Frequency of the Lord's supper

[tantely]

Hello

How often should a congregation should have the communion? The way I understand scripture is that we should partake of the Lord's supper as often as we have fellowship in the church viz the Lord's supper is inseparable to congregational worship. Is that view erring? If not why did we, in the Presbyterian Church(or at least some of us), just have it just once a month? Is it not among the means of grace along with reading and preaching the word? But these are administered as often as we have fellowship.

T.A

 

[Romans922]

Directory of Publick Worship:

"THE communion, or supper of the Lord, is frequently to be celebrated; but how often, may be considered and determined by the ministers, and other church-governors of each congregation, as they shall find most convenient for the comfort and edification of the people committed to their charge. And, when it shall be administered, we judge it convenient to be done after the morning sermon.

The ignorant and the scandalous are not fit to receive the sacrament of the Lord's Supper.


Where this sacrament cannot with convenience be frequently administered, it is requisite that publick warning be given the sabbath-day before the administration thereof: and that either then, or on some day of that week, something concerning that ordinance, and the due preparation thereunto, and participation thereof, be taught; that, by the diligent use of all means sanctified of God to that end, both in publick and private, all may come better prepared to that heavenly feast."

 

[hammondjones]

If not why did we, in the Presbyterian Church(or at least some of us), just have it just once a month?

One reason why many do little esteem, and seldom or never partake of this ordinance, and do find little benefit by it, is because they falsely imagine that God in it only holds forth naked signs and resemblances of Christ and His salvation, which they account to be held forth so plainly in Scripture that they need not the help of such a sign; whereas if they understood that God does really give Christ Himself to their faith, by and with those signs and resemblances, they would prize it as the most delicious feast, and be desirous to partake of it on all opportunities (Acts 2:42; 20:7).

Another reason why many partake seldom or never of this ordinance, and know little of the benefit of it is because they think themselves brought by it into great danger of eating and drinking their own damnation, according to those terrifying words of the apostle: ‘For he that eats and drinks unworthily, eats and drinks damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord’s body’ (1Cor. 11:29). Therefore they account it the safest way, wholly to abstain from such a dangerous ordinance or, at least, that once a year is enough to run so great a hazard. And if they be brought to it sometimes by constraint of conscience, their slavish fears bereave them of all comfortable fruit of it. So that instead of striving to receive Christ and His salvation therein, they account themselves to have succeeded well, if they come off without the sentence of damnation; as the Jewish Rabbis write that the high priest’s life was so eminently hazarded by his entering once a year into the Holy of Holies, that he stayed there as little time as he could, lest the people should think him to be struck dead by the hand of God; and when he was come forth alive, he usually made a feast of thanksgiving for joy of so great a deliverance.

~ The Gospel Mystery of Sanctification

I think the saddest reason of all to not have it weekly is that it "takes so much time". Personally, I'd love to have it even once a month. We're at once a quarter.

 

[Edward]

In the PCA, it is to be offered 'frequently':

58-1 The Communion, or Supper of the Lord, is to be observed frequently; the stated times to be determined by the Session of each congregation, as it may judge most for edification.

We offer it weekly at two of our services, and roughly quarterly at the other two.

 

[timfost]

Part of the reason is because Rome and the Lutherans elevated the sacrament too highly. It's generally easy to tell the difference between a Lutheran and more traditional reformed sanctuary because the center of the Lutheran church is a table (for the sacrament) and the pulpit is to the side. Other reformed churches have their pulpit in the center. The reformers always wanted the preaching to be in the center of the worship service. For this reason, many reformed churches also look down on a weekly communion since it would then share the same frequency as the preaching, thereby through practice confusing the priority.

Calvin did feel strongly that communion should be weekly, but he was in the minority, even in his time in Geneva.

 

[KMK]

Directory of Publick Worship:

"THE communion, or supper of the Lord, is frequently to be celebrated; but how often, may be considered and determined by the ministers, and other church-governors of each congregation, as they shall find most convenient for the comfort and edification of the people committed to their charge. And, when it shall be administered, we judge it convenient to be done after the morning sermon.

