One of those topics which (it seems) keeps coming back in the life of the church is how often Holy Communion should be celebrated. Some are convinced that it takes too long. Others worry about the work involved in setting up and cleaning up each week. Some simply don’t see the need.

           Historically speaking, for hundreds of years the Lord’s Supper was celebrated every time Christians gathered together for worship. In fact, in Martin Luther’s century, the Eucharist was a daily celebration. It is really only within the last two hundred years or so that Christians have even considered gathering together for worship without including the Lord’s Supper.

           So… why did those early Christians celebrate the Lord’s Supper every time they gathered together for worship? For one thing, receiving Communion allows people both to worship and to learn using all of their senses. In Communion the Word of God is seen and heard and touched and smelled and tasted. Jesus knew that people learn most fully through active participation. He could have just told his disciples that he was going to give his body and blood for them. Instead, he gave them something to do in remembrance of him.

          At the same time, the Lord’s Supper would have been seen as part of the proclamation of the gospel message. Paul said it this way: “For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes” (1 Cor. 11:26). In this meal God’s love for us is proclaimed along with the forgiveness of sins and the gift of new life. Even if there’s a terrible sermon, the message is still there!

          Other messages, too, are inherent in the way in which we celebrate. For example, everybody gets, more or less, the same amount at the table. In the same way, nobody is more or less “saved” than somebody else – salvation is the same gift for all. Another practice which we have is to have one blessing at the end of the meal rather than a blessing for each “table.” This practice communicates that we are, in fact, all at the same table as God’s family – unified and made one in Christ.

          Personally, I value the strength and the renewal that I receive through regular participation in the Lord’s Supper. I expect that if it were celebrated daily as it was in Luther’s day, I would be there as often as I could, for I always need to be strengthened and renewed in Christ. I also suspect that I am not the only one

         Here at St. Luke’s Zion, our practice has been to have one person doing all of the set-up work for Communion and then various people taking turns doing the clean-up each week. It is a lot for one person to handle, and that will be changing within the coming year.

        What I would like to know at the present time is how many people out there would be willing to take turns doing the set-up work? I invite you to speak to me if you would consider volunteering in this way in the coming year. In the mean time, I am happy even to do it myself on occasion, for I believe that we have been given a precious gift that should be available to all who come to worship here.

        I thank God for all those who give of their time and talent in order that we might share both word and meal when we gather together for worship!

        In Christ,
       Pastor Lynne H. Moore