From the earliest days the Christian
community has come together to celebrate
the Eucharist. The Acts of the Apostles
written around 70AD tells how the early
Christians met regularly for “the breaking of bread.” (Acts 2:42). Justin the Martyr gives us this unique picture of the celebration of the Eucharist in 150 AD:

“On the day which is called Sun-day, all, whether they live in town or the country, gather in the same place.

Then the memoirs of the Apostles or the Writings of the Prophets are read for as long as time allows.

When the reader has finished, the president speaks, exhorting us to live by these noble teachings.

Then we rise together and pray.

Then as we said earlier, when the prayer is finished, bread and wine and water are brought. The president then prays and gives thanks as well as he can. And all the people reply with the acclamation, ‘Amen’.

Then the Eucharistic gifts are distributed and shared out to everyone, and the deacons are sent to take them to those who are absent.”

The Eucharist is a mystery which touches the life of the whole world. It is like an irresistible magnet which in huge sprawling cities, small towns and little villages, draws people out of their homes and groups them together around the Lord. The language can be different, the external shape and form may have changed, but the essence of the mystery remains intact.

At St Peter and St Paul, we believe that, despite all the problems, God’s power is at work in the world, and that God’s strength can overcome human weakness. This is true for everyone.