The ignorant and the scandalous are not fit to receive the sacrament of the Lord's Supper.


Where this sacrament cannot with convenience be frequently administered, it is requisite that publick warning be given the sabbath-day before the administration thereof: and that either then, or on some day of that week, something concerning that ordinance, and the due preparation thereunto, and participation thereof, be taught; that, by the diligent use of all means sanctified of God to that end, both in publick and private, all may come better prepared to that heavenly feast."

Hello

How often should a congregation should have the communion? The way I understand scripture is that we should partake of the Lord's supper as often as we have fellowship in the church viz the Lord's supper is inseparable to congregational worship. Is that view erring? If not why did we, in the Presbyterian Church(or at least some of us), just have it just once a month? Is it not among the means of grace along with reading and preaching the word? But these are administered as often as we have fellowship.

T.A

For the Reformed, the question should really be, "How frequently should ministers and church-governors celebrate the Lord's Supper?" The point being that the Reformed believe that it is for the elders of each church to decide frequency. When we answer, "I think..." what we really should be saying is, "If I was an elder of a church, I would be inclined to lead my church in the Lord's Supper with x frequency." The Reformed deliberately leave the frequency to the collective conscience of each individual church. Be careful not to bind the conscience of another church over which God has not made you an overseer.

When the elders of a Reformed church consider frequency they must also consider what the Reformed confessions say about the preparation.

WLC Q. 171. How are they that receive the sacrament of the Lord’s supper to prepare themselves before they come unto it?

A. They that receive the sacrament of the Lord’s supper are, before they come, to prepare themselves thereunto, by examining themselves[1088] of their being in Christ,[1089] of their sins and wants;[1090] of the truth and measure of their knowledge,[1091] faith,[1092] repentance;[1093] love to God and the brethren,[1094] charity to all men,[1095] forgiving those that have done them wrong;[1096] of their desires after Christ,[1097] and of their new obedience;[1098] and by renewing the exercise of these graces,[1099] by serious meditation,[1100] and fervent prayer.[1101]

Also, they must consider the action.

WLC Q. 174. What is required of them that receive the sacrament of the Lord’s supper in the time of the administration of it?

A. It is required of them that receive the sacrament of the Lord’s supper, that, during the time of the administration of it, with all holy reverence and attention they wait upon God in that ordinance,[1112] diligently observe the sacramental elements and actions,[1113] heedfully discern the Lord’s body,[1114] and affectionately meditate on his death and sufferings,[1115] and thereby stir up themselves to a vigorous exercise of their graces;[1116] in judging themselves,[1117] and sorrowing for sin;[1118] in earnest hungering and thirsting after Christ,[1119] feeding on him by faith,[1120] receiving of his fullness,[1121] trusting in his merits,[1122] rejoicing in his love,[1123] giving thanks for his grace;[1124] in renewing of their covenant with God,[1125] and love to all the saints.[1126]

And, they must consider the required response.

WLC Q. 175. What is the duty of Christians, after they have received the sacrament of the Lord’s supper?

A. The duty of Christians, after they have received the sacrament of the Lord’s supper, is seriously to consider how they have behaved themselves therein, and with what success;[1127] if they find quickening and comfort, to bless God for it,[1128] beg the continuance of it,[1129] watch against relapses,[1130] fulfill their vows,[1131] and encourage themselves to a frequent attendance on that ordinance:[1132] but if they find no present benefit, more exactly to review their preparation to, and carriage at, the sacrament;[1133] in both which, if they can approve themselves to God and their own consciences, they are to wait for the fruit of it in due time:[1134] but, if they see they have failed in either, they are to be humbled,[1135] and to attend upon it afterwards with more care and diligence.[1136]

When one considers the great scope of the Lord's Supper, is it really that hard to understand why some Reformed churches celebrate quarterly or biannually?

