The Holy Eucharist is the worship service where we most clearly express the values of Christian life: to restore all people to unity with God and each other in Christ as we pray and worship, proclaim the Gospel, and promote justice, peace, and love. This is the mission of the Church. When we gather to celebrate The Holy Eucharist, we are gathering in prayer and worship to God; to be inspired by God's Word; and to receive the spiritual presence of Christ in consecrated bread and wine. All of this is to help us grow closer to God and one another in Christ and to be nourished and sent out to be ministers of justice, peace, and love to the world.

Jesus instituted the Eucharist at the Last Supper (Matthew 26:20-29; Mark 14:17-25; Luke 22:14-38) and the Eucharist has been celebrated by the Church since the very beginning of Christianity. The Holy Eucharist is the sacrament commanded by Christ for the continual remembrance of his life, death, and resurrection, until his coming again. The Episcopal Church teaches that participation in receiving Holy Communion is necessary to living our baptismal promises and therefore it is intended and necessary for all baptized Christians.

To learn more about the sacrament received in the eucharist, please visit our Sacraments page.

The Structure of The Holy Eucharist

The worship service has two parts: The Word and The Holy Communion. Following is a brief outline of the service of The Holy Eucharist:

The Word of God

• Gather in the Lord's Name
• Proclaim and Respond to the Word of God
• Pray for the World and the Church
• Exchange the Peace

The Holy Communion

• Prepare the Table
• Make Eucharist - The Great Thanksgiving
• Break the Bread
• Share the Gifts of God - Receiving Communion

For a more detailed explanation of The Holy Eucharist service, please see our Guide to Worship in The Episcopal Church.