We had a great talk in our house group last night about the Lord's Supper.
One member of our group pointed out that the typical British Baptist way in which we 'do' it was really quite, well, orchestrated. We have plates of bread and little individual glass cups of juice (the wine).
Whoever leads communion talks a little about what it is all about and invites believers only to take part. The leader then leaves a couple of minutes for confession and contemplation. Just when you're getting into this, before the Lord you are interrupted by the bread coming around. This can get complex with some confusion over where the plates of bread go next.
We then pass the little individual glasses of wine around. When everybody is served, we drink it together.
All this is, of course, fine. But it seems that this is all carefully orchestrated, organised to fit into the service schedule.
So I am wondering, how do you do the Lords Supper? Does anybody have any ideas about changing this?
I think it would be nice to make something more of this celebration of Christ, without making it contemporary or anything like that.
About Me
- Leigh
- I am a disciple of Jesus Christ, saved by the grace of God from the wrath of God. I am studying Theology at London School of Theology part time and working for a WiMAX company for the rest of the time.
2 comments:
We do it as a separate service- One of the men introduces the service by talking about something that was particularly meaningful to them during their weekly devotions. The next half hour or so is focused on worship, singing hymns and prayer - orchestrated by the Lord- it appears spontaneous, but always seems to follow a theme. The theme always seems to lead into the invitation to partake as believers after examining our hearts. After a prayer, two members then go to the front and break an uncut loaf of bread into 3 pieces, which are separated onto trays, and passed, there is then another prayer, and then the small cups of grape juice are passed. Another prayer, sometimes a hymn, and the "breaking of bread" service is over. There are then announcements, coffee served in the atrium, and then we have our 'family bible hour" which would look like most baptist services- singing, prayer, announcements and a sermon :)
Maybe it's not so much a British Baptist way, just a Baptist way. I'd rather think it wasn't so denominational, though, more of a Christian way with slight variations here and there. Aren't we basically following the pattern that Christ established? I hope so. Also, as a visitor in a church far away from home, that continuity and familiarity served as a reminder that believers worldwide are part of one family, one body. No matter how it's done, the meaningfulness has to be individual,dependent upon how much each person puts into using the experience for true communion with our Lord.
Hope school is going well.
Love to all,
Suzi
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