COMMUNION SUNDAY
On the first Sunday of each month we share in a moment of communion during our Sunday Service.While we hope that you will join us for these important moments, or participate through the live stream of these services, we encourage you to also consider leading your own time of communion in the days and weeks between.While many of our church family around the world already participate in communion in their homes, and feel comfortable in leading and praying over the Lord’s Supper and one another, others may want a more direct guide on how to share communion together, especially if you are the one coordinating it.
Connect to our next Communion ServiceBASIC STEPS
We suggest you begin with prayer, opening your hearts to the Lord and inviting Jesus to be the Head of the Table. You may want to sing a song or hymn that is relevant for partaking communion, such as “In Remembrance,” or “Let Us Break Bread Together” or play background music as you share communion.
The basic structure of communion can be found in 1 Corinthians 11:23-26. You may add verse 28 if you wish to include an examination of conscience and ask the Lord to forgive some area in your life that needs pardon. Including something personal or central to what is going on in your lives, the church, the world – can become a theme around which the sharing of communion is centered.
Partaking of the elements (we suggest any kind of juice and cracker) is the next to last step, usually, followed by a blessing prayed over the participants. Anyone can pray that blessing.
The Invitation: (Volunteer)
Come with open heart, and share this Holy Communion. Taste and see that the Lord God is good.
Examination of Conscience and Confession / Affirmation of Faith (unison or individually):
Almighty God, Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, I confess that I have missed the mark at times, and I desire to amend and grow in my life. Lord, I come to you with repentance and true faith. Have mercy on me, forgive, and renew me through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
The Lord’s Prayer: (Reader): Let us pray together the prayer our Lord Jesus taught His disciples:
(Prayed in unison, in bold)
“Our Father who art in heaven, Hallowed by thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen.” (Matthew 6:9-13, KJV)
Reader: Let us pray for inner cleansing.
Collect: (Palm/Passion Sunday – Wednesday – unison):
Almighty God, in your love for us you sent your Son Jesus Christ to take on our nature, and to suffer death upon the cross, giving us the example of great humility: Grant that we may walk in his footsteps, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
The Sanctus: (Reader):
It is always right and joyful to give thanks to You, O Lord, Almighty God. You formed us in your image and breathed into us the breath of life. When we turned away, your love remained steadfast. You delivered us from captivity, made covenant to be our God and spoke to us through the prophets. Therefore, with the angels of heaven, we glorify you, joining their hymn forever praising you:
(Prayed in unison):
Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God of power, and of the heavenly hosts!
Heaven and earth are full of your glory. Glory be to You, O Lord, most high. Amen.
The Prayer of Consecration of the Elements: (Volunteer prays):
Our Holy Father, blessed is your Son Jesus Christ. Jesus healed the sick, fed the hungry, and delivered sinners. Lord God, you gave in Love your only Son, to suffer death upon the cross for our redemption. We offer ourselves in praise and thanksgiving as a holy sacrifice, in union with Christ’s offering for us.
(Volunteer continues praying):
On the night in which He was betrayed and gave Himself up for us, Jesus took bread, and when He had given thanks to You, Father, He broke it and gave it to His disciples, saying,
“Take, eat; this is my body which is given for you; do this in remembrance of me.”
In a similar way, after supper Jesus took the cup, and after giving thanks, He gave it to them, saying,
“Drink of this, all of you, for this is my blood of the New Covenant, which is poured out for you and for many for the forgiveness of sins. Do this as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.”
When the bread is delivered, one may say: The body of our Lord Jesus Christ broken for you…
When serving the cup, one may say: The blood of our Lord Jesus Christ shed for your salvation…
The Blessing: (unison)
May the peace of God, which passes all understanding, keep our hearts and minds in the knowledge and love of God, and of His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
FREE METHODIST RESOURCES
“Thoughts On Celebrating Communion Virtually” is a document that helps us understand and embrace the practice of the Sacrament of Communion while being distanced from one another. Use the button to find this document, and other helpful resources endorsed by the Board of Bishops of the Free Methodist church.
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