Poll: How often do you have communion at your church?

[G R 'Scott' Cundiff]

How often do you observe the Lord's Supper?

[Mark Bolerjack]

Before we left Charleston, we were doing it once a month. Also once a month at the church we were at before Crown Heights. Now it is a whole lot less.

[Donna Adams]

Once month, and I think it's too often. People become so used to it, the full meaning and sacrement of it becomes lost.

[Carl Hecksher]

I enjoy it once a month-it always feels special. But I think it may have alot to do with the way a Pastor begins Communion, rather than frequency of it.

[Edith K. Thurmond]

For the past ten years, I have attended churches where we received Eucharist weekly during our Sunday services. It is always extremely meaningful and never ever becomes "routine" or a "less than" feeling. In fact, it has quite the opposite effect. For the last three months, I have added an additional time during the week, usually on Thursdays, when I attend Holy Eucharist. So twice a week is what has been experienced here for three months.

New Year's Blessings,

[Gina Stevenson]

Reading your post on the frequency of communion, Edith, reminded me of how sometimes when driving by the Catholic church a few blocks away rather often I've contemplated [tho' haven't done it] stopping in sometime when I see they're doing just that, as the schedule is usually posted on their sign out front [which also often has some neat sayings/verses on it, too].

You see, I'm not only thinking it might sometimes be good, but also have this curiosity, I guess, about how it's done nowadays, knowing how the Catholic church has gone through some changes in years past. ALSO, think this contemplation might be spurred by the fact that I've not yet forgotten how the priest from there, who was at our baccalaureate "eons" ago did -- as I said back then -- "everything but give the altar call!" That was the first time I'd heard a Catholic priest speak [have since at a few weddings], and I believe he was a born-again priest, from what we heard. ;)

gina

For the past ten years, I have attended churches where we received Eucharist weekly during our Sunday services. It is always extremely meaningful and never ever becomes "routine" or a "less than" feeling. In fact, it has quite the opposite effect. For the last three months, I have added an additional time during the week, usually on Thursdays, when I attend Holy Eucharist. So twice a week is what has been experienced here for three months.

New Year's Blessings,

[G R 'Scott' Cundiff]

I enjoy it once a month-it always feels special. But I think it may have alot to do with the way a Pastor begins Communion, rather than frequency of it.

Thanks for that insight Carl, and welcome to NazNet.

I believe that there is a likelihood that frequent communion will make it less "special" but that that is not necessarily a bad thing.

We sing every Sunday. If we only sang once a month, it would be more "special" when we did sing, but our worship would be lessened rather than enhanced by doing so.

It may well be that having more frequent communion would cause the sacrament to become less special but at the same time better define who we are and how we worship.

In other words, did Jesus intend for communion to be "special," less frequent event, or did he intend for it to be a regular reminder of his sacrifice and love for us?

[Edith K. Thurmond]

Reading your post on the frequency of communion, Edith, reminded me of how sometimes when driving by the Catholic church a few blocks away rather often I've contemplated [tho' haven't done it] stopping in sometime when I see they're doing just that, as the schedule is usually posted on their sign out front [which also often has some neat sayings/verses on it, too].

You see, I'm not only thinking it might sometimes be good, but also have this curiosity, I guess, about how it's done nowadays, knowing how the Catholic church has gone through some changes in years past. ALSO, think this contemplation might be spurred by the fact that I've not yet forgotten how the priest from there, who was at our baccalaureate "eons" ago did -- as I said back then -- "everything but give the altar call!" That was the first time I'd heard a Catholic priest speak [have since at a few weddings], and I believe he was a born-again priest, from what we heard. ;)

gina

Gina, I have to admit that my knowledge regarding the Catholic Church is somewhat limited as I have never attended one of their services. From having had Catholic friends and neighbors, I do know that one cannot receive Eucharist unless that person is a member of the Catholic Church. There are 'born-again' people found in all Christian churches - godly priests and pastors in all of them, as well as some not-so-godly ones also.

From my having received weekly Eucharist for so long and now 2X a week, I think I have a clue as to why some people receive it much more frequently than that. Mrs. Rose Kennedy, who lived to be over 100 years of age, received communion daily. She seemed to be a woman of great faith, and her granddaughter, Maria Shriver S., confirms that. She testifies that she learned many faith lessons from her grandmother and one of them was the value of communion.

There are some Catholics who are members here and might amplify what you mentioned. Audrey Hanson has given us great insights on that church and perhaps she can enlighten us a bit further. I have learned much from reading her informative posts on several topics.

New Year Blessings,

[Belinda Y. Edwards]

T
We sing every Sunday. If we only sang once a month, it would be more "special" when we did sing, but our worship would be lessened rather than enhanced by doing so.


If i sang once a month i would die.

i can't exist without music around me.

i must sing - i can't keep silent and it can't keep it inside.

i have promised myself every Sunday that i will stand like a statue like some in our church - and just celebrate it deep within.........out it comes - i can't supress my joy.communion, praise to Christ.

May i gently suggest that assumption that weekly communion (Eucharist, Lord's Supper) will loose it's significance is just what satan would desire???? i have yet to ever hear anyone who regularly celebrated on a weekly basis to say that it caused a loss of significance. i have always heard the contrary.

me?

It becomes more significant - the more i remember.

[Jon Twitchell]

No answer applies...

