A place for everyone
The sacrament of Holy Communion
Each year, nine- and ten-year-olds come together to learn and grow in their faith through the fourth-grade communion milestone. During the five-week session, children and their parents learn together about the sacrament of Holy Communion and what it means in their lives of faith. This year, Fern Daly-Harris and her family are embarking on this journey, while Reese Kramer and her family reflect on their experience from last year.
Looking forward
Danielle Daly and Chandler Harris found their way to the Quad Cities more than ten years ago for work. When they began looking for a church, they wanted a place that engaged the whole family. They found a home at St. Paul because of the welcoming atmosphere and children’s programming. Danielle appreciated the inclusive environment of St. Paul, which reminded her of her grandmother’s church in Florida.
“I like when you can go to church as a family. Many churches are set up where parents and children attend church separately. I was raised in an environment like St. Paul where I went to Sunday School and then we went to church as a family,” Danielle said. “There is always something going on for the kids here at St. Paul. We were looking for a church for a while and ended up here because we loved the children’s programming, and the congregation was so welcoming. I was raised Catholic and Chandler had an Episcopalian background. This church felt like a good pairing of those to us.”
Fern, a homeschooler, loves having her mom as her teacher. She enjoys a variety of activities, including piano, swimming, skiing, and art. In fact, Fern just had her first professional piano gig! She has a passion for reading and is close to her five-year-old little sister Laurel. Fern is excited about the communion milestone and looks forward to learning more about its origins and significance.
Danielle finds it meaningful that the communion milestone is celebrated on Maundy Thursday, the day of the Last Supper. “I think it’s really cool that St. Paul holds the communion ceremony on Maundy Thursday. There’s a lot of symbolism behind that,” she said.
For the family, this milestone is a continuation of Fern’s faith journey that began with her baptism.
“Ten years ago, we were preparing for her baptism, making the choice to bring her up in the way we believe. Now, as a 10-year-old, she’s able to understand what she’s committing to and what she’s going to believe,” Danielle explained. “I was younger when I took communion for the first time, and I like that Fern is a little older and has more of an understanding of what’s going on.”
“It’s important to us to show our kids the way,” Chandler said. “No one truly knows what they’re doing all the time, but there is a general way forward. This encourages us to ask questions and come to learn together. Experiencing this milestone as a family reiterates that we’re all on the same path.”
Reflecting back
Fifth-grader Reese Kramer participated in the communion milestone last year. She said she learned a lot about the importance of communion and how to show up in the world as a Christian.
“I learned that Jesus is with you when you take communion, that God loves and forgives us, and the importance of helping others. There is a place for everyone at Jesus’ table,” Reese said. “As a family, we talked about serving our community and leading with forgiveness.”
Reese’s mom Kendra appreciated the opportunity to relearn about communion alongside her daughter. “It brought us closer as a family and helped us explain the importance of what communion means for each of us,” she said. “We were so proud and loved watching her take another step in her faith journey.”
Nathan and Kendra were thrilled to see Reese’s excitement and growth. “She was so excited, not nervous, and looking forward to communion for a long time. She loved painting the chalice and everything creative,” Kendra said. “It’s amazing to watch your children go through their faith milestones just like we did as children many years ago.”
Shared experience
Both families emphasize the importance of shared experiences and the sense of community that comes with the communion milestone. For Fern, the milestone is an opportunity to learn more about what communion practices and rituals mean, and the songs associated with communion.
“It will have more meaning to me,” she said. “We’re always humming the communion song Eat This Bread after the service and I think I’ll understand more about it when I’ve finished this milestone.”
Reese’s experience taught her the importance of kindness and forgiveness. “I learned that showing others kindness and forgiveness is very important,” Reese said. “I loved painting the chalice, and the memory will hold for me as I have it on display throughout the rest of my life.”
Celebration
As Fern and more than 30 other St. Paul kids prepare to receive communion together at the April 17 Maundy Thursday evening service, Fern’s family looks forward to celebrating this milestone.
“It’s a time when the family can come together to celebrate and support Fern in her faith journey,” Danielle said. “Lots of family are traveling from out of town to support Fern in her journey.”
For the Kramers, the communion milestone was a time of growth and connection. “We were very proud seeing Reese stand in front of the congregation. We’re happy she will have an increased faith and connection to Jesus to get her through all the ups and downs in her life,” Kendra said.
Both families agree that this fourth-grade milestone is a significant step in their children’s faith journeys. It’s a time for learning, growth, and celebration, and a reminder that there is a place for everyone at Jesus’ table.
Joan Bruce
It’s always good advice to slow down, appreciate, and savor the moment. Thank you, Pastor Sara