Easter Communion Poll

[Chromaflage]

This question came up during a discussion I had with my wife tonight. I would be interested in hearing thoughts on this. The subject first came up when our pastor began encouraging the congregation to invite people to attend church service on Easter Sunday. We've been doing this for several years now. Of course, there are two seasons during which attendance is highest: Christmas and Easter.

I should first say that our church has always served communion on Easter Sunday during all services. To me, this presents a bit of a dilema for me when contemplating extending invitiations to people who might not otherwise attend church. There are generally two scenarios that come to mind. While communion is being served, "visitors" have two choices: 1. To partake in the saccraments, possibly without fully understanding what they mean; or 2. Not participating and potentially feeling awkward. I will offer some more of my thoughts on the matter during further discussion. But, for now, my question:

Does your church serve communion on Easter Sunday? Please offer some commentary along with your response.

Thanks,

CrF

[HazMatt]

Interesting question/poll. I am not "allowed" to take communion at my wife's church, although I can go up with everyone and be blessed by the priest. I have not chosen to do this, due to a little bit (alright - a lot) of personal opinion on the practices of this particular church and myself being uncomfortable. The church we used to go to, my denomination, was an all inclusive communion, however, my wife never partook of this communion. It was a sense of her being uncomfortable in doing this in an unfamiliar setting and also of the "guilt" of it not meaning the same thing as in her church. We have had much discussion over this topic through the years and understand each others' views on this.
After reading my post, I see how it looks like I am bashing my wife's church. It was not my intention, I hope you folks don't take it as such...

[rimrock]

Crf, Did I just hear a cry from St. Louis. :grin:

Just kidding we also practice open communion at BSLC, but with so many people attending the Easter services we don’t serve communion – it would just take too long for those who are visiting, but I really think it is great your church does. Your two questions are very good ones and we still are spending time trying to work this out as best as we can.

[happybrew]

It is my wish that churches were as full every Sunday as on Easter and Christmas.

At my Church, there is communion every day. But as HazMatt points out, it is a closed communion. This is biblically based.

1 Cor 10
16Is not the cup of thanksgiving for which we give thanks a participation in the blood of Christ? And is not the bread that we break a participation in the body of Christ? 17Because there is one loaf, we, who are many, are one body, for we all partake of the one loaf.

We must be one body to partake.

1 Cor 11
27Therefore, whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of sinning against the body and blood of the Lord. 28A man ought to examine himself before he eats of the bread and drinks of the cup. 29For anyone who eats and drinks without recognizing the body of the Lord eats and drinks judgment on himself. 30That is why many among you are weak and sick, and a number of you have fallen asleep.

We certainly wouldn't want someone to eat and drink without recognizing the body of the Lord and incur judgement. That is the reason. There are bishops who disregard this, but I think they are playing a dangerous game in doing so. It's not done to be exclusionary, although some take it to be so. It's done for Biblical reasons, for the protection of someone who may not discern the presence of Christ, and simply want to "belong". We all hunger and thirst for Christ. Whenever we hunger and thirst, although we may not realize it, it is a hunger and thirst for God. We must know that, so we don't seek other food and drink but the only true food and drink. If we look to be only "included", that is the only reward we will receive. Better to receive the true reward, which is Jesus Christ himself.

happybrew

[Chromaflage]

happybrew - just curious here, as I'm not all that familiar with the Catholic faith. I'm a Christian, albeit not a Catholic, and I believe in the elements of the Lord's Supper and what they are and represent. So, if I attended mass at a Catholic church, would I not be allowed, or should I say, would I be discouraged from partaking?

Thanks

Kerry

[happybrew]

Ya gotta be Catholic or Eastern Orthodox. Lutherans believe in consubtantiation, which is the Real Presence of Christ in the bread and wine. Catholics believe in transubstantiation, which is that nothing of the bread and wine remains. Likewise, Catholics are not allowed to receive communion elsewhere, except at an Eastern Orthodox Church if no Catholic Church is available. We believe the Orthodox have valid apostolic succession, which would give them the authority to have a valid Mass.

An unusual difference between the Orthodox and Eastern Rite Catholics, and the Roman Rite of the Catholic Church (Roman Catholic), is that the Orthodox and Eastern Catholics will give communion to an infant at baptism, and confer confirmation at the same time, while Roman Catholics won't give communion until after the child reaches the age of reason and proves to the pastor (normally delegated to the religious ed teacher) that the child can discern Christ in the Eucharist. I'm unsure of the theological reason for the difference, as I know what the Eastern Catholics do is considered valid by the Roman Catholics, however I suspect it is because the discernment of the parents will be imputed to their children.

