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When I was a child, I went with my grandma to the Baptist church my parents were married in and much of my family attended at one point or another. Communion was served once a quarter. I remember the trays being passed around me, but I never took it myself, and I don't think I really understood it.
In high school, I joined a Christian Church that had communion every Sunday. Over the time I spent there, I began to understand what communion meant. But it was still what happened on Sundays.
In college, one of my favorite classes involved studying the last part of the life of Christ, including the Last Supper and the crucifixion. The two Sundays before we studied the Last Supper, I missed communion. I was disappointed, knowing that we were about to study this pivotal moment, and I had missed honoring it two weeks in a row.
To my surprise, when we came to class that day, our professor was pouring small cups of yes, grape juice (it was Bible college after all!), and he had a plate of communion bread. He spoke for a bit and then instructed us to each take our bread and grape juice and then find a quiet place to be alone, pray, and take communion.
So there I found myself at 11:00 on a Tuesday morning, sitting outside on the grass, having communion.
Communion is an important part in the life of the church and should be served in the church service, but it doesn't have to stop there. Celebrate it with your life group on Wednesday evening. Serve your family at the dinner table on Thursday. Even celebrate it outside in nature by yourself.
Just be sure that when you do, you remember:
"The Lord Jesus in the night in which He was betrayed took bread; and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, 'This is My body, which is broken for you; do this in remembrance of Me.' In the same way He took the cup also after supper, saying, 'This cup is the new covenant in My blood; do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.' For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until He comes." 1 Corinthians 11:23b-26 (NASB)
What is the most unusual experience you've had taking communion?
It always disappoints me to visit a church that does not have an open table. I've never thought Jesus would approve of excluding believers from taking communion. But what a nice idea that you can take it any time, anywhere. That never occurred to me!
ReplyDeleteI agree. Are you familiar with Thomas and Alexander Campbell? The practice of communion by the denomination they were in was part of why they left and began the Restoration movement (Christian Church, Church of Christ, Disciples of Christ).
ReplyDeleteI was a member of a church a few years ago that had four tables throughout the auditorium, and communion was available throughout the whole first half of the service, until just before the sermon. Logistically it was easier that way because of the size of the church, but I really loved the freedom it gave.
Great words of encouragement Kirra! My most unusual communion experience was at midnight on New Year's Eve. Brought to mind the new beginnings idea. My favorite was in SE Asia with a group of international believers. We spoke different languages, but God's message never changes. Have a wonderful day!
ReplyDeleteGrace,
Donna
Great point about it not just being for Sundays. The early church did it whenever they met and it was followed by a meal. My life group once had a Passover meal on Good Friday. The unleavened bread was awful, but the dinner and communion was special.
ReplyDeleteNew year's eve would be a neat time to take communion. I think my favorite communion was when I had it at my wedding. I can see how amazing it would be to take it with people from multiple countries.
ReplyDeleteI got to do that once in high school. It was such a neat experience!
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