Holy Communion

As a kid communion was a sacred service in the church. Lots of work went into the preparation of it. I grew up in the Presbyterian Church. I can remember Joan setting up the communion. We had little glass cups  with grape juice and real bread cut into cubs. Joan would take all those glass cups home and wash them by hand. Thank goodness we don't use the glass cups anymore. Sometime around he time that I joined the church that we got a new communion set that required getting plastic cups. I didn't start taking communion until I joined the church. It was a thing reserved only for those who were mature in their faith.

My mom's parents were Lutherans. They had real communion wine and little wafers. I hated that stuff. Go up front, get a glass cup, and wait for the Pastor to give out the elements. I would never really eat the wafers. I would stick them in my pocket and pretend to eat it when asked. That was until Grandma caught me. She made me eat it. Then I got a huge lesson about how important communion is.

My Aunt Virginia was Brethren. In her church they did the feet washing. In fact they made a whole weekend of the service. On Saturday they would gather to prepare the communion feast. Saturday Night they would gather to eat it. On Sunday they would have Communion which included washing each others feet.

As a kid we had communion on the first Sunday of each month. Then as I got older this changed. We went to every 3 months and then to every 2 months. Plus they included special events like homecoming, Easter, and so on. I personally don't believe that the more times you take communion that you are going to be a better Christian. I think the more times you take it then it loses it's meaning.

Once I participated in a service of communion where everyone went up front, took a piece of bread, and dipped it into the wine. I liked doing that. It brought the whole communion concept together.

I don't think it really matters how you take communion. It does matter if you have the right mind set for communion. That is to say that you take it with reverence and remembrance of what the elements represent.

The grape juice/wine represents the blood that Jesus shed on the cross for you and me. The bread represents Jesus body that was broken on the cross to concur death and save us from sin.

Remember this and take communion seriously.