How Often Is Communion At Your Church?

[Busybee]

I'm originally from Church of Christ where we had communion weekly. I'm now attending Baptist and will be putting in my membership there very soon. We had communion 3 weeks ago. I wondered how often your churches have communion and when.

[Glorianna]

Our church has it on the first Sunday of every month.

[Sword-In-Hand]

We have quarterly communion most of the time, but usually on Easter and Christmas or some other special occassion there is one. I take it by communion you mean Lord's Supper correct?

[Busybee]

Oh yea, I meant The Lord's Supper. We had ours the Sunday they announced our church building was paid. Praise the Lord.

[Iosias]

We have it every Sunday morning :)

[ZiSunka]

Quarterly, unless someone requests it or there is some occassion that we want to celebrate with communion. For instance, a group came to visit us from Russia, and we had communion because we wanted to be "in union" with them.

We always do foot-washing with communion.

[Gold Dragon]

We always do foot-washing with communion.Very cool, since that is often an overlooked part of the same story.

How exactly does that work in your congregation? Does the pastor wash everyone's feet one at a time?

In my church, we observe communion once a month.

[SumTinWong]

We have it the first Sunday of every month.

[ZiSunka]

Very cool, since that is often an overlooked part of the same story.

How exactly does that work in your congregation? Does the pastor wash everyone's feet one at a time?
Nope.

The men and the women go to separate rooms, and sit in a circle. The basin and towels are brought in and set before the oldest woman. The woman next to her on the right washes her feet, then the basin is past down to the next woman who washes the feet of the one who just washed the other woman's feet. It goes around the circle until every woman has washed feet and had her feet washed. That way every woman gets to be the servant and the served.

[SumTinWong]

Imagine how long the service would be at Saddleback Church if they did that?

I actually think it is a great tradition, thanks for telling us about it.

[Gold Dragon]

Nope.

The men and the women go to separate rooms, and sit in a circle. The basin and towels are brought in and set before the oldest woman. The woman next to her on the right washes her feet, then the basin is past down to the next woman who washes the feet of the one who just washed the other woman's feet. It goes around the circle until every woman has washed feet and had her feet washed. That way every woman gets to be the servant and the served.We occassionally have similar foot washings in smaller groups outside of service as reminders of Christ's example of servanthood but haven't been able to find a way to tie it in with communion.

May I ask how large your congregation is?

[ZiSunka]

Imagine how long the service would be at Saddleback Church if they did that?

I actually think it is a great tradition, thanks for telling us about it.
It does take a longer time, but mennonites aren't limited by the clock when they have services, so one sunday we might be out by 11:30, and others we won't be out until 2 PM. We just go with it, however long it takes. It's worth it to have the reminder that we are to serve one another in the way Christ served us.

[ZiSunka]

We occassionally have similar foot washings in smaller groups outside of service as reminders of Christ's example of servanthood but haven't been able to find a way to tie it in with communion.

May I ask how large your congregation is?
Around 150 people.

[Gold Dragon]

Around 150 people.Cool, our congregation size is similar so it is possible if we make the time commitment. My pastor is really into foot washing as a powerful symbol and would love if we had the time to incorporate it into communion.

Right now we have a time constraint on our services because of another language congregation (Cantonese) that uses the sanctuary immediately after our service. But maybe we could work out a solution in a different room.

Do non-baptized believers take part in foot-washings or whatever criteria you have for the bread and the cup?

[SumTinWong]

It does take a longer time, but mennonites aren't limited by the clock when they have services, so one sunday we might be out by 11:30, and others we won't be out until 2 PM. We just go with it, however long it takes. It's worth it to have the reminder that we are to serve one another in the way Christ served us. Well that would be great indeed for our church. There is one guy that I know of though that doesn't come to the church because it doesn't get out exactly on time.

Pity...

[ZiSunka]

It is a really powerful time. Once your church starts doing it, it will change the life of the church. You can't look at your sisters in Christ the same way after you've washed their feet. It creates a bond among the believers, because you are touching the other people who have made themselves vulnerable to you, as you have made yourself vulnerable to them.

Only baptized believers can participate. It's usually administered right before communion.

[ZiSunka]

Well that would be great indeed for our church. There is one guy that I know of though that doesn't come to the church because it doesn't get out exactly on time.

Pity...
I wouldn't let that one guy prevent the church from following an ordinance of Christ.

