Every May and November I watched my mom and other ladies wash the communion glasses in the church kitchen. This was their scheduled time throughout the year to wash and dry them and carefully stack them back in the trays to be filled up with wine or grape juice. As I think back, I remember laughter amongst the ladies; but they took great care with these communion glasses. Communion was taken on the first Sunday of each month and it was a special. I remember this spiritual discipline as a time of reverence and celebration. When I asked “why do we do it on the first Sunday of the month?” no one had an answer.
Several years ago during the Covid lock down, my family received communion around our kitchen island. I remember feeling such a bond with the whole family as my husband led us in the taking of the bread which is a symbol of Christ’s broken body, and then the cup of grape juice as the reminder of Christ’s blood shed for each of us. These elements are a reminder of Christ’s selfless act in which the new covenant with God was made. Never had I thought of taking communion together in our kitchen, and I am sad to say we haven’t done it since.
How often should we take communion? Where should we take communion? The Bible Knowledge Commentary indicates that there is no prescribed schedule for The Lord’s Supper, yet whenever it was celebrated its message of humiliation and subsequent exaltation (Phil 2:6-11) went forth.
I have a friend who took communion in her home for over a year. She commented that she didn’t have a template, but most days she thanked Him for the power in His shed blood and the body He surrendered. Some days with song or with Scripture, or days of just praying through it, It became a daily time of remembering what was and praising what has been given to each of us.
Another friend shared that her weekly small group took communion each time they met! I love this idea, because it is a symbol of their unity as a church family. This was the bonding that I experienced with my family in our kitchen.
When you take communion what do you feel? Where is your heart and mind?
Don’t miss your part . . ..for as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death till He comes. 1 Corinthians 11:26
May we take our seat at the table seriously.
Tammy De Armas
EFCC Member