The Evangelical Universalist Forum

How do you like your communion?

Practices Christian Living
#1

My first communion I took, which I consider it communion; was a small glass of water and a hand full of cornflakes, since I didn’t have any crackers or grapejuice on hand and wanted to take communion during my prayer time.

These days however, now that I have grapejuice and some crackers, but one day I felt lead one day to eat olives with it…And so ever since, at least when I have them on hand; I take three olives (green) after the bread and fruit of the vine. The olives represent to me, first the trinity, and all of God’s goodness, grace, blessedness, all the things the olive represents; his plenty, and his good countenance, his peace, his attributes. The olives seem to represent to me all that is good of God, while the bread of course is Christ’s body, and the fruit of the vine the blood of the new covenant. And so I take olives in remembrance of Him; in remembrance of his overwhelming benevolence, and being. Of course, I ask when I take them that it would be “pleasing in his sight” to take them.

What do you think of this practice? But more importantly, what are your experiences with communion? How do you take communion? What was your first communion like? And especially, how is communion for you now (for those of you who believe in the salvation of all mankind)? :slight_smile:

#2

I like green olives too :sunglasses: It sounds like you’re doing it out of the right motives.

Growing up we had communion every Sunday (grape juice & bread), however, at my current church we only do it (grape juice & bread) once a month at a combined service.

#3

Lefein,

May I ask, are you taking communion alone or in church with other believers?

#4

Cool, leavened or unleavened bread? I’ve found out recently (actually after watching that Darkbrew video) that some churches (or many) take it with regular bread, lol. I didn’t know anyone did that. :smiley:

Alone.

#5

I like olives too :smiley: … but I could not stop at just three :blush:

My Wife and I come from a Plymouth Brethren background and are use to celebrating “The Breaking of Bread” on a weekly bases. It’s a special meeting all on its own where the men of the assembly have the responsability of leading the congregation in worship and remembrance of the Lord’s sacrifice and victory as they are moved by the Holy Spirit. Ending with the sharing of the bread and wine. They do not have a Priest or Pastor to lead any of it.

But now for the pass six years we have been having Church that gathers in our home every week. We have the “emblems”(real wine :astonished: and regular bread) with a full meal and good fellowship. But I liked what they did in that Darkbrew video and that is dunking the bread in the wine. I think I might try that with the group next week. :wink:

#6

The coolest communion that I was ever involved with included a skit with Mary and a baby wrapped in a blanket. When the baby was revealed it was a loaf of bread which we tore from to take communion. I’ll never forget it.

#7

Isn’t communion supposed to be taken in the presence of other believers? I mean isn’t that the whole point, we are all one body in Christ? I mean, I understand if you are in some way incapacitated or something. But just curious.

#8

I’d prefer taking it with other believers. But I haven’t been in a position to.

#9

The word Greek word “communion” means “sharing”. How can one share with oneself?

The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not, a sharing together of the blood of the Christ? the loaf which we break, is it not, a sharing together of the body of the Christ? (1 Corinthians 10:16 Rotherham)

#10

If anyone wants to get technical…I take communion with Christ, when I take communion alone. :wink:

#11

I used to break bread for several years with these brethren, too. I was especially moved by their practice of making Christ the centre of worship, and that the entire Sunday morning meeting was in honour of Christ, not only what He did for us in His death, but what He presently is to us in His life.

I returned to my birthplace, where there are no such groups, but I found a church which also has communion every week with wine and unleavened bread. The brethren of this circle of fellowship believe that since Christ was pure and sinless, the “elements” which represent Him should be unleavened, because leaven (yeast) is symbolic of evil in the New Testament.

Since yeast plays a major role in the process of wine-making, I wondered why they spoke of “unleavened wine”. They explained that after the fermentation process was completed all the yeast settled out of the wine among the dregs, and the pure wine contains no yeast cells at all.

#12

Then technically, you don’t take it alone. :wink:

#13

IMO I believe that it is first and foremost a rememberance of Christ, remembering the victory He has accomplished on our behalf. It is something I can do, without the need of anyone else. If there happens to be other believers to share that with, well that’s a bonus. And yes I know, it’s not the best to be alone for too long. But you do what you have to do.

I don’t believe that there is any scripture that says that there must be a quorum, clergy, laity or sacred space. Just a pure heart with the right motives. :slight_smile:

#14

Communion is the center of a church’s life- this is not our individual table, or the church’s table or a denomination’s table but this is the Lord’s table and all God’s children no matter who they are, or where they find themselves on the journey of faith, are unconditionally loved, celebrated and welcomed to feast at this table of the kingdom where enemies become friends, where forgiveness and love are abundant, where grace is greater than sin and there is always room for the prodigal and no one is ever a stranger in God’s family. Communion per the Disciples tradition is celebrated weekly because as Jesus said, “Whenever you eat and whenever you drink, you do as often as you can in remembrance of me”. This table is where people first become acquainted to the unconditional, never dying, never failing and all-encompassing love of God made known in Christ our Lord. The bread can come in various forms, the cup can contain either wine or grape juice per the church’s tradition. As one who is also influenced by Anabaptist tradition, I would like to celebrate this meal in the tradition of foot washing, seated around tables and embodying servant leadership.

#15

I really appreciate that you have have it with a full meal.

Jesus Himself celebrated the Passover meal with His disciples, and then instituted the sharing (κοινωνια) of bread and wine.

The early Christians had a “love feast” (Jude 1:12), also called “the Lord’s supper” (1 Cor 11:20). This was clearly a meal (See vs 21). It was followed by the bread and wine. Paul calls the wine a sharing (κοινωνια) sharing of the blood of Christ, and the bread a sharing (κοινωνια) of the body of Christ. Some translations render the word “κοινωνια” as “communion”.