Communion: How often at your church?

[Mike Schutz]

How often is Communion offered at your church? In addition to voting in the poll, feel free to post any explanatory notes.
Grace and peace.

[Barb Bouldrey]

Sometimes Easter, July 4th, World Communion Sunday, Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Years. Sometimes "just because John feels it is time to do it again."

LOL

Probably closer to 6 times a year than once a quarter, as I answered.

Barb

[Barbara Moulton]

First Sunday of every month.

[Doris Grant]

Like Barbara we do it the first Sunday of every month.

Doris

[G R 'Scott' Cundiff]

It is fine to ask again, but you might enjoy looking at the last poll we had on this topic:
http://www.naznet.com/community/showthread.php?t=2051

[Marsha Gupton]

We have communion the first Sunday of each month.

[Gary Swartzlander]

Third Wednesday night of each month.

[Mike Schutz]

Third Wednesday night of each month.

Gary, What percentage of your Sunday AM crowd comes to those Wednesday services?

[Gary Swartzlander]

Gary, What percentage of your Sunday AM crowd comes to those Wednesday services?


Our weekend crowd runs between 1100 and 1200 in 3 services. We run near 500 on Wednesday evening.

[Barbara Moulton]

Our weekend crowd runs between 1100 and 1200 in 3 services. We run near 500 on Wednesday evening.

I am curious. I am assuming that the 1100 to 1200 is the total attendance for your three services.

By my math, this means that more than 50% of your regular attenders do not have opportunity to participate in communion?

Just trying to get my mind around this. I love our communion Sundays.

[Gary Swartzlander]

I am curious. I am assuming that the 1100 to 1200 is the total attendance for your three services.

By my math, this means that more than 50% of your regular attenders do not have opportunity to participate in communion?

Just trying to get my mind around this. I love our communion Sundays.

You are correct that the total is combined for the 3 services.

There isn't a right or wrong answer to how or why we do it this way, it has to do with our philospy of services.

Our weekend services are seeker targeted our wednesday service is our worship service. Communion has become an important part of our midweek worship experience.

Our third service on Sunday is designed for a younger crowd and they have been having communion quarterly I think it is. That is the service that Peggy and I usually attend.

That's the short answer, I can expand on it if you wish. Gotta bet back to work now.

[Peggy Neilsen]

Here at Parkville we usually have communion the first Sunday of each month, unless there is a special occasion, or someone may request communion to be served.

The past couple of months I've been making the bread for our communion services. I found this recipe on Cooks.com, and everyone seems to just love it. Here is a copy of the recipe for those who's like to make it themselves.

Please note: Most of the time I cut the recipe in half and only make 1 loaf so that we don't have much left over, but for those with a large congregation, (100+) members, then I would follow the recipe as it is below.

COMMUNION BREAD
Printed from COOKS.COM

4 c. whole wheat flour
2 c. white flour
1/2 c. brown sugar
1 1/2 tsp. salt
2 tsp. baking soda
2 tsp. baking powder

Mix the above ingredients.

Cut in:

1/2 c. butter

Add:

1/2 c. honey
2 c. water

Mix and then knead. May need more flour. Divide in halves. Roll out each half 1/2 inch thick. Bake 20 minutes at 350 degrees. Makes 2 loaves.

Once the bread is cooked, then I cut it into small sugar cube size pieces so that they can sit nicely on the communion plates. If there's some left over, we'll place it in a sealed container for the next time.

Well I GTG for now. If anyone decides to make the bread, please let me know how it turned out, and what others thought about it. Until then take care all, and have a wonderful and blessed day.

Peggy Neilsen
Administrative Assistant
Parkville Church of the Nazarene
8510 Fowler Avenue
Parkville, MD 21234

[Walter Thompson]

I picked once a quarter, but it is actually every other month. which was not a choice. I don't think I have ever heard of anyone having communion twice a month. Maybe thta was suppose to be every other month? Basically we have communion as follows: Christmas Eve, Valentines Day (nearby), Easter, Mothers Day, Near the Fourth of July, Near Labor Day and then near the middle of November. That's seven times a year.

[Mike Schutz]

I picked once a quarter, but it is actually every other month. which was not a choice. I don't think I have ever heard of anyone having communion twice a month. Maybe thta was suppose to be every other month?

Walter, Thanks.

Actually, I do know of a few churches that take Communion on the first and third Sundays. However, they may not be as frequent as every other month.

[G R 'Scott' Cundiff]

Our weekend services are seeker targeted our wednesday service is our worship service. Communion has become an important part of our midweek worship experience.

Actually, the approach has much in common with the practice of the ancient church. For hundreds of years, as I understand it, the church practiced a Word and Table format. There was one service that was open to everyone, and then the unbaptized were dismissed, with only the baptized being permitted to stay for the service of the Table.

If your Sunday services are aimed at the unchurched, then having communion in a totally different service probably matches up with the ancient church more than serving communion to the general church on Sunday morning.

I am not saying that I don't see problems with that approach, but I do see the connection.