Communion

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Communion or the Lord’s Supper is one of two sacraments that Presbyterians celebrate in conjunction with the rest of Christendom.  As Presbyterians partake of the bread and the cup of the sacrament, they acknowledge the very real spiritual presence of Christ in the elements.  We celebrate the Good News of the Gospel that Christ died on the cross for our sins and rose from the dead for our salvation in our participation in the Lord’s Supper.  We do this at State College Presbyterian Church throughout the year to acknowledge our faith, to remember and express our gratitude for Christ’s sacrifice for us, and to strengthen the ties of our Christian community as we share this feast with one another.

Presbyterians practice open communion.  That is, all those who have been baptized, whether members of the Presbyterian Church or not, are invited to participate.  Baptized children may participate if their parents have instructed them in the practice and believe they are ready to partake.  When the service is by intinction, the ushers will indicate when it is time for the congregation to come forward, row by row, by the side aisles to receive the elements.  Each person should take the bread (now gluten-free rice crackers) and dip it into the chalice of grape juice before eating.  Then return to their seat by the center aisle.  Those who prefer not to use the cracker and chalice may remain seated and an Elder will serve them in the pew.   When the service is in the pews, the elders will pass first the bread and then the cup.  Hold the element until all have been served and the officiating minister gives the signal to eat or drink, so that all may commune together, expressing the unity of Christ.  There are cup-holders in the back of the pew in front of you to hold the cup after you have partaken.

In the Presbyterian Church, a minister of the Word and Sacrament presides over the sacrament, assisted by ordained officers of the church, elders and deacons.  Preparation of the elements of the Lord’s Supper is under the direction of the Worship Ministry Unit.   The currently serving elders, in a rotation provided by the Worship Ministry Unit, assist the ministers in the communion.  A member of the congregation, usually a serving elder, also assists at baptism.  Presbyterian elders are responsible for the mission and government of the congregation.  As such, it is their task to provide for the worship of the people of God, including the observance of the sacraments.

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Celebrating the Lord’s Supper *During a Pandemic
Many parts of our lives have been radically changed over the past few months.  No longer able to gather together as a congregation, we have made the shift to on-line worship.  Though there are some technical challenges in this transition, an organ prelude, a prayer, or a sermon are prepared and shared much as they would have been before, only without having a sanctuary full of people.  But, what about the Lord’s Supper?  Can it be done in a meaningful and reverential way if we are separated one from another?  After all, the Apostle Paul writes of partaking of “the one bread.”  Can ours be a true communion absent a single loaf from which we all eat?

These are the types of questions that the Session has been speaking about and praying over, but in our conversations together yet another question seemed more urgent:  how can we not have communion?  How can we banish the healing mercy of the Lord’s Supper when the people of God, hungry for spiritual nourishment, most need to feast? 

Though we may be separated physically in place or time, it is Christ who graciously invites us into communion and creates a community united through the sacrifice of his body and blood.  Indeed, whenever we gather for the Lord’s Supper, this is the reality that we seek to discern, that we are a part of a much larger body, joined with all the faithful in heaven and on earth, including those who came before us and those who will follow us.

The Session has decided to resume the regular, monthly observance of the Lord’s Supper, as part of our online worship services.  We will be stepping out of our normal pattern and trying something quite new but with the sure knowledge that the presence of Christ is never bound by time or space.  Through the sacrament, he pulls us out of isolation, removing the barriers between us and the distance that separates us from each other and from God.  Worries over the grief of these days, doubts about God’s purposes, or regrets about what we have done or failed to do cannot disqualify us from receiving the sacrament.  Indeed, these are reasons for us to accept Christ’s invitation to be renewed in faith and hope.
Prior to the celebration of the Lord’s Supper, we ask participants to do several things:

• Seek Christ in prayer that you might receive grace.
• Consider who will be at the table with you and pray for them that they might find nourishment through Christ’s love.
• Consider who might not be at the table, and pray for them that they may know the grace of Christ as well!
• Finally, prepare bread and cup (grape juice or wine) before the service begins so that you will be ready to eat and drink following the words of institution.

May you experience the fullness of Christ’s blessing as we eat and drink together.

2020 Communion Observances
(modified schedule due to pandemic shutdown):
January 5, 2020 (Christmas/Epiphany)
February 2, 2020
February 26, 2020 (Ash Wednesday 7:30 pm)
March 1, 2020 (Lent)
April 9, 2020 (Maundy Thursday 7:30 pm)
May 31, 2020 (Pentecost)
June 28, 2020
July 26, 2020
August 30, 2020
October 4, 2020 (World Communion Day)
November 1, 2020 (All Saints)
December 6, 2020 (Advent)
December 24, 2020 (11:00 pm)
January 3, 2021

Normally, when there are two Sunday morning services, communion is by intinction at the 9:00 am service and by pew service at the 11:15 am service.  On Ash Wednesday, Maundy Thursday, intinction is also used.  When there is one Sunday morning service only, communion is by pew service.   Gluten-free rice crackers are used for intinction at each service that (intinction) communion is offered.  Gluten-free shortbread is prepared for the trays for pew service and those not wishing to take communion by intinction.  All "bread" is now gluten-free.

For more information about communion, please contact Dean Lindsey, pastor (814-238-2422).

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