 

[Jack K]

If done well, less frequent observance can lend itself to better preparation. I was once in a church that practiced monthly communion. A few dozen of us made a habit of gathering in a home on the Saturday evening before the communion service for a time of fellowship, confession, forgiveness-seeking, and prayer—in preparation for the Lord's Supper. It wasn't required, but for our group it was a helpful way to prepare. Much good came from those gatherings.

Then the church decided to switch to weekly communion. At first, we tried to keep up our Saturday evening gatherings. But the frequency began to erode at the meaningfulness of the time. People stopped making it a schedule priority, and eventually we gave up the pre-meeting prayer and fellowship altogether. So, while weekly communion certainly may have been good for the church in some ways, we also seemed to lose something by it. We came to the Supper less prepared and more perfunctorily. That's something to consider.

 

[richardnz]

There is an informative article by Hart and Muether on the OPC website

http://www.opc.org/OS/html/V6/4l.html

which explains some Presbyterian history regarding the Supper.

Calvin talks about the frequency of the Lord's Supper in Book 4 of the Institutes, and as Hart and Muether say, he promoted weekly communion. As “tantely” mentioned in his original question, the Supper is a means of grace. It then follows that if it is of benefit to the church why not practice it as often as possible? This seems to be Calvin's approach. I have heard some say that frequent communion produces indifference, but Calvin was more concerned about the evil of infrequent communion, going so far as to say that yearly communion “an invention of the devil”.

Inst 4:17:44 “we ought always to provide that no meeting of the church is held without the Word, prayer, the dispensation of the Supper and alms”.

As Ken Klein has listed, there are a number of issues to for a congregation to focus on for a proper celebration of the Supper, and so frequency becomes part of wider considerations in improving our practice. It may be that weekly communion has the best biblical support, but it is not easy for a congregation to get there without losing track of other important communion-related issues. I think Calvin backed down over the frequency issue in his disagreement with the Council at Geneva because frequency was not the most important thing to worry about.

 

[alexandermsmith]

KMK's response above is excellent. Too many people today think that the preparation required for going to the Lord's table can be done during a five minute prayer at the beginning of the service, to the extent that people would spend more of their time preparing to meet the Queen (or President) than they would spend preparing to meet with the King of kings and Lord of lords at His table.

In the Free Presbyterian Church of Scotland, following the custom of the Reformation Church of Scotland, we hold communion seasons in our various congregations. Each congregation usually holds two communions a year, and the season runs from the Wednesday night prayer meeting until the Monday. This allows for due preparation on behalf of those intending to go to the table; it allows those who have anxiety of soul to be especially seeking the Lord, and to be listening to the marks of grace of a believer exposited by the preachers and the men who speak at the Question meeting. To hold communion in one congregation on a weekly basis would mean losing these valuable preparatory and thanksgiving services. Furthermore, the preaching of a communion season- especially on the Sabbath morning in the action sermon before the sacrament is administered- tends to be focused more on the Lord's people. Whereas, in the regular preaching Sabbath to Sabbath, there should be discrimination between the converted, unconverted, seeking, rebellious, dead &c. so that all types of person in the congregation receives a word in season.

And whilst each congregation may only administer the sacrament twice a year, visiting other congregations' communions is encouraged (within reason) so that not only are members able to partake in the Lord's Supper more often if they wish, fellowship within the denomination is fostered (and, as a by product, uniformity throughout the denomination, in practice and doctrine and piety, is bolstered).

One might also add that when Calvin was arguing for weekly communion, he was also preaching pretty much every day. There was therefore the opportunity for communicants to be under the preached word every day leading up to the administration of the sacrament. But still the Geneva council felt it unwise to hold weekly communion. Maybe we should heed their caution.