[LuxPerpetua]

I'm originally from Church of Christ where we had communion weekly. I'm now attending Baptist and will be putting in my membership there very soon. We had communion 3 weeks ago. I wondered how often your churches have communion and when.

In the SBC church I grew up in, we had communion about once, maybe twice, per year. A few months ago I was reading in the Baptist Record for Mississippi churches (the Baptist newsletter) that all SBC churches are required to have communion once a year at least. I don't know if that just partains to MS or not, and it was a bit confusing because I thought Baptist churches were autonomous. I would think, though, that any church would want to celebrate communion at least annually, especially around Easter time, so I imagine that these churches would abide by that rule without much disagreement.

[SumTinWong]

I wouldn't let that one guy prevent the church from following an ordinance of Christ. Nope we wouldn't in fact he doesn't attend anyway. I will bring it up to the pastor and see what he says.

[Melly Monster]

We have it when ever it is laid on my pastors heart to do so.

[Busybee]

Wow, thanks everyone for your posts. This thread has lead to a wonderful subject of foot washing.

Lambslove I really appreciate your answering all of the questions. I've definitely been educated. I ran across a site a while for an anabaptist church that did footwashing, but had never spoken to anyone about it and was curious myself. I can imagine it IS a powerful thing to go through. I would be more than happy if our church ever wanted to have footwashing. What an awesome way to remember Jesus.

[PaladinGirl]

We have our Communion or Lord's Supper every Sunday. :)

[ZiSunka]

I would be more than happy if our church ever wanted to have footwashing. What an awesome way to remember Jesus.
Ask for it. Maybe your pastor would allow it if you asked for it.

[2Timothy2]

We have Communion the first Sunday of every month, and Easter when it does not fall on the first Sunday. I wish we would do it in the Christmas service though.

[@@Paul@@]

Once or Twice a year.

[Jessica Lauren]

I haven't seen it or anything at my church yet. I've been there since July.

[kyzar]

We have it every week, I honestly don't know why churches don't...
We look at it that we meet each week to praise and celebrate what Jesus did for us, therefore why shouldn't we have communion/Lord's Supper to remeber Him moreso:

1 Corinthians 11: 26" For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord's death till he come."
So thats why we do it every week...

[wheredaluv]

We have it on the last Sunday of a month with 5 Sundays in it

[jenptcfan]

I think we have it once a quarter. I had to miss it last time because I was out of town, but I always look forward to it.

As far as the footwashing goes, I wish we could incorporate this into our services as well.

[@@Paul@@]

We have it every week, I honestly don't know why churches don't... We look at it that we meet each week to praise and celebrate what Jesus did for us, therefore why shouldn't we have communion/Lord's Supper to remeber Him moreso:

1 Corinthians 11: 26" For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord's death till he come."
So thats why we do it every week...
I will tell you why some don't... Read it really slow... :)
1Co 11:28-32 KJV
(28) But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup.
(29) For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord's body.
(30) For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and manysleep.
(31) For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged.
(32) But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world.
Those that are sleep are not napping. :pray:

[Adammi]

We have it about 3 times a year but I take it at home sometimes.

[SumTinWong]

Is that through the drive through or do you order it take-out before you get there? ;)

[ZiSunka]

Drive through communion! :sick:

I went to a church once that had communion in little closets. No kidding. The whole congregation dispersed from the sanctuary and stood in line in front of these little "prayer closets" where they went in, got blessed by one of the deacons, then took communion in private. It was freaky and weird and kinda slapped the meaning of "communion" in the face. How can you do something "with unity" when you are doing it individually in private??

[PaladinGirl]

The church I go to has Communion every Sunday. It's on Sunday morning if we have time. If we don't have time, it's on Sunday evening. As for footwashing, I don't think our church does that.

[SumTinWong]

My pastor said that for our retreat this weekend we need to bring slippers or sandals for a special event. I aint stupid, they gonna be scrubbin' toes ;)

[@@Paul@@]

My pastor said that for our retreat this weekend we need to bring slippers or sandals for a special event. I aint stupid, they gonna be scrubbin' toes ;)
That's kinda nasty... :)

Reminds me of Dumb and Dumber and the "grinder meets toe nail" incident...

[Adammi]

Is that through the drive through or do you order it take-out before you get there? ;)LOL
You should look into Perry Stone's teaching on Communion.
I have my own communion set.

