The Lord's Supper

I found it interesting that yesterday Jake posted a question about baptism. I had been thinking of asking for people's thoughts on communion/the Lord's supper/breaking of bread.How often do you practice it?How do you prcatice it?Do you practice it? ;-) And if so, do you find it meanigfull and in what way?I was going to put this in the debates forum but on recollection I am not interested in debating it per se, but I would be interested to hear my brothers' and sister's insights concerning the matter.Thanks, Stuart.

After reading The Cup and The Fire by T.A. Sparks I have a much deeper sense of awe, purpose, and prayerfullness in communion. Sparks deals wonderfully with the Lord's side of the cup and with our side as well, something I hadn't given much thought to when taking communion before.The church I attend (A Calvary Chapel) offers communion every week on both Wednesday and Sunday nights. Most times it is done all together as a congregation, but sometimes the cup and bread will just be put on tables and we will get them individually and then break off into family groups or with friends and pray and partake that way, I enjoy this very much. In Christ,Ron

I believe that like baptism, the Lord's Supper has become an empty ritual to so many. They simply do it because it's "in the Book" with little appreciation as to why. Don't get me wrong it's good to do what's in the Book regardless of our level of understanding, we can simply go on our Saviour's word. But yet I believe that such practices as baptism and the Lord's Supper are there to increase our understanding, not to veil God's revelation in mystery.I appreciate what you said Ron, about breaking off into family groups. In too many places the communion service is so individualistic. We are all together in one place alright, but each person takes the bread and wine on his own contemplating his own life and the Saviour's death for him. I think that misses the whole point, it is essentialy a corporate event. How important was it to the early christians? In Acts 20:7 it says; And upon the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread And in 1 Cor 11:33 we read; when ye come together to eatThe death of the Lord unites us as one body, his return unites us in one hope. The table of the Lord is a place where the whole body is represented.The already divided Corinthians were manifesting thier divisions at the place which God had ordained to declare their unity.

I have found that I got a greater understanding of the communion service when as a church we held a passover meal with a messianic jewish flavour with a communion at the end of it. This is indeed a family affair, and the meaning of the ritual acts in it have a power that you have to experience. In particularly I remember the Afikomen, the broken piece of flat bread (matzos), which is wrapped and hidden for the children to find later - this is the body of Christ. I recommend that anyone who would like to understand the communion better take part in such an agape meal. There is a description with helpful notes at the back of Michelle Guinness' book 'A Little Kosher Seasoning'I also believe that the translation 'do this in remembrance of me' as a command of Jesus seems to be just between me and him and is a little trite.The greek word 'anamnesis' is better translated as the words on the cenotaph - LEST WE FORGETI need to remind myself regularly what Jesus did for me and for us all, and reconsider my poor response.

When I visited Toronto for a week, I had the opportunity to visit a church called "Freedomize"...it's the church that Jen (tigger), Greg's (wrtbook's) sister is a member at. It's a church composed mostly of youth, and they don't have their own building -- they rent an Anglican church's building Sunday nights and have Bible studies for members only at home cell groups. Super-sincere...and there, I had the best communion ever.The church was dark -- it was night -- and apparently they choose to take communion weekly. No row-by-row organization or mumbo jumbo. Pray where you're at, and when you're ready, stand and walk to the alter, where there is a table with two plates on either side of a bowl of...grape juice, I think? It wasn't sweet or sugary, but it wasn't alcoholic either. On the plates are two whole loafs of bread, where you literally break off a piece, dip it in the bowl, and really meditate on the Lord before the communion table. People were patient -- gave time to pray without pushing to keep the line moving. Going back to your seat, the church was quiet and you just really had time to meditate on His death -- and resurrection -- and what an incredible impact it's had on my life, and how incredibly grateful I am for Him and His unselfish sacrfice.My usual churches do the pass-around-the-plate-of-crunchy-wafers-and-little-juice-cups thing. I think it's done four or six times a year.And I agree with Pam (Pammy) completely -- drives me crazy when nonbelievers take part in the Supper. Not cool -- I wish pastors would really emphasize that more frequently. My pastor in Tallahassee does, and reminds us it isn't breakfast for those who missed their morning meal, but something so much more.When first studying the supper, I wondered if Christ mean "do this in remembrance of me" in terms of everytime we eat a meal. I still wonder that every now and then -- so I'll stop rambling and ask, anyone ever heard of that? Are there any believers who think Christ meant remember Him in that fashion everytime we eat?

