135 N. Oakland Ave. Be with us as we break bread in our homes. Find all Life for Leaders devotions here. Pray for those who need assistance, that you may best discern how to render it. Invite each person to mention something from the passage they like, they are puzzled by or that strikes them in some other way. Then each individual used to break off a small piece and handed it down further. A Generous And Growing Church. Download the printable version of this blessing Jennifer lives in Berea, Kentucky, with her husband, Edwin, and their two daughters. There’s Power In The Blood Of Jesus Christ, BLW President Announces Full Month of Prayer in June 2018. I don’t know about you, but if you are like most of the Christians I know in most of the United States right now, you are doing some form of online or distanced worship. Maybe you are doing drive-in church services in the parking lot. Bread made from the five species of grains identified by our sages (wheat, barley, rye, spelt or oat) require the blessing "Hamotzi" (הַמּוֹצִיא). I can still render assistance to those in need. The early Christians came together regularly for common meals, which included the breaking of bread. Not only that, but it was only broken in half and handed out to either side of the one offering. First, Acts 2:42-46 describes the early church breaking bread as part of their fellowship: "And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers." Songs like “All Shall … Give someone this prayer to pray out loud: Then break. The breaking of bread is talking about the Lord’s Supper, which is what we’ll be talking about today. At the same time, though, I find that being at a distance from the breaking of bread has caused me to focus more distinctly on all the other acts that marked the life of the early church in Acts. It does not refer to just any bread, but to a specific bread, a special bread. The disciples “…continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers” (Acts 2:42). She is also the managing editor of Christian History magazine and web editor for the Theology of Work Project. Lord, this morning as we look at this passage and as we consider how the beginning of the Church, and how these very important things, were established, let us also be aware of how they continued throughout all of history. The context that the phrase is used in tells us whether a physical meal is being discussed or a spiritual meal, the Lord’s Supper. You have to understand the significance of the breaking of bread; it’s the commemoration of the death of Jesus Christ on your behalf! However your worship at a distance looks, it’s very likely that you are not breaking bread. Designed to support worship for assemblies everywhere, Breaking Bread combines the best elements of a hymnal and a missal, featuring more than 850 hymn, song and service music titles. "This do in remembrance of me", Jesus commanded (Luke 22:19). It's an activity of faith and worship to which they "devoted themselves". Let’s pray. And this was partially because that is how people socially broke bread (literally). After the breaking of the bread is completed, a small meal is served that eagerly anticipates the Midnight Mass, which many Polish families would attend on Christmas Eve. It’s the celebration of the life of glory His vicarious death has brought us into. Or, even if you are (some churches have had people bring the communion elements to the screen while the presider prays over them from afar) you are not breaking bread together. I don’t know about you, but my church at least is finding that more people are being drawn to our socially distanced worship than to the worship we used to hold in our building. The blessing is referred to as "the breaking of bread". Maybe your church is mailing bulletins and meditation materials to congregants. Comfort and sustain us until we reach that day when we will break bread together. They are commenting on our Facebook page. Jennifer Woodruff Tait (PhD, Duke University) is the editor of and frequent contributor to Life for Leaders. Sharing meals is a very important part of Jewish family and community life. 6. The Greek uses the definite article "the," making the phrase to read, "the breaking of the bread." First, there is the breaking of bread used in connection with the Lord’s Supper, a memorial to remember Jesus’ death and to declare his coming again (Matt. Your email address will not be published. c/o De Pree Center (626) 584-5354. Acts 2:46 And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart, Apostolic teaching, apostolic fellowship, apostolic breaking of the bread and apostolic prayer; these are the marks of the true church of Jesus Christ. Acts 2:42 And they continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers. In this text we are meant to understand “the breaking of the bread” in … Having filled the cup, the