I try to schedule communion about once every three weeks--except during lent when we will celebrate weekly, and advent when we won't celebrate at all between Thanksgiving and Christmas.

This year I'm considering extending our weekly celebration to include the 7 weeks of Easter, and then Pentecost and Trinity Sunday--that would make for weekly celebration from March 5th to June 11th.

I tend to believe that we should be increasing the opportunities for people to encounter God's Grace through these tangible means. By doing so, we provide spiritual nourishment for the souls within our care.

Grace and Peace,

Jon

[Gina Stevenson]

From having had Catholic friends and neighbors, I do know that one cannot receive Eucharist unless that person is a member of the Catholic Church.

There are 'born-again' people found in all Christian churches - godly priests and pastors in all of them, as well as some not-so-godly ones also.

From my having received weekly Eucharist for so long and now 2X a week, I think I have a clue as to why some people receive it much more frequently than that. Mrs. Rose Kennedy, who lived to be over 100 years of age, received communion daily. She seemed to be a woman of great faith, and her granddaughter, Maria Shriver S., confirms that. She testifies that she learned many faith lessons from her grandmother and one of them was the value of communion.

There are some Catholics who are members here and might amplify what you mentioned. Audrey Hanson has given us great insights on that church and perhaps she can enlighten us a bit further. I have learned much from reading her informative posts on several topics.

New Year Blessings,

Oops! guess I have heard about it being a "members only" deal ... just forgot. So, one could not just "drop in" to have eucharist with them, afterall, it appears. May be good, then, that I never have yet acted upon that "urge," eh? ;)

There are 'born-again' people found in all Christian churches - godly priests and pastors in all of them, as well as some not-so-godly ones also.

And, yes! I've realized for many years now that there are "born again" people in all churches; just didn't realize that "eons" ago ... as a highschooler, after having heard some misinformation, I do believe, about such things, from others.

As for Maria Shriver ... she's one gal I'll listen to when she speaks; has sort of made an impression on me ... not just "living on Kennedy laurels" at all, but her "own person" and a decent one at that. 'Have picked up and read some of what she's written for kids, too, while browsing at the store.

Yes, I usually read anything Audrey Hanson posts. If she's [if you're] lurking here, we've not heard from Audrey [you] in awhile. ;)

[Rick Morton]

I may be wrong but didn't John Wesley feel that communion was so important that it should be done ever day? Sometimes I feel we rush threw a communion service just to get it over.

[Donna Beukelman]

Our congregation has a lot of people with a Catholic background and they like to have communion each Sunday. So we have a worship area in the sactuary and following each service, people can go and partake of communion if they wish. Then periodically, communion is served to the whole congregation.

Donna

[Stan Hall]

We celebrate communion about every quarter and Christmas Eve. I'd like to see it more often.
Our Christmas Eve Come and Go Communion is wonderful! We go to the church anytime between 6:00 and 8:00 PM and the pastor takes each family into the sanctuary separately and we celebrate communion breaking our bread and drinking from a common cup. Just our family and the pastor. Very touching and meaningful.

[Hans Deventer]

I may be wrong but didn't John Wesley feel that communion was so important that it should be done ever day? Sometimes I feel we rush threw a communion service just to get it over.

You are not wrong :basic03

[Rick Morton]

Just one more thing to read about communion.


http://wesley.nnu.edu/john_wesley/sermons/101.htm

[Edith K. Thurmond]

Just one more thing to read about communion.
http://wesley.nnu.edu/john_wesley/sermons/101.htm

Thanks for the link and the great information contained therein!

Did you know that in the Lutheran Church (LCMS) before a person communes, she/he has to fill out a communing card listing the name and date? If a communicant member goes very long without communing, the pastor lovingly and gently contacts that person to see if there be any spiritual reason why they aren't communing. The pastors in that denomination take communion very seriously and desire that all members partake of this means of grace. One LCMS pastor told me that it was part of his duties as a shepherd of his flock and he was usually able to aid in a member's finding spiritual help for any struggle that might be encountered. Because of the communing cards, he was able to identify those persons who would not initially come to him. This may not work for all people everywhere, but for the LCMS members that I know, it works quite well.

Again, thanks for sharing - that is a wonderful site!

[Rick Morton]

Thanks for the link and the great information contained therein!

Did you know that in the Lutheran Church (LC MS) before a person communes, she/he has to fill out a communing card listing the name and date? If a communicant member goes very long without communing, the pastor lovingly and gently contacts that person to see if there be any spiritual reason why they aren't communing. The pastors in that denomination take communion very seriously and desire that all members partake of this means of grace. One LC MS pastor told me that it was part of his duties as a shepherd of his flock and he was usually able to aid in a member's finding spiritual help for any struggle that might be encountered. Because of the communing cards, he was able to identify those persons who would not initially come to him. This may not work for all people everywhere, but for the LC MS members that I know, it works quite well.

Again, thanks for sharing - that is a wonderful site!

I would be in trouble then. I do not take communion at my church. I go to a United Methodist church on the first Sunday of the month. My church does communion in about 10 minutes whether your done or not well not that fast but fast. They have the broad pass out the communion. I may be wrong but I think the pastor's and we have 4 should do this at the alter and they should be the ones passing out the communion not the broad members. Communion to me should be a service just for that one reason. This opinion and .89 cents will get you a cup of coffee.