With no certainty about when we'll be able to gather again for church, it is time to prepare for another new experience: Communion at home!
The video we will be releasing for the weekend will have a time for you and your family to follow along in communion. You will be alone with your family, or even by yourself, but remember -communion reminds us that we are NEVER truly on our own. We share this experience together, and we remember that we are in fellowship with every believer in Christ -and with Christ himself!
Here are some steps to help you prepare for this experience:
1. Be sure you have a good understanding ahead of time regarding what Communion is about. Read 1 Corinthians 11:23-34 to be reminded of what it is we do. Reading Luke 22:14-20 would also help. Communion is a symbol by which we remember the sacrifice of Jesus, our forgiveness of sins, and our fellowship with God and one another. Be sure you understand this.
2. Get and prepare the elements in advance. We use Grape Juice and Matzo bread for an authentic experience, but I recommend any fresh bread, as you probably already have it on hand. Also, any kind of juice will do in a pinch. (Even bits of cereal and water will do -communion is less about the elements themselves and more about our hearts and what we remember together)
3. Take time to examine your heart and be prepared for worship. Ask God to show you areas of life that need correction, adjustment, or repentance. Look for his guidance and listen for his voice. Look to Christ and find rest.
4. Then, once you have the elements and have prepared your heart, follow along with the video we will post. Remember the broken body of Jesus as you eat the bread, and the blood of Jesus as you drink the juice.
May God bless you as you prepare for this new experience of Communion this week!
Pastor Doug