Lords Supper
We are going to be doing a Communion service soon.
We are brainstorming in a few hours as to how to run the service.
I pretty much want to abandon the typical way we do it.
Sing, pass, talk, pray, eat, sing pass, talk, pray, drink, la,la,la,la,la.
What have you guys done that has been different or powerful or striking?
RAIN IT DOWN
When I was a kid, my dad was a pastor and from time to time, he would put loves of bread on the communion table. Then you were encourage to come get the bread and then go around to your “brother and sisters” and break bread together. Not all that great for new person attending, but was a different way to do it.
Hey Los? Whatever you wonderful amazing brilliant pastoral staff members decide to do, could you please let us little ol’ ushers know prior to the beginning of the service? That would be gr8kthx.
anyone ever try communion juice/wine out of an mult-hosed beer bong – a.k.a. octo-bong? germy, but fun!
oh, and a nerf gun for shooting dough bullets made of unleavened bread – careful with that aim, eugene!
They made communion very meaningful at our big community chapels at apu. For one of our Easter Chapels they had everyone walk to a nearby table, tear a piece of bread off, dip it in the cup o’ juice and take a long stemmed white rose, from the stack that was lying on the table. It was such a beautiful reminder that our sins were forgiven, that we are made clean. They did it after the message I believe and it was such a powerful message…tho I only remember the rose and that it was meaningful…=)
And of course we had the rose with us all day to remind us of that moment.
I don’t like the to go communion cups, with the nasty wafer that you have to take out. Kinda takes the whole meaningfulness out of the whole thing, becomes more individual instead of a community thing.
Finally, one of the more recent communion experiences at camp last summer, they used individual grapes, instead of juice. It’s less messy, and when you think of the idea that the body of Christ was crushed, and broken, using Isaiah 53:5
5 But he was pierced for our transgressions,
he was crushed for our iniquities;
the punishment that brought us peace was upon him,
and by his wounds we are healed.
This passage combined with the sensory experience of crushing the grape in your mouth just really struck me. Just a few thoughts. I think the mood, the environment and the tone, everything sets up for how communion happens. I think it is good to have music that directs our hearts to focus on confessing our sins, and reflecting on the power of the cross, and the forgiveness and grace we have been given. oooh its soo good. Hm. Lead me to the cross might be a good communion song….just a thought =)
hope that helped…
our church has several tables set up throughout the church with the bread and wine on the tables and our pastor invites people at their leisure to get up and go to a table where they can break bread with others at the table. there are always a couple of people there to read scripture regarding the Lord’s supper and then to end in prayer. the lights are very low, with our music director guy singing or playing softly in the background and with candles on all the tables it creates a pleasant non-threatening environment. of all the churches i have attended this is my favorite way to break bread with other belivers. i hope you let us know what you all decide.
we mix up the ways we celebrate communion… but it’s always the “same” few that gets rotated, so we’re lookin’ for idears too.
we do:
a. come up and get you some row by row
b. come up and get you some when you’re ready
c. usher’s pass aisle by aisle as each “priest” offers to the other, “so and so, the body broken for you,” and “His blood shed for you.”
d. we ‘groupletize’ (our word for circle of 4-6 and interact) as ushers pass from circle to circle
e. … um, that’s about it…
grapes in a bowl.
lol@drew
I heard about something that I believe was done at a student retreat/camp. PinkHairedGirl could probably tell you more cause I think she might have been there unless I’m getting confused as to which church. Anyway, I thought it was a great idea. The concept was eat as much bread, drink as much juice as you want, it wasn’t some small little less than bite size piece of cracker/bread, or a half a swallow of juice. People were allowed to break off big chunks, or have a whole glass of juice. The idea being that we can feast on God and his grace, goodness in our life. He isn’t stingy with us, and we don’t have to ration ourselves when accepting His grace and mercy. Or at least that’s the way I took it. Hope that’s helpful!
