Worldwide Communion Sunday
In response to Andrew I am starting a new post, although it may be somewhat related to the post begun by brother Bill. But in the interest of full disclosure I will say up front that my view of the church and specifically the Lord's Table have been very much influenced by the brethren Assemblies in Quebec and in France. I would like to claim my views are based completely on Scripture but I don't want to push it. That being said, I had a great day yesterday.
I have felt since the 70's that most churches have not grasped the significance of the ordinance of Communion. I know one of the concerns with serving communion every Sunday (which I support) is that it makes it too common or ordinary. It has been my experience serving it less often does not automatically translate into a wonderful worship experience. It is too often an addendum.
In France it was the focus of every service and I think they got it right.
I know in my 25 years of ministry I have not always given this ordinance the place it deserves,but that reflects my fatigue or sloth rather than my commitment. Which brings me back to yesterday.
We kept the traditional elements, although the bread was home made. But we didn't stay in the pew and get served. (By the way, I don't think Paul commanded us to drop the meal and substitute a little cup and a piece of bread.)
We walked across the parking lot to our multipurpose building and sat at tables. This is no new revelation. I have done it before as have others but I guess it was a combination of the text and the context that made yesterday special. I used 2 Samuel 9 and told of David's kindness to Mephibosheth, the lame son of Jonathan. He was invited to sit at the King's table as one of the sons--and when he was sitting with his legs under the table no one could tell he was lame. We had several canes tapping across the parking lot to the other building and the picture of Mephibosheth was acted out-literally and spiritually. When our feet our under the King's table no one knows we are lame.
How can we reclaim the significance of this ordinance? How can we keep it fresh? Am I wrong to suggest the church, by and large, has it wrong?
posted by vieuxloup at 7:00 PM
8 Comments:
Sounds like a beautiful service, Pastor V.
Have you ever wondered why Jesus didn't hold up the lamb when He said, "This is my body"? In fact, have you ever wondered why there is no lamb mentioned at the Last Supper?
Our omnipotent God.........the Lamb who is slain.........kneels and washes their feet....becomes our bread.....bewildering.
Felicia Swavely
Peace,
Felicia Swavely
Lew:
I think you've given us a pretty good demonstration of how to keep this ordinance fresh. What you modeled there is a good way of not allowing the worship to become stale. Good stuff!
You're use of 2 Samuel 9 was pretty insightful. I wish I had thought of that.
I don't know if I'm willing to say that the "church has it wrong," but I understand where you're coming from and I personally wish with you that communion could be every Sunday.
Someday maybe I can encourage that and find support in the churches that I would serve.
===================================
Felicia:
beautifully said above.
Your posts are usually provocative in a good way. I share the sentiments of George when I say that I wish you went to my church. It is not like the people that already attend aren't themselves wonderful, but you would be a welcome addition.
Ken Zitsch
Lew,
As I confessed in the "Radical" topic, I am a Restorationist. For quite some time I've been engaged in a study of the biblical meaning of the acts of worship that have been designated by the name "ordinance" since at least the time of the Reformation.
I agree with Ken and with you that it is most appropriate that the Lord's Supper, as the early believers called it, is central to Christian worship. I am convinced that the early believers called their gatherings for worship, not "worship" or "going to church." Acts 20 says, as a matter of course that on the first day of the week they "came together to break bread."
I have mentioned twice in the last month from the pulpit that the early believers took the Lord's Supper every week. What's probable, as I read Acts 2, is that the earliest believers most likely took it more than weekly and that they did it, not when they met daily in the temple courts but in their homes and not necessarily in the presence of the Apostles.
I believe that this is a conversation we need to have. I encouraged Ken to begin a conversation along these lines. I'm glad that you have.
I hope others join in.
bill
For some time, I have found serving communion after the sermon to be the best response I could offer my congregation. Rather than an altar call, I offer them to come and take and consume Jesus. We also don't serve the seats, but by intinction, offer to those who come and take from the same bread and the same cup.
At the beginning of the summer, I realized our church really lacked in community. So as one way to encourage community, we began taking communion every week. So far it has been going very well. We always take it at the end of the sermon, which forces me to always end with Jesus.
So far, it has been a fantastic experience, though I had tried weekly before and failed.
I don't mean to offend but I was wondering if any of you have wondered about taking a least one step away from the ordinance position and toward sacrament on the continuum. I'm too lazy to check but I am assuming cggc does not use the term sacrament and has a clear definition of ordinance to make sure it stays symbolic (or memorial) among other things.
If I put Catholics at one end of the continuum, and most evangelicals at the other, with Lutherans in the middle, I find myself wanting to move at least a little bit toward the center. I still believe that it is an ordinance but sometimes I want to believe that something else is going on as well. That seems to add more meaning for me.
I think it was Francis of Assisi who said when we help the poor it is sacramental. In light of Matthew 25 (you've done it unto me.)that is meaningful.
I know the mystical nature of that frightens most people but I was wondering if others have raised that question as they've participated in the ordinances.
Tom,
Good question about taking a baby step toward sacramentalism.
I, for one, would like to see the step we take be one away from sacramentalism.
I believe that the meaning of the Lord's Supper and Feet Washing and Baptism is rooted in the Old Testament concept of the 'sign' of the covenant. There's nothing in the concept of a sacrament that inspires me in any way.
But, that's just me.
bill
I think that the primary way to "keep it fresh" is to have communion in the way that Jesus told us to. He said, "Do this in remembrance of me."
It seems obvious. We recite those words at every communion. They are usually carved into our communion tables. Yet sometimes we overlook the obvious.
It is the responsibility of each believer to contemplate Christ in the act of taking communion. It is the responsibility of the church leadership to create an environment conducive to that contemplation.
I know this is the broad view. Many of you have brought up good specific ways to accomplish this. I simply want to point out the way that we do communion should be aiming to accomplish what Jesus said. He wants us to remember Him, who He is and what He has been doing.
-Andrew
Andrew:
In your last post you said about communion:
"I think that the primary way to "keep it fresh" is to have communion in the way that Jesus told us to. He said, "Do this in remembrance of me."
Excellent!
I do need to remember that.
Thanks for the reminder.
Your brother
ken
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