We experimented with Communion on Sunday.
We put 8 tables
around the room, 4 in front & 4 in back. We put a goblet and a hunks of bread on each table. We invited people who have received Christ as Savior to think/reflect/journal/pray before rising, explaining the symbology of the elements. (We also told people how they could receive Christ right then.)
Then they could, as the Lord lead during the next 2 reflective
songs, go to a table & celebrate it alone, or with their family, disciple, or small group. They just had to pray, grab a hunk of bread, dip it into the cup, & eat it. Thots?
Here are the verses I referenced as we explained Communion.
- 1 Cor 11:23-26 — Churches can celebrate it however often they choose. (We currently celebrate Communion every 4-6 weeks or so.)
- 1 Cor 11:27-32 — Communion is a time for personal reflection
We also used leavened bread (i.e. with yeast) for the first time. Here are the verses I
referenced by way of explanation:
- The OT Commandment:
- Exodus 12:11-20 — Yes, leaven (yeast) was forbidden at Passover
- 1 Cor 5:7-8 — Yes, leaven (yeast) is a picture of sin
- Matt 16:5-12 — Yes, leaven (yeast) is a picture of bad doctrine
- Our NT Liberty:
- Rom 8:2 — As Christians, we have been freed from the OT Laws
- 1 Cor 11:23-34 — We are just told to celebrate with "bread"
- Gal 5:1 — We chose to stand fast in the liberty Christ gave us
The #1 comment I got about Communion?
- Others — "When I saw the goblets, I thought we were going to drink from the same cup."
- Me — "There is no way I’m doing that. And no ‘double-dipping’ either!" 🙂
My only thought are these:
1. It was really a great ideas to conduct communion in this way. It was a very rare opportunity for me to share it with my wife… that was very cool.
2. I took a very large piece of bread on accident. If the bread is too large to eat in one bite… should you dunk it again or is that a no no? As it stood, I just put the “leftovers” in my pocket and went back to my seat.
All in all….. it was very cool.
It was a very spiritual moment for me. I felt God’s presence.
i think formal word for this type of communion is “intinction”. if it hadn’t been for my prior experience with this style, i’m sure i would have thought similarly about drinking from the same cup…and definitely no double dipping 🙂
while this style is particularly meaningful for me personally (i like sharing the moment with my family as well), i have witnessed circumstances where folks may not be as comfortable. in those cases, the church also offered an alternative method (“the usual way”) just in case someone has reservations about receiving communion differently…just a thought…
i loved your explanation of using leavened bread vs. unleavened bread…my wife leaned over and with a smile said your comments should deter any emails…i totally agreed…
I am so honored to be a member of a church that is bold enough to pursue what is right and not just what is proper. To many times do I see people just following a routine, because they have always done it that way.
I personally think this change helped people to see and realize why we honor our Lord in obedience to his commands. Those who chose to rise and go to the tables did so out of choice, and not because a plate was being passed to them.
Even if we use the traditional elements, allowing people to rise and go get them really allows freedom to honor God individually, yet in a public way.
Kudos for the bold statements we make at Grace Church, I truly love this church and the people who make it real each and every day.
I really liked taking communion this way. It seemed more of a conscious choice somehow. I hope we do it again. Thanks for being so innovative and “thinking outside the box” while all the time following Scripture. You keep things interesting and fresh while challenging us to think about what we believe. Steve and I love being a part of this Church.
You know, after the second time around, I’m convinced that this “sytle” of communion is both meaningful and significant. It’s the only communion experience that I’ve had where I could share it in a meaningful way with my wife but at the same time honor God. It’s a time for us to honor Him together with our prayers and Honor him by taking part in His rememberance. I look forward to these times…… Thanks
Thanks so much for the feedback. I agree that this has method a powerful mode of worship for me as well.