Lord's Supper
About the Lord's Supper...Communion
We participate in the sacrament...
- Each week
- Up front in the church, in circles of approx. 20 people each
- With entire families - Adults and children*
- Passing the bread to the next person with the words like "The body of Christ given for you" and then the wine (grape juice available) with appropriate words such as: "The blood of Christ shed for you"
- Dipping the bread in the wine and eating
- During communion, when seated, songs may be sung or you may meditate on the event.
Rationale...
- It is clear from the Bible that the early Christians participated in the Lord's Supper each time they gathered together (See Acts 2:42-47 and I Cor 11:17 ff., especially v.20).
- John Calvin, a great Bible scholar of the 16th century, understood the sacrament in this way (Institutes 4:xvii:43-46).
- We believe that both the Bible (preached and taught) and the sacraments (Baptism and the Lord's Supper) are means God uses to strengthen Christians.
- We believe that the act of walking forward symbolizes the Biblical truth that God wants to work in the entire households and loves children.
- We believe that passing the bread and wine to each other heightens our sense of equality and community.
Participants...
- Each person who believes the Trinity and trusts he/she is in right relationship with our heavenly Father because of Jesus' life, crucifixion and resurrection, and who desires to live for Him, is enthusiastically welcome to participate.
* Baptized children not yet participating may partake after a session with the Pastor, when parents sense their child's readiness.