Children & Holy Communion

Children as Communicants some texts to resource consideration

A new opportunity for a new Millennium.

An article for Majestas, the magazine of Great St Mary's, Jan 2000 by Gill Ambrose

We are a new generation in a new Millennium wanting to do what is right.

We are a new generation in a new Millennium walking in God's light.

We are a new generation in a new Millennium not knowing what the future holds.

We are a new generation in a new Millennium putting our trust in the Lord.

So sang 500 children who came to the Saints Alive Millennium countdown event held on the eve of All Saints at Ely Cathedral. They sang it with enthusiasm and confidence for it is a catchy song, specially written for children at a very special time, by John Hardwick, a talented children's evangelist who works around Cambridge.

As we enjoyed singing it the second time through, I found myself reflecting on some words of Bishop Stephen that I had typed into the diocesan booklet about Children and Communion two years ago:

'Children and young people are living in exceptionally difficult times as regards belief in, and practice of, the Christian faith. Together with their parents, godparents and all who are concerned with their nurture, they deserve the very best support we can offer.'

The song, which is not very long, goes on:

'Some put their hope in riches, some put their hope in fame, some put their hope in good looks, but that seems such a shame. I'm putting my hope in the one thing that has a guarantee, I'm putting my hope in Jesus, he's the one for me. He's the same yesterday, today and for ever and his love lasts eternally.'

It happens that the children and adults of Great St Mary's find themselves plotting a new course on their journey of faith together, the admission of children to Holy Communion, at a momentous time, the beginning of the third Millennium after Jesus Christ. The concurrence is actually coincidental, but this should not diminish its significance. We have been urged to reflect on the significance of the Millennium as Christians, and perhaps aim to use it as a marker for a renewal in our spiritual lives. In our diocese a great deal of energy has gone into providing opportunities for this, through the provision of Lent and Advent courses, the training of people in spiritual direction and a number of special services and events. The new direction which you are about to take at Great St Mary's needs to be seen as another of those opportunities by the whole community, not just a few with a particular interest in children.

Few of us can put our hope in our good looks, but in Cambridge the temptation to put one's hope in riches or fame must be particularly seductive. While few children are themselves wealthy, they are all too easily caught up in a life style that regards acquisitiveness as the basic goal of life. Given the norms of everyday life in our very affluent and successful city, challenging this is extremely hard for us.

But what Jesus offers us, renewed and transformed life in the simple gifts of bread and wine, symbols of his body and blood given for us all, is truly radical. It is a gift freely given to each of us, whatever our level of wealth or success, learning or ignorance, beauty or ugliness. None of us deserves it. Perhaps the opportunity to kneel beside a child and receive together with them will offer us a new reminder of this. We struggle to understand what it means, but perhaps the chance to share what it means to us with a group of children preparing for admission will challenge us to look at our inward experiences and so equip us to share our faith more confidently on other occasions.

And of course we shall need to provide a community in which young communicant Christians can continue to explore their faith, ask their questions, discuss their feelings and move on towards further commitment. One of the concerns which has been constantly expressed where I have discussed the possibility of admitting children to communion before they are confirmed has been that confirmation will just disappear. 'If children don't need to be confirmed to receive communion,' people say, 'then what is the point of being confirmed? They simply won't bother.' What a sad reflection on commitment that is. Our journey of faith is a life-long business. There will be all sorts of marker points on the way, some celebrated sacramentally, some perhaps acknowledged only privately. But a faith community, which is open, lively and responsive to peoples needs, will always be supporting people as they celebrate points on their journeys.

Acknowledging growth and development and invitations to new challenges will need to be the norm if the Christian faith is to cope with the demands of the uncharted territories of the new Millennium. We do not, indeed, know what the future holds. But we will face the future more strongly together, with the more experienced to provide security and ballast while the young and excited explore new routes and new markers. Without openness to new ways we shall never move on and without wisdom we shall have no rudder to steer by. Receiving the body and blood of Christ together will provide the chance to grow closer together and to him. It will be both a support and a challenge in very difficult times.

Formation, education and instruction

An extract from the address at the Diocesan Consultation on the admission of children to Communion.

John Westerhoff

The American Episcopalian Christian educationist contributed a very helpful essay to an American Roman Catholic publication, Issues in the Christian Initiation of Children, Catechesis and Liturgy. (Brown & Sokol 1989. LTP)(I find it interesting that they found it necessary to ask an Anglican to write the theory for them.) In the essay, 'Cultic life and the initiation of children', Westerhoff sets out three distinct processes required for the development of an informed Christian faith. He describes formation, education and instruction. Instruction he describes as the process of acquiring knowledge and skills useful for a responsible Christian life in church and society. Education develops the capacity to reflect critically on experience in the light of Christian life and faith.

Formation, he says, inducts people into the body of Christ, shaping their faith and perception of life. Whilst this is a lifelong activity, it is especially necessary and appropriate for children. It ensures binding into the tradition. Education and instruction are both necessary and important, but are later processes, and dependent on the formation process for their effectiveness.

In fact, Westerhoff suggests that Christian education, in the specialised definition, which he gives, is not possible before adolescence. But formation, inclusion in the life and worship of the Body of Christ, is vital to childhood faith. And one of the major contributions to formation is worship. Worship is at the heart of our faith: it is what above all distinguishes the Christian community. And good worship communicates and fosters communication of the deepest meanings in ways, which are beyond articulation - at least for most of us. 'Participation in the rite', says Westerhoff, 'creates meaning that otherwise cannot be communicated.'

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