My personal belief is that confirmation should be done at the age of 8 or 9, and this would not be against doctrine, although current practice is at 16 or 17. I didn't get confirmed until 32. My oldest was confirmed at 8 because he wasn't baptized until he was 8, and once a child reaches the age of reason, they say yes or no to baptism, and are confirmed when baptized. Sounds complicated, doesn't it!

happybrew

[rimrock]

I think you are fair here in your definitions. Transubstantiation is difficult to grasp for even in your above verses there are no direct illusions to the bread and wine being completely changed. As you pointed to in a Lutheran understanding we can see in these verses the Real Presence of Christ in the bread and wine, but bread and wine remain as bread and wine. Like many spiritual truths they can be a mystery, what is revealed to us is impossible to FULLY understand with our minds (we certainly don’t have the mind of God).

Ultimately the elders at our church have rested on an understanding of what it means to partake in a “worthy manner.” This is understood to be one who is a baptized Christian accepting the Real Presence of Christ in the bread and wine fully believing in the words “give and shed for YOU” and a desire to belong to the body of Christ (the church). It is most vital to believe that Jesus’ death was freely given for you personally – that is the main point of partaking in a “worthy manner.” Now how do we know this is going to be true for ever communicant? We don’t. No matter if you are Catholic, Lutheran or another position we can never know what is truly in ones heart. Classes, confirmation, “the age of reason” none of it perfects an understanding.

I have no problem with closed communion. I know it is not by an elite attitude but one of a concern for the communicant, but as with all things it must ultimately come back to God’s grace. If God judged me based on my understanding or ability to discern the mysteries of the Gospel and His will I certainly would be in great trouble. The Word and Sacrament are the means of God’s grace that He intends to pour out upon all people – to be in any way a barrier to one who is seeking God is the greatest of all mistakes. No one truly understands; man always even with good motives tends to place down additional rules and regulations for personally reaching God. Jesus in His earthly mission certainly demonstrated His desire to eliminate these man-made barriers.

True, I believe one would be missing something by not believing you are receiving the means of God’s grace in the Sacraments, but even if you don’t hold to this understanding you are also certainly not missing out on it either.

[Catching Nemo]

Crf, Did I just hear a cry from St. Louis.



:laugh: :laugh: :laugh:

Are you sure you are not ELCA :grin:?



I have no problem with closed communion. I know it is not by an elite attitude but one of a concern for the communicant, but as with all things it must ultimately come back to God’s grace. If God judged me based on my understanding or ability to discern the mysteries of the Gospel and His will I certainly would be in great trouble. The Word and Sacrament are the means of God’s grace that He intends to pour out upon all people – to be in any way a barrier to one who is seeking God is the greatest of all mistakes. No one truly understands; man always even with good motives tends to place down additional rules and regulations for personally reaching God. Jesus in His earthly mission certainly demonstrated His desire to eliminate these man-made barriers.




Wow, that is well put and I fully agree.

[Chromaflage]

Crf, Did I just hear a cry from St. Louis. :grin:



I just got a letter from Dr. Gerald Kieschnick... :eek: j/k :laugh: :laugh:

We had our worship committee meeting last night and I brought up this subject....oh, boy....you would have thought I asked to them to throw out the hymnals. Actually, it went better than I had expected. And, as far as this year's Easter Service, the pastor agreed to at least acknowledge those who wouldn't necessarily partake in communion. Basically, they will be invited forward with those partaking, but for a blessing, or they are welcome to remain seated. I can see their point about communion on Easter Sunday. In years past, I have fasted from Good Friday evening until after I've taken communion on Sunday morning....It's sometime especially painful, as our church serves a huge breafast Easter morning. I usually go fishing Saturday to reflect and take my mind off the growling...which is what I'm likely to do this year as well. :grin:

Hmmmm.... :idea: :idea: :idea: How about an Anglers' Chapel Fast-n-Fish floatilla every Easter Eve??

CrF

[rimrock]

0

[Chromaflage]

Rimrock, I've fished up there once in my entire life. Within a couple more weeks, I will be hitting the Sandy pretty hard from Oxbow to Dabney and from Dabney to L&C or a combination thereof. If your interested, maybe we can hook up and I'll let you ride in front....the first shall be last and the last shall be first - that's why I like to take the whitewater backwards. :bigshock: :bigshock: :bigshock: :jester:

BTW - what's page 5? :bigshock: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: At least we don't have the red hymnals...I think they're blue - don't use them much though. Oh boy, here comes another letter - I can feel it.

I'll send you a PM too with my info.

CrF

[HazMatt]

Holy Cow (bell)! I saw your avatar and remembered that while I was down in Modesto on business - on Tuesday night I went to see the real Blue Oyster Cult (BOC)! What a great show they put on! And even more Cow Bell!! When I heard the cow bell start up, I yelled - "I've got a fever and I need a prescription for more cow bell!" Boy - what an incredible guitar player...
Sorry for the attempted highjacking Kerry - just saw Ferrell and the cow bell and cracked up again...