one presiding is to present it in the view of the people. The Acts of the Apostles presents the Church as such a communion: “And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and fellowship [koinonia], to the breaking of bread and the prayers” (Acts 2:42).The “breaking of bread” was ever afterward the sign of the Church’s fellowship and of communion with God. And they continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers. She is a priest in the Episcopal Church and an adjunct faculty member at Asbury Theological Seminary. If the words of institution have not previously been spoken as part of the invitation or in the communion prayer, 1 Cor. In my tradition, a willingness to claim that heritage even forms one of the questions we ask candidates for baptism: “Will you continue in the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, in the breaking of the bread, and in the prayers?” And it is a form of Christian practice that right now we absolutely cannot share together. Jesus Christ died to demolish the walls that separate us from one another. "Breaking bread" was something commonly done by the early Christians. Maybe your church is using Facebook or Zoom. I cannot break the communion bread or the bread of fellowship with my fellow believers unless they live in the same house with me. The Breaking of Bread in Jewish Tradition . The fraction also recalls Christ's body as broken for us and our salvation. Whether we take Acts 2:42 to mean the breaking of bread and the drinking of wine only in the Lord’s Supper, or whether we take it to mean the entire fellowship meal practiced by the early church—and both are legitimate interpretations—it was one of the foundational practices of early Christianity. Commentary on today’s Life for Leaders theme can be found here: A Christian Identity as God’s Kingdom Witnesses in Daily Life (Acts 2:1-41). Shouldn’t this…, At the beginning of this passage, the coming of God into the situation Isaiah addresses…, Prayers for Workers: When God Seems Not to Hear Your Prayers, Thus, even when our confidence in the Lord falters, even when our behavior is anything…. This is not something we need to pass over lightly. Maybe it is recording services (with appropriately distanced participants) and putting them on YouTube. In my tradition, a willingness to claim that heritage even forms one of the questions we ask candidates for baptism: “Will you continue in the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, in the breaking of the bread, and in the prayers?” And it is a form of Christian practice that … (a prayer for a minister or celebrant to say as a blessing over the bread) Lord, as we take this bread, We remember that You are the bread of life. I can still pray. Your email address will not be published. 41 So then, those who had received his word were baptized; and that day there were added about three thousand souls. Be the first thought in our hearts and help us to be conscious of your direction. In order to be considered bread, the liquid ingredient has to be primarily water and it has to be baked. 11:23, 24 shall be used at this time. Play Johnny Cash Breaking Bread on YouTube. This ordinance of Christ does not impart a special form of grace, but it does unite every believer in worship and remembrance of the Lord Jesus Christ until He returns. YOU CAN DISCERN THE WILL OF GOD THROUGH PRAYER! 11.3.5 The Breaking of Bread Along with prayer and Bible reading, regular obedience to Christ's command to break bread and drink wine in memory of his sacrifice is vital. Break the piece of bread from your game above and share it out. They are finding us on social media. Your email address will not be published. The breaking of the bread follows the eucharistic prayer and the Lord's Prayer and is accompanied by a period of silence. Sign up to receive a Life for Leaders devotional each day in your inbox. *FREE* shipping on qualifying offers. In Jewish households, it was common for the head of the house or the host of the dinner to grab bread, say a prayer of thanksgiving, and literally break the bread, handing a piece to each participant in the meal. The action of breaking bread was commonly performed by the master or head of a family immediately after asking a blessing (Lightfoot). This "breaking of bread" is included with the teaching and the prayers. Notice the spiritual nature of every item: doctrine (1 Timothy 1:3), fellowship (1 John 1:3-7), breaking bread (Acts 20:7), and prayers (Acts 12:5). Thus, like the disciples in the early church, we come together regularly, for fellowship, in breaking of bread, and in prayer. The one presiding is to take the bread and break it in the view of the people. There can be no famine while the bread of Heaven endures, and help us to remember that when we are forgetful of Your infinite kindness. Required fields are marked *, Fuller