News About Our Reception of the Lord's Supper

Beginning yesterday, September 2, the elders agreed that we ought to receive the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper every time we meet.  In our discussions about this, we also determined that we wanted to use a shorter liturgy and to recevie the elements by intinction. 

After some discussion and research, we wrote the liturgy below:

The Sacrament of the Lord's Supper.

Leader:   We are about to celebrate the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper. In order that we might receive this Sacrament to our benefit, let us remember these words:  “Whoever, therefore, eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty concerning the body and blood of the Lord. Let a person examine himself, then, and so eat of the bread and drink of the cup. For anyone who eats and drinks without discerning the body eats and drinks judgment on himself. That is why many of you are weak and ill, and some have died. But if we judged ourselves truly, we would not be judged. But when we are judged by the Lord, we are disciplined so that we may not be condemned along with the world” (I Corinthians 11:27-32, ESV).

          The Sacrament of the Lord's Supper is only for those who believe the Gospel of Jesus Christ. If you do not believe that God came to earth in the person of Jesus, lived a perfect life under God's Law, died for the sins of everyone who would ever believe, and physically rose from the dead and ascended back to His throne, then you ought not to receive the Sacrament.  Also, if you are continuing in unrepentant sin, you ought not to receive the Sacrament. As Paul said, “The cup of blessing that we bless, is it not a participation in the blood of Christ? The bread that we break, is it not a participation in the body of Christ?” (1 Corinthians 10:16, ESV).
          This is not meant to distress the contrite heart, for if you believe and confess that salvation is by faith alone through Jesus Christ Alone, then you are welcome at this table. This Sacrament is for you, for in this Sacrament we have one of the visual displays of the Gospel authorized by our God and Savior.
           As we receive the elements, three moments in time converge: we remember that Jesus died for the sins of everyone who would ever believe, we commune with Jesus spiritually and receive the grace we need to be His people, and we affirm our hope in Jesus' Second Coming and in the physical resurrection of the dead.

Leader: Let us pray:

All: Almighty God, we come to receive the bread and the cup knowing that we are unworthy except through Jesus Alone. We thank You for the Work that Jesus did in history to forgive us for our sins and to make us righteous in Your Sight. We thank You for the assurance of hope in knowing that just as Jesus was raised, we also shall be raised in our physical bodies. We ask now as we commune with Jesus through the bread and the cup that Jesus would spiritually meet with us, and that He would give us the grace that we need to be Your people.  For it is in Jesus’ Name we pray. Amen

Leader: The Lord be with you.

All: And also with you.

Leader: Lift up your hearts.

All: We lift them up to the Lord.

Leader: All those who have confessed their faith in Christ are welcome at the Lord's table, for all things are now ready.

[At this time, those serving should come forward and uncover the bread and the cup.]

Leader: “… the Lord Jesus on the night when he was betrayed took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it, and said, ‘This is my body which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.’ [The leader breaks the bread.]  In the same way also he took the cup, after supper, saying, ‘This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.’ [The leader fills the cup. ]  For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until he comes” (I Corinthians 11:23b-26, ESV).  Come, let us communion with our God.

[As the congregation receives the bread and the cup, the choir should sing hymn 776, verses 1 & 2, or the organ should play. After the choir finishes singing, they may join the line to receive the elements.]

[As you reach the elements, break off a piece  of bread and dip it in the cup.  There are two cups: the silver cup contains wine; the gold cup contains grape juice.]

[As each person receives the bread, the leader says, “The body of Christ, broken for you.”  As each person receives the cup, the leader says, “The blood of Christ, shed for you.”]

Leader:  Let us give thanks:

All: “We give You thanks, Holy Father, for Your Holy Name, which You have made to tabernacle in our hearts, and for the knowledge and faith and immortality, which You have made known unto us through Your Son Jesus; Yours is the Glory for ever and ever.  You, Almighty Master, did create all things for Your Name's Sake, and did give food and drink unto men for enjoyment, that they might render thanks to You; but did bestow upon us spiritual food and drink and eternal life through Your Son.  Before all things we give You thanks that You are powerful; Yours is the glory for ever and ever.” Amen. (Didache 10.2-7).

 
[This communion liturgy was developed using the writings of St. Paul, Justin Martyr, The Didache, and the liturgies of the RCA in August 2012 for use at Second Reformed Church, Irvington, New Jersey.]