[kyzar]

I will tell you why some don't... Read it really slow... :)1Co 11:28-32 KJV

(28) But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup.
(29) For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord's body.
(30) For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and manysleep.
(31) For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged.
(32) But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world.
Those that are sleep are not napping. :pray:Okay I can understand that to some extent. But realistically are we ever 'worthy' to do any act for God? If we're not worthy by God's grace every week then we aren't worthy by God's grace once a month, or 2 times a year... Thats just how I look at it...

But thank-you for those verses! God Bless...

[@@Paul@@]

Okay I can understand that to some extent. But realistically are we ever 'worthy' to do any act for God? If we're not worthy by God's grace every week then we aren't worthy by God's grace once a month, or 2 times a year... Thats just how I look at it...

But thank-you for those verses! God Bless...
Well, We must have the capability to be worthy or Christ would NEVER have instituted the ordinance of "the Lords Supper".

.........How many people at your church become weak, sick or die after communion?

And you're very welcome!! :)

[XVII]

John 13:15, For I have given you an example, that ye should do AS I have done to you.

Speaking of the footwashing, Jesus told His disciples to do AS he did, not WHAT he did, as He did refers to the cleansing of sin. That's my heart's conviction, anyhow.

We do communion when there is a 5th sunday in a month.

[cajunhillbilly]

Drive through communion! :sick:

I went to a church once that had communion in little closets. No kidding. The whole congregation dispersed from the sanctuary and stood in line in front of these little "prayer closets" where they went in, got blessed by one of the deacons, then took communion in private. It was freaky and weird and kinda slapped the meaning of "communion" in the face. How can you do something "with unity" when you are doing it individually in private??
What church was that? Never heard of such a practice. :scratch: :confused:

[cajunhillbilly]

We have Communion every Sunday and Wednesday. :crosself: :liturgy: :priest:

[WiredSpirit]

In the church my mom attends (General Baptist) they offer communion every week but only actually serve it in the service on special occasions. There is a table in the cry room with a loaf of bread and a glass of juice on it and you break off a piece of bread and dip it in the juice. I really like the idea of having personal time when you take communion and I've only seen this in Baptist and non-denominational churches.

Off in Methodist land we only take communion on the first of the month, but it seems like you're just rushed on and off the communion rail so the next people can be served. We do have an "agape meal" once a year or so that's really neat.

[SumTinWong]

LOL
You should look into Perry Stone's teaching on Communion.
I have my own communion set. Really? Wow, I guess that could come in handy :) Did it come with a cup holder? ;)

[ZiSunka]

What church was that? Never heard of such a practice. :scratch: :confused:
Ginghamsburg United Methodist in Tipp City, Ohio.

[ZiSunka]

We have Communion every Sunday and Wednesday. :crosself: :liturgy: :priest:
Cool! Twice a week!

When I used to go to the Episcopal cathedral in Cleveland, they had regular Sunday services in the cathedral AND tuesday or thursday noontime services in the tiny chapel, and they had communion at all services all the time. I liked that!

[Adammi]

Really? Wow, I guess that could come in handy :) Did it come with a cup holder? ;)Yes it did.
Here it is:
http://www.voe.org/store/store.cfm?CFID=901960&CFTOKEN=97619991&fxn=detail&pid=MH-24

[Lynn73]

We take communion every Sunday.

[Diane_Windsor]

The SBC that I grew up in has it about once every quarter, and the SBC church that I attended while in college. Well, I don't think I recall them ever having communion.

Off in Methodist land we only take communion on the first of the month, but it seems like you're just rushed on and off the communion rail so the next people can be served. We do have an "agape meal" once a year or so that's really neat.

The UMC churches here serve communion every week (in the Chapel), but only serve communion once or twice a month in "Big Church". I like the way the UMC churches do it around here.

Diane
:wave:

[angela 2]

Once a month.

But at the seminary I attended, UCC and ABC, it was weekly and I liked that much better.

[DawnTillery]

I attend General Baptist, I have been going about a year, and we did it once so far.
Now the pastor leaves it up to us, if we want to do it at other times or once a month, all we have to do is say lets do it and he sets it up.
Thanks

[newbeliever02072005]

I have been attending my church now since the end of January. Communion has not been offered yet in this church. (after hearing other people's responses, is this normal?)

God Bless!
newbeliever :)

[Happy to be His]

:wave:

Morning all:

I got to a Southeren Baptist church and was have the Lords supper every 5th Sunday. You I don't know the reasoning for this. I do believe all baptist churches do it this way.......maybe others. I will ask about it.....


I grow up Methodist and we had it the first Sunday of everymonth....
It does fell weird at first when you step out of your box..... :angel: