Communing from Home

In an ideal and perfect world, all members of the church would gather weekly to celebrate the sacrament of Holy Communion – everyone together in one room with one table at one worship service. If there were members who could not attend the weekly meal, that meal would be extended to them through visiting communion ministers or regular visitations by the pastors.However, for many reasons, that is not always possible and because of new technology, many of our members and others watch our worship online and participate in the sacrament.So, this is my advice to those who want to participate in the sacrament in a virtual way.

• Prepare well in advance of the worship service.
• Set aside the vessels to be used for the bread and wine in a special place in your home.
• You might bake a special Holy Communion bread, as you prepare for the sacrament.
• Use a wine that you would enjoy serving, a special wine, not just something inexpensive off the shelf.
• If you are alone, commune yourself reverently as the congregation communes with the words, “This is the Body of Christ,” and “This is the Blood of Christ.”
• If you are with others, commune each other reverently as the congregation communes with the words, “The Body of Christ given for you,” and “The Blood of Christ shed for you.”
• After communing, dispose of any “leftovers” in an appropriate way.  Extra bread and wine can be consumed or returned to the earth.
  

Above all, if you are communing with us online, you should do so in a thoughtful and reverential way, just as you would if gathered in our sanctuary.

Pastor John D. Morris