The first Sunday in October is World Communion Sunday. United Methodist congregations join many Christian churches across the globe for this celebration of unity among churches across denominations.
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On the first Sunday in October, United Methodist congregations join many Christian churches across the globe in celebrating World Communion Sunday.
World Communion Sunday began at Shadyside Presbyterian Church in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania in 1933. The Rev. Hugh Thompson Kerr and his congregation sought to demonstrate the interconnectedness of Christian churches, regardless of denomination.
Rev. Kerr appropriately chose the sacrament of Holy Communion to symbolize this unity.
In 1940, the Federal Council of Churches of Christ in America, which included all of the predecessor denominations of The United Methodist Church, adopted World-Wide Communion Sunday.
United Methodists believe in an open table, anyone may receive communion.
Our Book of Worships says, “All who intend to lead a Christian life, together with their children, are invited to receive the bread and cup.”
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In United Methodist Churches around the world, a special offering is collected on World Communion Sunday to fund scholarships for seminarians. One half of the proceeds is for World Communion Sunday Scholars administered by the General Board of Global Ministries. The remaining one half is for the Ethnic Scholarship Program and the Ethnic In-Service Training Program, which are administered by the General Board of Higher Education and Ministry.
This video was produced by United Methodist Communications in Nashville, TN.
Media contact is Joe Iovino, [email protected].
This video was first posted on October 2, 2019.