 

[Jake]

Here is an interesting work regarding Calvin and weekly communion. It helps to start to point toward communion seasons, although that's not the purpose of the work. Calvin, Weekly Communion, and the Scottish Reformed Tradition by Adam Kuehner (RPCNA minister)
http://www.lulu.com/shop/adam-m-kue...eformed-tradition/ebook/product-21482696.html (free ebook)

 

[tantely]

Directory of Publick Worship:

"THE communion, or supper of the Lord, is frequently to be celebrated; but how often, may be considered and determined by the ministers, and other church-governors of each congregation, as they shall find most convenient for the comfort and edification of the people committed to their charge. And, when it shall be administered, we judge it convenient to be done after the morning sermon.

The ignorant and the scandalous are not fit to receive the sacrament of the Lord's Supper.


Where this sacrament cannot with convenience be frequently administered, it is requisite that publick warning be given the sabbath-day before the administration thereof: and that either then, or on some day of that week, something concerning that ordinance, and the due preparation thereunto, and participation thereof, be taught; that, by the diligent use of all means sanctified of God to that end, both in publick and private, all may come better prepared to that heavenly feast."

Hello

How often should a congregation should have the communion? The way I understand scripture is that we should partake of the Lord's supper as often as we have fellowship in the church viz the Lord's supper is inseparable to congregational worship. Is that view erring? If not why did we, in the Presbyterian Church(or at least some of us), just have it just once a month? Is it not among the means of grace along with reading and preaching the word? But these are administered as often as we have fellowship.

T.A

For the Reformed, the question should really be, "How frequently should ministers and church-governors celebrate the Lord's Supper?" The point being that the Reformed believe that it is for the elders of each church to decide frequency. When we answer, "I think..." what we really should be saying is, "If I was an elder of a church, I would be inclined to lead my church in the Lord's Supper with x frequency." The Reformed deliberately leave the frequency to the collective conscience of each individual church. Be careful not to bind the conscience of another church over which God has not made you an overseer.

When the elders of a Reformed church consider frequency they must also consider what the Reformed confessions say about the preparation.

WLC Q. 171. How are they that receive the sacrament of the Lord’s supper to prepare themselves before they come unto it?

A. They that receive the sacrament of the Lord’s supper are, before they come, to prepare themselves thereunto, by examining themselves[1088] of their being in Christ,[1089] of their sins and wants;[1090] of the truth and measure of their knowledge,[1091] faith,[1092] repentance;[1093] love to God and the brethren,[1094] charity to all men,[1095] forgiving those that have done them wrong;[1096] of their desires after Christ,[1097] and of their new obedience;[1098] and by renewing the exercise of these graces,[1099] by serious meditation,[1100] and fervent prayer.[1101]

Also, they must consider the action.

WLC Q. 174. What is required of them that receive the sacrament of the Lord’s supper in the time of the administration of it?

A. It is required of them that receive the sacrament of the Lord’s supper, that, during the time of the administration of it, with all holy reverence and attention they wait upon God in that ordinance,[1112] diligently observe the sacramental elements and actions,[1113] heedfully discern the Lord’s body,[1114] and affectionately meditate on his death and sufferings,[1115] and thereby stir up themselves to a vigorous exercise of their graces;[1116] in judging themselves,[1117] and sorrowing for sin;[1118] in earnest hungering and thirsting after Christ,[1119] feeding on him by faith,[1120] receiving of his fullness,[1121] trusting in his merits,[1122] rejoicing in his love,[1123] giving thanks for his grace;[1124] in renewing of their covenant with God,[1125] and love to all the saints.[1126]

And, they must consider the required response.

WLC Q. 175. What is the duty of Christians, after they have received the sacrament of the Lord’s supper?

A. The duty of Christians, after they have received the sacrament of the Lord’s supper, is seriously to consider how they have behaved themselves therein, and with what success;[1127] if they find quickening and comfort, to bless God for it,[1128] beg the continuance of it,[1129] watch against relapses,[1130] fulfill their vows,[1131] and encourage themselves to a frequent attendance on that ordinance:[1132] but if they find no present benefit, more exactly to review their preparation to, and carriage at, the sacrament;[1133] in both which, if they can approve themselves to God and their own consciences, they are to wait for the fruit of it in due time:[1134] but, if they see they have failed in either, they are to be humbled,[1135] and to attend upon it afterwards with more care and diligence.[1136]

When one considers the great scope of the Lord's Supper, is it really that hard to understand why some Reformed churches celebrate quarterly or biannually?

