I imagine that many of you, like me, did not come from a sacramental tradition. Perhaps you find yourself in one now and still have questions when it comes time on Sunday for “Communion,” “The Lord’s Supper,” “The Eucharist,” or simply “The Table.”
“What exactly is going on here?”, you might wonder.
“Why do we do this so regularly?”
“Why is this such a big deal?”
“Why are there so many different Christian perspectives on this Sacrament?”
It is precisely because of these different traditions and questions in our lives that we offer a retreat every year in Northern Virginia called Take, Eat, Be: On the Eucharistic Life. This year’s retreat will be held at Truro Anglican Church on October 5th, from 9:30am-4pm. Wade Ballou and I will lead us through the day, which will begin with some teaching on how this sacrament translates into our daily living, followed by a lunch together, time for individual reflection, and of course, the opportunity to receive Holy Communion. For more information and to register, CLICK HERE.
Mother Teresa once said, “If I can give you any advice, I beg you to get closer to the Eucharist.” J.R.R. Tolkien wrote in a letter to his son Christopher, “Out of the darkness of my life, so much frustrated, I put before you the one great thing to love on earth: the Blessed Sacrament.”
Join us to understand more about what is really happening when we partake of the bread and wine, and to be met by Jesus again in this ancient practice. The central question of this retreat remains: “How can I encounter Jesus in the Eucharist, deepen my relationship with him, and become more like him for my sake and the sake of the world?” We hope to see you there!