Do you take communion at your church? If so, how often? Please give details & why your church does it that way

Question

I grew up in a Christian church, and have always been taught that you take communion every Sunday, b/c the way we always looked at it, Jesus said whenever 2 or more are gathered in his name, do this (meaning communion) in rememberance of him.

B/c of recent events in life, I have started attending a baptist church and I really do like it. The thing I can't get used to tho, is they almost never do communion, I have heard the pattern is whenever theirs 5 sundays in a month they do it then, but I'm not sure. As a person who has always thought you ALWAYS took communion at a church service, I have had difficulties figureing out how they interpret it differently, and want to kind of see where I REALLY stand on it, not just go with what Ive always done...

so, whats your take on how communion should be done- and if you can give me scripture or anything to back it up so I can have some different view-points on it I would really appreciate it! Thanks!

Where exactly is it in the bible? This kinda proves that I need to go read it for myself, once again to see where I REALLY stand...I'm just not sure what part its in, never questioned it before.

Answer 1

In Acts 20:7, it says, “On the first day of the week the disciples gathered together to break bread…”

Every week has a first day (Sunday). This verse indicates that the Lord’s Supper was one of the primary reasons the early Christians met on Sunday.

1 Corinthians 16:1-2 also uses this phrase (“on the first day of the week”) in the command to take up a collection on the first day of the week. The NASB translates this as “on the first day of every week”. It is recognized by those translators that this command was a pattern for every week.

This language is very similar to the command in the Old Testament to remember the the seventh day as the Sabbath. Those under the Law of Moses realized that every week had a seventh day, so they remembered the Sabbath EVERY Saturday!

Some say that if you partake of the Lord’s Supper that often, it becomes too commonplace and routine. If an item of worship looses its meaning, it is not because we practice it too often.

Should we pray less often so it is not routine? Should we only worship once or twice a year so that it does not become too routine? Should we not sing as often?

If we love God, we will want to remember Christ often! This is the purpose of the Lord’s Supper; a reminder of Christ! If we have the proper reverence for Christ, this will be something we look forward to every week and it will not loose its meaning!

Yes, where I go to church, on the first day of the week we gather together to break bread and drink of the cup to worship, honor, and remember Christ! This follows the example given in Acts 20:7.

Answer 2

The scripture is the one you cited. You will note that it doesn't say anything about church. If you take it literally, Jesus was just saying to remember him at meals - essentially to say what many churches would call "grace" before eating.

That said, the practices are all over the map. Some churches, such as the catholics, say you should take communion every Sunday. Others, such as the episcopalians, have two different services - a communion service and a prayer service - and alternate them or offer them at different times on a Sunday. Still others, such as the presbyterians and baptists, leave it up to the church with communion being offered about once a month, once a quarter, or once a year.

As to how it should be done, I would say it should be done with the entire congregation in a circle passing a loaf of bread (out of which you would tear your own chunk) and a cup of wine around the circle. That's the most meaningful form I have experienced.

The worst was the presbyterian communions which I participated in from childhood (and later prepared and served as an ordained elder). They used cut up white bread (you freeze sliced bread and cut it into little squares) and grape juice in little cups (which you fill with a turkey baster). This is served to the congregation while they are seated and everyone participates at the same time. It does give the kids something to play with but little else can be said for it.

Answer 3

I agree with what you've said and I admire that about the Christian denomination. I've attended a couple of different denominations. Being brought up in the Seventh Day Adventist church we had communion quarterly. I also attended a small group of churches started by two preachers from S. Carolina called the Southern Illinois Christians. We had communion about twice a year. The church I attended is called Hickory Grove Christian church. It where Iwas truly saved and holds a dear place in my heart always. T4

Answer 4

Communion practices vary widely. Our church has communion once each month. That works well for me. Every Sunday seems to make it common place. There is no definitive scripture to settle this issue. Check with some other Baptist churches in your area and you will find one which has communion more often. You could also discuss this with your pastor. He may be open to communion more often.

Answer 5

Well, at my church, we don't do communion every Sunday, but the Pastor will sometimes do a communion service on a Sunday night. Or about 2 weeks ago, we had a revival that started on Sunday and ended on Wednesday and Wednesday was a communion service and the Pastor prayed with us on what we needed prayer over.

Answer 6

Lutheran Church:
We have communion every Sunday (Divine Service, with Service of the Sacrament)
Communion is Jesus' body and blood in and with the bread and the wine. It is NOT symbolic, it IS. Jesus did not say, "Take, eat, this symbolizes my body", He said, "This IS my body, given for you".
Some older Lutherans are not comfortable with communion every Sunday... just the way they were raised. I, personally, enjoy the gift of the sacrament every week. I approach the altar with remorse and guilt, and I leave with grace and great joy. What a way to start the week!!
The number of times is not what is important, but how you view holy communion, as the true body and blood.

Bob, not all protestants. Lutherans hold those verses dear as well. Catholics and Lutherans are very close in what we believe happens in communion. We feel it is body and blood with bread and wine, where you all feel it is replaced. Either way, at least we see it as body and blood and not just a symbol! :)

Answer 7

We have communion every Sunday at my church. There's no scripture that says it HAS to be done every Sunday. I've been places where it's done every Sunday and has become just another ritual. That's not good. How it's done and the heart of those participating has much to do with it.

As with everything, let God guide.

Answer 8

I think the church should not be divided on how communion should be done. My church does it every Sunday - we just pass around the bread, then the wine, I mean grape juice, (because there are kids/teens) and then we do offering.

As long as we do it in rememberance of Jesus, thinking of his sacrifice and what the bread and wine represent, it is ok. I've heard some churches use pineapple juice instead of wine. And we use grape juice. I think it is okay. I think observation of petty rules and details should not deeply divide Christians.

Answer 9

Like you I am accustomed to taking communion every Sunday. For me however, communion doesn't require such continuous practice, it is simply meant to remind us of "The new covenant..." between us and the Lord, granting us everlasting life. You may view it as a sort of legal agreement. A reminder even.

Answer 10

Get all the verses on the subject. You can go to gospelcom.net and search for it in a topical reference book. My understanding is the we gather together on the first day of the week to break bread (Lord's Supper.) Not taking communion every first day of the week would be the same as not gathering together every first day of the week.