Once a month communion

[Second Phoenix]

Why do some protestants do this, or even less frequently? It seems like it is done because it is a 'hassle' and communion isn't as important as making more time for music and the preacher's sermon.

Does anyone believe that non-weekly communion is in any way keeping with the early Church?

 

[WisdomTree]

They find it to make it all to common i.e. lose significance. Their logic is the rarer the more precious.

 

[ViaCrucis]

Why do some protestants do this, or even less frequently? It seems like it is done because it is a 'hassle' and communion isn't as important as making more time for music and the preacher's sermon.

Does anyone believe that non-weekly communion is in any way keeping with the early Church?

I think if you were to really get to the bare bones of it, it's done this way in some churches simply because of tradition--it's how they've always done it.

At my Pentecostal (Foursquare) church we did it twice a month, if I recall correctly.

My interest is piqued however, I'm kind of curious how infrequent Communion began.

-CryptoLuthean

 

[Creech]

I know in the early days of Methodism in America, many congregations were led by lay pastors and ordained clergy had to travel great distances and go from church to church to celebrate Communion. This got us into the habit of having it more infrequently,though certainly in modern times it is not as infrequent as it was.

 

[Gnarwhal]

Why do some protestants do this, or even less frequently? It seems like it is done because it is a 'hassle' and communion isn't as important as making more time for music and the preacher's sermon.

Does anyone believe that non-weekly communion is in any way keeping with the early Church?

A) My track record with the Eucharist has been erratic at best. My excuse for the last two years is that I haven't been going anywhere that both shares my belief in what the Eucharist is and holds open communion (except for once at a continuing Anglican parish). It's been two months since I've taken the Eucharist and it was about 1.5 - 2 years for the time before that.

B) Prior to that at my old evangelical church, my reasoning for abstaining generally had to do with one of two reasons: either I was unsure "my heart was in the right place" which I had been told is something to seriously consider, or I was profoundly lazy. Sometimes a combination of both, but I think predominantly it was the latter.

I think when it's downplayed as much as it is these days ("the elements are just symbols bro") there's not much compelling a person to engage in it.

 

[Lion King]

Why do some protestants do this, or even less frequently? It seems like it is done because it is a 'hassle' and communion isn't as important as making more time for music and the preacher's sermon.

Does anyone believe that non-weekly communion is in any way keeping with the early Church?

Does your church have the LORD's supper on a daily-basis as the early church did?

 

[Going Merry]

I did it once in a baptist church (im not baptist) so I am very infrequent

Also I think it was grape juice and i dont think i drank it all

The bread was like a cracker, one of those crackers that you use for clam chowder or something idk the name for it lol

Whats the big deal about it anyways?

Ill do it with a little bread and water by my self later today. Sounds good

 

[Tigger45]

When I attended churches that practiced infrequent Communion I always wondered why they didn't follow the biblical outline of Communion. I came to my own conclusion that once Communion becomes only a symbol loosing it's significance typically follows.

 

[Pastor Glenn]

Jesus said "whenever you do this in remembrance of me" ( 1 Crinthians 11:23-26 )

This passage is traditionally read during communion.

Some churches celebrate communion every Sunday and others monthly. The important thing is that we remember what he did for us as often as we can - a daily thanksgiving, weekly, monthly ...
The point is regardless of what your church tradition is - Celebrate Christ !

 

[Fireinfolding]

Does your church have the LORD's supper on a daily-basis as the early church did?

Jesus speaks of as "oft as" ye do this, and Paul as often as ye do also

1Cr 11:26 For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord's death till he come.

Shown as often as daily

Acts 2:46 And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart,

 

[Nanopants]

I did it once in a baptist church (im not baptist) so I am very infrequent

Also I think it was grape juice and i dont think i drank it all

The bread was like a cracker, one of those crackers that you use for clam chowder or something idk the name for it lol

Whats the big deal about it anyways?