We are getting ready to try this. We will have tables situated around the auditorium for people to be served communion. At the tables are not only the communion items but pads of post-its with pencils. Whoever sets the scene for communion will ask people to consider what it is they need to give over to Jesus… it could be secret sin, a struggle, a relationship problem, sickness, whatever it may be. His death and resurrection and our belief in him bring healing and forgiveness. The band plays as worshippers move toward the tables to fill out their post-its. Once a post-it is completed, the worshipper sticks it to the designated wall. In our auditorium we have the tables set up strategically so when people go back to their seats they can see the massive numbers of post-its. After the worshipper posts the stickie, he/she takes the communion right there at the table and goes back to their place. When all are done the pastor or whoever set the scene has everyone look at the numbers of post-its. We all have something in common, don’t we? Sin, loss, struggles, addiction and pain. But we have someone in common. Jesus heals, he forgives, he restores. And so on. A great visual activity to go along with taking the emblems. Hope it helps.
My favorite way was similar to Rachel’s…..
Worship music from the platform, scripture, prayer time, confession, come take the elements when you’re ready.
We do a full on meal. We eat, play, hang… watch a movie.
Full out fellowship without using the name
Church of Christ – we partake every Sunday just by passing it down the pews. But every now and again, we have “intinction” where we break off a piece of french bread, dip it in the cup and eat. We also encourage people to invite each other – even if you’ve taken already – to mend relationships, reach out, show family bonding.
We baked fresh bread in a kitchen near the auditorium and had fresh bread every where…. the smell of bread was everywhere… it was amazing… then we taught from the word and didnt mention the bread till the end… then we asked how many of you the smell of the bread is killing you? You just want that bread so bad? Then we took communion and talked about Jesus the bread of life and how we much we should desire Him… was an awesome night.
In my Church the deaconess sets the sacrament table prior to the opening prayer for our regular service. Toward the end of the service the ministers take the bread and break it into pieces on a plate. As they do so, one says appropriate words regarding the body of Christ. They then kneel, along with the congregation and ask God’s blessing on the bread and on the church. Next, they take the plates and offer it to everyone individually.
For the wine (we use wine) the ministers return to the table, put the bread plates down and pour the wine into one or more cups (crystal wine glass actually) while again saying some appropriate words regarding the blood of Christ. Afterward everyone kneels while a minister asks God’s blessing on the wine. The minister(s) then takes the cup(s) and hands it to each one individually. Everyone drinks from the same glass although sometimes we use several glasses for large congregations.
i read an interesting thing, think it was maybe Don Miller, said that the disciples probably didnt sit mourfully, they probably sat and chatted, and were like “Hey peter, you remember that tim that Jesus… ” and jus had a laugh and banter remembering Jesus
Two ways that I’ve really enjoyed serving communion to our congregation –
We set up three or four stations and each station had bread/juice trays. As people came, they would be served by the couple at that station and when you receive the bread/juice you would take the trays and serve the people behind you. Neat expression of community and reminding each other that communion is a family event.
The other time we did things a little different took a lot of work and planning but it was really worth it. We basically took the communion table and placed it in the centre of our auditorium and circled all of our chairs around the table. I posted about it here – http://chrisfromcanada.blogspot.com/2007/03/sunday-march-11-recap.html
krissie is correct, that is exactly what we did. i am a little unsure and a little bit weirded out thought that she knew about that. haha.
I visited a church once that brought in one of the directors of Jews for Jesus, They went through each part of the passover meal and described what the last supper was actually like with a Jewish passover table set up on stage.
After their talk, they gave communion fairly typically: eat, pray, drink, pray, sing.
What did Jesus say just before the last supper?
“Hey Guys! If you want to be in the picture get over on this side of the table!”
St. Peter was really a rabbit. Look closely at the painting. Closer… closer… Discuss.
I’m happy to donate some Anne Amie Pinot Noir for communion. Jesus certainly would have preferred Pinot over Cab Sauv! I’m Catholic and we do the same thing each mass…I love it as iIm a creature of habit. I’m curious what you come up with. A little spice would be awesome…though i wonder why it’s not done each service? It’s the most important part of Sunday for me.
BTW…LOVING VISTA!!!! Apple is way overrated!