Living with Real Presence: Eucharist as an Approach to Life - Virtual Study Group

“If we do not become the real presence of Christ… if, when we leave the church, we don’t see Christ in others and seek to be Christ for others… then we do not truly understand the real presence of Christ.” With these challenging and inspiring words at heart, this 5-week study invites us to reflect on what it means to live our faith not just in worship, but in every encounter of daily life.

Using Living with Real Presence: Eucharist as an Approach to Life by S. James Meyer as our guide, this program will explore how the Eucharist is more than a ritual moment—it is a call to transformation, discipleship, and presence in the world. Together, we will consider the profound questions of how we understand Christ’s presence among us, how we live into that presence in practical and spiritual ways, and how we are called to embody that presence for others.

The format of our time together will be participatory and conversational. Each week (except for the first session), participants will have a short reading assignment to complete prior to gathering. Our sessions will then build on this foundation through dialogue, reflection, and shared insights, with particular attention to how these themes intersect with our own personal experiences of faith and community.

This study is not about learning about the Eucharist alone—it is about allowing the mystery of the Real Presence to shape us, challenge us, and send us forth to be the living presence of Christ wherever we go.

Session 1: Eucharist (introductory session)

Session 2: As Real As It Gets (pages 1-29)

Session 3: Substance (pages 33-56)

Session 4: Essence (pages 57-85)

Session 5 Real Presence, Real Relationship (pages 87-121)