I totally agree with you and with the Westminster divines, but what I do not understand is that since we are exposed to condemnation as well if we do unworthily attend to the word preached or read, why it is that we attend to the word, as means of grace, far often than we do attend to the Lord's supper?

T.A

 

[tantely]

If done well, less frequent observance can lend itself to better preparation. I was once in a church that practiced monthly communion. A few dozen of us made a habit of gathering in a home on the Saturday evening before the communion service for a time of fellowship, confession, forgiveness-seeking, and prayer—in preparation for the Lord's Supper. It wasn't required, but for our group it was a helpful way to prepare. Much good came from those gatherings.

Then the church decided to switch to weekly communion. At first, we tried to keep up our Saturday evening gatherings. But the frequency began to erode at the meaningfulness of the time. People stopped making it a schedule priority, and eventually we gave up the pre-meeting prayer and fellowship altogether. So, while weekly communion certainly may have been good for the church in some ways, we also seemed to lose something by it. We came to the Supper less prepared and more perfunctorily. That's something to consider.

You are right, I think this would be no1 among the reasons why we partake not of it weekly

T.A

 

[KMK]

I totally agree with you and with the Westminster divines, but what I do not understand is that since we are exposed to condemnation as well if we do unworthily attend to the word preached or read, why it is that we attend to the word, as means of grace, far often than we do attend to the Lord's supper?

The Reformed believe that the ministry of the Word is the primary means of grace and everything else is secondary to and supportive of the Word. Faith is worked by preaching alone, but the sacraments without the Word are meaningless. Also, the NT teaches that preaching should occur no less frequent than weekly. But the frequency of the Lord's Supper is left ambiguous.

 

[tantely]

Here is an interesting work regarding Calvin and weekly communion. It helps to start to point toward communion seasons, although that's not the purpose of the work. Calvin, Weekly Communion, and the Scottish Reformed Tradition by Adam Kuehner (RPCNA minister)
http://www.lulu.com/shop/adam-m-kue...eformed-tradition/ebook/product-21482696.html (free ebook)

Thanks Jake

T.A

 

[Warren]

The Reformed believe that the ministry of the Word is the primary means of grace and everything else is secondary to and supportive of the Word. ... But the frequency of the Lord's Supper is left ambiguous.

Every time the Church gathers for worship in Acts they observe the Lord's Supper. Communion was so close to the Christian identity that outsiders accused the Church of being godless cannibals. I doubt a quarterly or annual observance of the Lord's body would garner that kind of association.

The Eucharist may be thought of as an "appendix" to the preached Word, but that doesn't make it an appendix to right worship, anymore than the body of Christ was a mere appendix of the Word's earthly ministry.


Unworthily taking means I would have no evidence of sanctification in my deeds and I'm in unconfessed sin. If I'm not worthily receiving the body and blood of Christ, then it doesn't follow the ministry of the sacrament's at fault.

 

[Romans922]

Every time the Church gathers for worship in Acts they observe the Lord's Supper.

Every time they are described as gathering they do, yes. But that doesn't necessarily make it prescriptive. The divines obviously didn't believe it to be prescriptive as they left it up to the local body of elders.

 

[PointyHaired Calvinist]

If you really think that communion means something, that there is an objective blessing to the sacrament, and that God strengthens us through partaking, I don't see a reason NOT to have it every time you go to worship. I hear a lot of "it's more special if it is less often;" these folks could also say the same thing about sermons and singing. (This is more Zwinglian than Calvinist.)

For churches practicing quarterly or annual communion, what do you do for those who are sick on the one week the church partakes of the Sacrament? Shame they miss out on a such an important blessing for such a long period.