Theological Seminary She has written a book of poetry, Histories of Us. Today we come to the third of them, the breaking of the bread. “Breaking of bread” was a term used in N.T. 4. Thank you for your love for me. times to describe the eating of a meal, as bread was the centerpiece of the meal, as meat is in our society. “And they continued steadfastly … in the breaking of bread, and in prayers” (Acts 2:42, NKJV). Prayers for the Breaking of Bread: Meditations on the Collects of the Church Year Prayers for the Breaking of Bread: Meditations on the Collects of the Church Year [O'Driscoll, Herbert] on Amazon.com. Lord, even as we wrestle with the destruction of our familiar routines, show us how to be your disciples in new ways. You feed our souls, you nourish our hearts and You give us sustenance to run the race before us. My understanding is that in times past, this was the method. The breaking of the consecrated bread for distribution by the celebrant at the eucharist. Prayer … Pray prayers of lament for the things you are missing out on. And as we partake of these hallowed symbols at this holy communion table, we humbly take this bread and bless it and break it, and eat it in remembrance of you, for Your own dear body was broken for us. 7. Pray. Strengthen us for service, Nourish us with the bread of life, Transform us for mission. New for 2021! Breaking of bread is used in two different milieus and contexts. (Learn about the accompaniment books here.) They are joining in our Zoom services. 43 Everyone kept feeling a sense of awe; and many wonders and signs were taking place through the apostles. All rights reserved. Amen. Pray prayers of gratitude for those blessings that you have seen. Prayers: Bread of Life Approach God, our hope, As we gather now to worship you, fill us with anticipation and prepare us by your Spirit. This practice invested every meal with religious significance. Pasadena, CA 91182, Contact Us they. Explore what the Bible has to say about work at the unique website of our partners, the Theology of Work Project. But I can still devote myself to the apostles’ teaching as I find it in the Scriptures. It is clear that "breaking of bread" in that context is a reference to the memorial supper that Jesus instituted the night he was betrayed (Matthew 26:26-30). 26: 26-29, I … Breaking of Bread, also called the Lord’s Supper, refers to a special worship service instituted by the Lord Jesus Christ. Breaking of Bread prayer by Joseph Prince Breaking of Bread prayer by Joseph Prince Prayer: (Take the bread in your hands & say) Heavenly Father, Thank you for Jesus Christ Thank you for the gift of your Son, you gave Him up, so that I may be saved. 42 They were continually devoting themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. It is something we should lament. So important, that special blessings are said at the start and end of the meal. one of the questions we ask candidates for baptism, A Christian Identity as God’s Kingdom Witnesses in Daily Life (Acts 2:1-41). BIBLE SCRIPTURES – THE BELIEVERS’ AUTHORITY, BIBLE SCRIPTURES THE NAME AND PERSON OF JESUS, BIBLE SCRIPTURES ON FAITHFULNESS AND PERSECUTION, BIBLE SCRIPTURES ON PROSPERITY AND FINANCE, BIBLE SCRIPTURES – ZOE: THE GOD-KIND OF LIFE, Christian Devotional Digital & Technology Team. , Free PDF download Download January 2021 Rhapsody of Realities by Pastor Chris Oyakhilome, Free PDF download Download September 2020 Rhapsody of Realities by Pastor Chris Oyakhilome. The structure of the eucharistic liturgy as it has been celebrated from the days of … Lord God, giver of bread, we bless You for your Heavenly kindness. connect@depree.org I can still seek, even in suffering, to praise God and to eat my food in the “domestic church” of my house with a glad and generous heart. And day by day the Lord is adding to our number those who are being saved. It’s free to subscribe and you can unsubscribe at any time. © Copyright 2021 De Pree Center. Say this blessing before eating bread (challah) at the beginning of a meal on Shabbat. Though followers of Yeshua can regard the traditional blessing as a prophetic of the resurrection of the Messiah (i.e., "bread brought forth from the earth"), a better blessing is to praise Ha-motzi lechem min hashamayim - "the One who brings forth bread from heaven." In prayers - This was one effect of the influence of the Spirit, and an evidence of their change. Prayer For The Communion Bread And Cup Thank You, Father, for this precious time of reverent reflection on all that Christ did for us at Calvary. This reference to breaking of bread probably refers to a fellowship meal or to regular meals shared between believers. However, he also invested this gesture with special meaning: “the breaking of bread” is the expression with which the first Christians described the eucharistic liturgy (Acts 2:42, 46; 20:7).