Ill do it with a little bread and water by my self later today. Sounds good

Behold, the days are coming, says the LORD, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah... -Jer 31:31

And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to the disciples and said, “Take, eat; this is My body.” Then He took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you. For this is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many for the remission of sins. -Mat 26:26-28

For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death till He comes. Therefore whoever eats this bread or drinks this cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord. But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of the bread and drink of the cup. For he who eats and drinks in an unworthy manner eats and drinks judgment to himself, not discerning the Lord’s body. For this reason many are weak and sick among you, and many sleep. For if we would judge ourselves, we would not be judged. But when we are judged, we are chastened by the Lord, that we may not be condemned with the world. -1 Cr 11:26-32

In that He says, “A new covenant,” He has made the first obsolete. Now what is becoming obsolete and growing old is ready to vanish away. -Heb 8:13

Judge not, and you shall not be judged. Condemn not, and you shall not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven. Give, and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom. For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you. -Luke 6:37,38

So speak and so do as those who will be judged by the law of liberty. For judgment is without mercy to the one who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment. -James 2:12,13

Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.-Gal 6:2

 

[Bobby64]

Jesus said "whenever you do this in remembrance of me" ( 1 Crinthians 11:23-26 )

This passage is traditionally read during communion.

Some churches celebrate communion every Sunday and others monthly. The important thing is that we remember what he did for us as often as we can - a daily thanksgiving, weekly, monthly ...
The point is regardless of what your church tradition is - Celebrate Christ !

I agree entirely. Some churches are afraid people will take it for granted if they do it every week, so they save it for special times. Others argue it should be done weekly BECAUSE it's important. However, if the focus is on Jesus, I wouldn't say one is necessarily "right" and the other "wrong."

I can see both sides of the argument. I've gone to different churches, and they've had different policies on it.

 

[GratiaCorpusChristi]

Does your church have the LORD's supper on a daily-basis as the early church did?

Well he's Catholic I think, so very likely, yes. I attended daily Catholic Mass back in Maryland.

 

[GratiaCorpusChristi]

I did it once in a baptist church (im not baptist) so I am very infrequent

Also I think it was grape juice and i dont think i drank it all

The bread was like a cracker, one of those crackers that you use for clam chowder or something idk the name for it lol

Whats the big deal about it anyways?

Ill do it with a little bread and water by my self later today. Sounds good

Well that's... sad.

(and they're called oyster crackers)

 

[saffron park]

I've always attended once-a-month churches. My current churches' rationale is that we don't have enough money to do it weekly.

 

[GratiaCorpusChristi]

I've always attended once-a-month churches. My current churches' rationale is that we don't have enough money to do it weekly.

Interesting. See, the practice of the offering and its traditional place in the ancient rites- between the sermon and communion- is directly linked to the communion service. The primary purpose of the offering is as a way for the community to offer the products of its material culture to the church, so first the bread and the wine are brought forward as the basics of civilization and culture (culture being linked so closely to cultivation), and secondarily money to suppose the church in its work. So the whole reason the church has any money at all is because that money is part of the communion liturgy.

I can't see the point in holding a service on Sundays, the day of resurrection, Christ's return to the world of the living, without celebrating his return to the world of the living in the bread and wine of communion. Why else would we meet on Sunday morning?

 

[Second Phoenix]

I know in the early days of Methodism in America, many congregations were led by lay pastors and ordained clergy had to travel great distances and go from church to church to celebrate Communion. This got us into the habit of having it more infrequently,though certainly in modern times it is not as infrequent as it was.

This happened in other places even the Catholic Church which offers daily communion. Although in places where it can't be offered, they bring in communion and it is distributed by the laity or deacon. However, the fact that by necessity it could not always be celebrated doesn't seem a good rationale for not offering it every Sunday where it can be. It seems they make a lot of reasons against it, all of which suggest that sermons, music, etc is more important.

 

[Second Phoenix]

Does your church have the LORD's supper on a daily-basis as the early church did?

Churches can offer communion every day- but they must offer it once a week where they can, if they wish to keep with what the early Church did.

It is amazing how many places say they are like the early Church, but don't act like it.

 

[Second Phoenix]

I did it once in a baptist church (im not baptist) so I am very infrequent

Also I think it was grape juice and i dont think i drank it all

The bread was like a cracker, one of those crackers that you use for clam chowder or something idk the name for it lol

Whats the big deal about it anyways?

Ill do it with a little bread and water by my self later today. Sounds good

The bible seems to make a big deal out it. Communion was the last thing Jesus did with all the apostles.

 

[Second Phoenix]

I've always attended once-a-month churches. My current churches' rationale is that we don't have enough money to do it weekly.

The pastor can't afford a piece of bread and a little sip of wine (or grape juice)?