 

[DMcFadden]

My church offers it in alternate services each Sunday. In other words, a regular attender of one particular service time will participate in it every other week and a person wishing to receive it weekly could arrange their schedule to do so. We have one guy who attends all three worship services (each with a slightly different order of service, songs, and degree of formality) each week.

 

[yeutter]

I have suggested the Service of Evening Prayer be read on Saturday night, and that the Ten Commandments be read before the prayer of confession; as a preparatory service before the celebration of the Lord's Supper Sunday Morning. I am told this was the practice followed by some low church Anglican Parishes [and some pietist Lutheran Congregations] in the past.

 

[puritanpilgrim]

We have it every week. It takes extra time, but it's worth the extra time. I've had some tell me that when you have it every week it will lose its significance. I have not found this to be true. I normally reply, we pray, sing, read scriptures and preach every week and they haven't lost their significance.

 

[KMK]

For churches practicing quarterly or annual communion, what do you do for those who are sick on the one week the church partakes of the Sacrament? Shame they miss out on a such an important blessing for such a long period.

This argument could be used for weekly churches as well. This kind of reasoning leads to private communion.

If more often is better, then why not have it every day?

 

[Philip]

I would tend to hold the position of Calvin and Cranmer that the LS should ideally be celebrated weekly, but recognize that there may be circumstances where this is not practical.

 

[au5t1n]

If not why did we, in the Presbyterian Church(or at least some of us), just have it just once a month?

One reason why many do little esteem, and seldom or never partake of this ordinance, and do find little benefit by it, is because they falsely imagine that God in it only holds forth naked signs and resemblances of Christ and His salvation, which they account to be held forth so plainly in Scripture that they need not the help of such a sign; whereas if they understood that God does really give Christ Himself to their faith, by and with those signs and resemblances, they would prize it as the most delicious feast, and be desirous to partake of it on all opportunities (Acts 2:42; 20:7).

Another reason why many partake seldom or never of this ordinance, and know little of the benefit of it is because they think themselves brought by it into great danger of eating and drinking their own damnation, according to those terrifying words of the apostle: ‘For he that eats and drinks unworthily, eats and drinks damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord’s body’ (1Cor. 11:29). Therefore they account it the safest way, wholly to abstain from such a dangerous ordinance or, at least, that once a year is enough to run so great a hazard. And if they be brought to it sometimes by constraint of conscience, their slavish fears bereave them of all comfortable fruit of it. So that instead of striving to receive Christ and His salvation therein, they account themselves to have succeeded well, if they come off without the sentence of damnation; as the Jewish Rabbis write that the high priest’s life was so eminently hazarded by his entering once a year into the Holy of Holies, that he stayed there as little time as he could, lest the people should think him to be struck dead by the hand of God; and when he was come forth alive, he usually made a feast of thanksgiving for joy of so great a deliverance.

~ The Gospel Mystery of Sanctification

I think the saddest reason of all to not have it weekly is that it "takes so much time". Personally, I'd love to have it even once a month. We're at once a quarter.

I am not opposed to weekly communion, but I think it should be noted that the quotation does not address it one way or the other. Marshall is addressing individuals rarely coming forward due to a lack of assurance. That is a great book, by the way, and one of few I think nearly everyone should read.

 

[Mr. Bultitude]

Here is an interesting work regarding Calvin and weekly communion. It helps to start to point toward communion seasons, although that's not the purpose of the work. Calvin, Weekly Communion, and the Scottish Reformed Tradition by Adam Kuehner (RPCNA minister)
http://www.lulu.com/shop/adam-m-kue...eformed-tradition/ebook/product-21482696.html (free ebook)

For those who don't want to register a Lulu account to obtain the free ebook, here's an alternate link: http://www.docdroid.net/bzhncMg/calvin-weekly-communion-and-the-scottish-reformed-tradition.pdf.html

If you're pressed for time, I'd recommend at least reading the conclusion.