COMMUNION
In our Congregational tradition, we do not observe Communion (sometimes known as The Lord's Supper or the Eucharist) at every Sunday worship service. Instead, Communion is offered as part of our worship together on the first Sunday of every month. On those days, the Service of Communion is incorporated into our regular worship service
What is Communion?
First, the practice of Communion is what we call a Sacrament in our tradition, meaning that Communion is for us a visible sign of the promises made to us by God and through Jesus Christ. Communion is a way in which we renew our relationship with Jesus, remembering that he died for us and that we are his in his victory over death. In celebrating Communion, we feel the presence of Jesus pouring his spirit on us, and we give thanks for the sacrifices that he made for all of us.
Who Can Receive Communion?
In several Christian traditions, certain requirements must be met before a person can participate in the celebration of Communion. In some churches, people must be baptized, or confirmed in the faith, before they can receive. In our tradition, however, the table is open to all who wish to draw closer in their relationship with Jesus Christ.
What is a Communion Service like?
Our typical Service of Communion will look like this:
INVITATION
We begin our service with a short prayer to settle our minds and hearts, and then offer a few words about the logistical arrangements for the service. Then the worship leader will invite the congregation to participate, sometimes offering a symbolic challenge to make sure that we are prepared to follow Jesus with our hearts. That challenge may sound like this:
All of you who do truly and earnestly repent of your sins, and are in love and charity with your neighbors, and intend to lead a new life, following the commandments of God, and walking in God’s holy ways: draw near with faith and take this holy sacrament to your comfort.
CONSECRATION
The worship leader will then offer a prayer that asks God to consecrate (bless, sanctify) the elements (in our tradition, bread and grape juice) that will be symbols of the body and blood of Jesus Christ in the sacramental meal.
THE OFFERING OF THE BREAD AND THE CUP
The worship leader then tells the story of Jesus at the Last Supper he ate with his disciples before his betrayal and arrest. If you’d like to read the story, you can find it in each of the four gospel accounts(click on the links to go there): Matthew 26:17 – 30. Mark 14:12 – 31; Luke 22:14 – 20; John 13:21 - 38. Bread is distributed to the congregation by Deacons, followed by small cups of juice. We eat and drink together, a symbol of our faith as the body of Christ.
After the elements have been distributed and consumed, the worship leader offers a short Prayer of Thanksgiving, and we bring our worship service to a close.
What is Communion?
First, the practice of Communion is what we call a Sacrament in our tradition, meaning that Communion is for us a visible sign of the promises made to us by God and through Jesus Christ. Communion is a way in which we renew our relationship with Jesus, remembering that he died for us and that we are his in his victory over death. In celebrating Communion, we feel the presence of Jesus pouring his spirit on us, and we give thanks for the sacrifices that he made for all of us.
Who Can Receive Communion?
In several Christian traditions, certain requirements must be met before a person can participate in the celebration of Communion. In some churches, people must be baptized, or confirmed in the faith, before they can receive. In our tradition, however, the table is open to all who wish to draw closer in their relationship with Jesus Christ.
What is a Communion Service like?
Our typical Service of Communion will look like this:
INVITATION
We begin our service with a short prayer to settle our minds and hearts, and then offer a few words about the logistical arrangements for the service. Then the worship leader will invite the congregation to participate, sometimes offering a symbolic challenge to make sure that we are prepared to follow Jesus with our hearts. That challenge may sound like this:
All of you who do truly and earnestly repent of your sins, and are in love and charity with your neighbors, and intend to lead a new life, following the commandments of God, and walking in God’s holy ways: draw near with faith and take this holy sacrament to your comfort.
CONSECRATION
The worship leader will then offer a prayer that asks God to consecrate (bless, sanctify) the elements (in our tradition, bread and grape juice) that will be symbols of the body and blood of Jesus Christ in the sacramental meal.
THE OFFERING OF THE BREAD AND THE CUP
The worship leader then tells the story of Jesus at the Last Supper he ate with his disciples before his betrayal and arrest. If you’d like to read the story, you can find it in each of the four gospel accounts(click on the links to go there): Matthew 26:17 – 30. Mark 14:12 – 31; Luke 22:14 – 20; John 13:21 - 38. Bread is distributed to the congregation by Deacons, followed by small cups of juice. We eat and drink together, a symbol of our faith as the body of Christ.
After the elements have been distributed and consumed, the worship leader offers a short Prayer of Thanksgiving, and we bring our worship service to a close.
