egyptians by God through Moses, the Pharaoh let the people of Israel go free. The last plague is where all the firstborn males of Egypt died, but the Israelites had sacrificed a lamb and put the blood on their doorway so the angel of death would 'Passover' and not kill the Israelite males. The sacrament of Holy Communion is actually related to the story of Passover because Jesus became our sacrificial lamb who would save us from sin and death.
Then we went back into the sanctuary to finish our lesson with an explanation about why we partake of wine or juice and unleavened bread for Holy Communion. Almost all the children thought the wine and dry wafers were quite “yucky,” as you can tell by the pictures.
Then, Maureen explained how Jesus saved us from our sins when he died on the cross and rose again. We celebrate the Last Supper or Holy Communion which Jesus began during Holy Week before his death on the cross. Many churches have slightly different beliefs about the bread and wine, but Pastor Maureen explained that Jesus is present in the bread (which is his body) and in the wine (which is his blood shed for our sins).
Finally, after all our classwork, everybody got to make communion bread in the kitchen together! I think that was their favorite part of the class… making bread and tasting it before we prayed the Lord’s Prayer and went home.
What a fun and educational day for all! We will celebrate First Communion with Winnie, Maycee, Aaliyah, Nora, and Wyatt on Maundy Thursday at 7:00 p.m. during our service. Please come and worship with us and support our kids!
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