What an awsome way to have communion! (At Freedomize) I truly wish many churches would drop tradition and listen for the Lord's direction as how to do things. People are missing out on so much intimacy with the Lord because of traditions that Christians wont let go of.Thanks for sharing, Mary.In Him, Chanin

How interesting... everytime I eat bread plain, and I mean right-out-of-the-package-with-nothing-on-it bread I remember Christ and the Lords Supper. I agree, to a point. I certainly don't think of any sacradoetal, liturgical, ceremony, when I think of "communion". Generaly the believers that I meet with have a meal together, the bread and wine are part of the meal, on the table with all the other food. Christ's life in us isn't somthing tucked away in a corner it is part of our everyday life, that's what I think of when I see the bread and wine on the table in the middle of all the potatoes, salads and meats.I believe that this was the central focus of the early church meetings. Getting together to enjoy fellowship with one another, eat together and remember that it is our Lord's death that unites us.Eating alone and inwardly remebering the Lord's death (while there is nothing wrong with it) doesn't really "show forth his death until he comes"Stuart

I am reminded that the two people on the road to Emmaeus did not recognise the risen Jesus until they sat and relaxed for a meal. When Jesus took the bread, said the blessing, and broke it, they at once saw that Jesus was with them. I know that he is always present, but there is something special about the action of breaking bread together, or even eating as a family or fellowship that brings his presence to the front of my thoughts.Dave

GregI agree that there are 'ordinary meals', but do not forget that Jesus instituted the remembrance during a passover celebration. This was a full meal, with lots of wine, but it was also a rather special event. In I Cor 11, Paul was, I believe, arguing that some people were disrespectful of the agape meal, by not bringing much themselves, and then scoffing all the good stuff instead of sharing.On a purely personal basis - my wife got one of those bread making machines for Christmas, and the smell of new baked bread reminds me of all the good things that God has provided. Remembrance by association?

Whether the Lord's Supper is practiced weekly, monthly, quarterly, or annually, it's a tradition of man. I see much argument against weekly and daily communion because it increases the chances of it becoming a ritualized practice with no meaning. Holding communion according to any other schedule is just as fabricated, but a little more protestant.The idea is to keep the feast to remember the sacrafice that Christ made. Communion should always be an opportunity to confess your sins, seek forgiveness, and enter back into restored relationship with the One who died for your sins. We do this in remembrance that Christ died for us and for our sins. . . I attend two churches. One celebrates communion every time the body comes together for worship, fellowship, and edification. The other celebrates it quarterly. One uses a common chalice. The other uses little individual cups. One is very solemn, the other is rather free and less dignified. Both are fine with me though I prefer the former to the latter.On another note, to those who sop, read the account of the last supper where the first use of intincture took place. =0)Kristy

What lovely and different ways to worship through the breaking of bread.I went to a Methodist church yesterday, and I really liked the Communion part there. We took turns approaching the altar, kneeling in a half circle on the benches, while the Pastor and an assistant broke pieces from a single loaf and placed a piece in each of our hands. Then a young girl came around with grape juice in tiny cups."Do this in remembrance of Me" is one of the most sacred ideas I've ever heard/done.As for the unsaved taking Communion, Christ said He came to save the sinners, not the righteous (a little something He reminded me of when I was praying about a sinnful friend). I was a non-Christian until recently. I thank The Lord daily for not giving up on me. He has told me not to give up on my unsaved friends, and not to push them either. I try to be gentle with them as Christ has been gentle with me, and to demonstrate why Christianity is a good thing to be a part of...Meg