PastorsBlog: “Continuous Communion”
October 2, 2009

In theology, we talk about the interrelationship between “belief” and “practice.” Your beliefs are influenced by your practices. Your practices are influenced by your beliefs. You hope both are shaped and influenced by the Word of God.

A few months ago we changed our practice of receiving Communion at the early service. A few people have suggested that such practice is contrary to what we believe. (This is why we continue to kneel at the late service, for anyone who wishes to commune that way.)

But let’s think about how the practice of Continuous Communion beautifully reflects a couple Biblical truths about the Lord’s Supper.

1. The community and corporate nature of the Supper is emphasized by welcoming everyone to the Lord’s Table at the same time, by communing as one body, and by receiving the blessing at the end as the one body of Christ. We have all eaten and drunk the one body and blood of Christ. We are one body in Christ.

2. The personal nature of the Supper is emphasized as well. Some think that we are rush, rush, rushing through Communion. And it is more efficient. But for each individual who chooses, this practice of communing actually slows it down and personalizes it. (When we commune at the altar, I speak the words  to several people at once as I give the bread to them.) In Continuous Communion, I say to each individual who waits for me, “Take and eat. This is the body of Jesus, given unto death for you for the forgiveness of your sins.” Individual. Personal. For you.

For those who felt rushed away from the altar rail when we used to kneel, they now go to the rail after communing and kneel for as long as they like. Individual. Personal. For you.

Both of these aspects of the Lord’s Supper are truly emphasized in Continuous Communion.

If you prefer to kneel at the rail, please join us at our 10:45 Traditional Service. Great hymns. Great liturgy. Kneeling for communion. And this way has one very cool thing that I love. You notice how the rail is half an octagon? (The octagon is for the “eighth day of creation,” that is, the new creation we are in Christ. This is why the baptismal font is octagonal; and we have people walk by the font to remind them of who they are and Whose they are in Baptism. But I digress.) The reason the rail is half an octagon is because of the “angels and archangels and all the company of heaven.” The other half of the rail is completed in heaven with those who have gone before us in the faith. Sends shivers down my spine every time I think about it.

For more on the Lord’s Supper, and how utterly amazing it is, join me on Sunday, October 18 from 10:30 – 12:30 in the Fellowship Hall.

In Christ,
Pastor Steve

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