From the Desk of Pastor Chuck…
Dear Loved Ones,
Last Sunday you responded faithfully when I asked for a “Call to Prayer.” As a church family we joined together in the spirit of unity and prayer in our individual homes at what would be our normal worship time. As you prayed and worshiped at home, I went to the church, rang the church bell as loud and as hard as I could as a testimony of God’s Love and as a witness to our community that Jesus is Lord. Then I prayed in the church sanctuary with and for each of you, picturing you in my heart.
This Sunday, being Palm Sunday and also the first Sunday of the month when we would normally celebrate communion, I would like to add another component to your home worship and prayer time this Sunday. I would like you to consider adding Communion to your personal or family worship time. No, you do not need a pastor to celebrate the Lord’s Supper. I have included some instructions for you to follow when serving the Lord’s Supper at home.
On a personal note, my blessed family, I felt greatly encouraged when the Lord reminded me from the Book of Acts that Jesus designed and built His Church to be its most effective and exert its greatest influence while in dispersion (ref. Acts 1:8; Acts 8; Acts 11:19-30). When the church is gathered in worship it is refreshed and instructed (ref. Acts 2:42-47; Acts 4:32-36). When the Church was dispersed because of persecution, with the Great Commandment (Matt. 22:24-29) and the Great Commission (Matt. 28:16-20) it literally changed the world and turned it upside down in its first thirty years (Acts 5:42). Luke writes in Acts 4:12-13, “Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved." When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus.”
Please be encouraged by this time of deployment as you are all ambassadors for Christ (2 Cor 5:20) representing our true King and country.
May God richly bless each of you,
Pastor Chuck and Barb
Dear Loved Ones,
Last Sunday you responded faithfully when I asked for a “Call to Prayer.” As a church family we joined together in the spirit of unity and prayer in our individual homes at what would be our normal worship time. As you prayed and worshiped at home, I went to the church, rang the church bell as loud and as hard as I could as a testimony of God’s Love and as a witness to our community that Jesus is Lord. Then I prayed in the church sanctuary with and for each of you, picturing you in my heart.
This Sunday, being Palm Sunday and also the first Sunday of the month when we would normally celebrate communion, I would like to add another component to your home worship and prayer time this Sunday. I would like you to consider adding Communion to your personal or family worship time. No, you do not need a pastor to celebrate the Lord’s Supper. I have included some instructions for you to follow when serving the Lord’s Supper at home.
On a personal note, my blessed family, I felt greatly encouraged when the Lord reminded me from the Book of Acts that Jesus designed and built His Church to be its most effective and exert its greatest influence while in dispersion (ref. Acts 1:8; Acts 8; Acts 11:19-30). When the church is gathered in worship it is refreshed and instructed (ref. Acts 2:42-47; Acts 4:32-36). When the Church was dispersed because of persecution, with the Great Commandment (Matt. 22:24-29) and the Great Commission (Matt. 28:16-20) it literally changed the world and turned it upside down in its first thirty years (Acts 5:42). Luke writes in Acts 4:12-13, “Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved." When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus.”
Please be encouraged by this time of deployment as you are all ambassadors for Christ (2 Cor 5:20) representing our true King and country.
May God richly bless each of you,
Pastor Chuck and Barb
A Simple Guide for Home Communion
While Communion is a holy practice, an ordinance that is usually practiced in churches, it does not have to happen only within the walls of a church or given by a church leader. Like those in the early church, we can gather together and break bread in remembrance of Jesus anytime.
Paul reminds us that Communion is for Christians only, those who have been born again and are committed to Christ. It should not be treated as a casual act but that which is Holy. Paul issues a clear directive in 1 Corinthians 11:23-30.
“For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: The Lord Jesus, on the night 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.” In the same way, after supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me.” For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes. So then, 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. Everyone ought to examine themselves before they eat of the bread and drink from the cup. For those who eat and drink without discerning the body of Christ eat and drink judgment on themselves.” (ref also, Matthew 26:26-28)
Step 1
Have the Communion elements ready and on the table. Bread for the body of Christ and Wine or Juice representing Christ’s blood which was shed for the remission of our sins.
Step 2
“Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name.” Psalm 100:4
Consciously enter God’s presence, quiet down and focus on Him alone. Approach His throne boldly (Hebrews 4:16). Acknowledge His presence by giving Him praise. Give Him praise for who He is. Praise Him for providing our salvation. Give Him praise for His majesty, hallow His name (Matt. 6:9-13) for any other aspect of Him that is revealed to you.
Step 3
Before we partake in Communion, we must examine our own heart for unconfessed sin. Confess any sin that has crept in to your life (ref. 1 John 1:8-10). If there is unresolved conflict in your life, seek reconciliation if possible (Matt. 5:23).
Jesus instructed us to ask for forgiveness and to forgive when He taught in His model prayer, “… [Father,] “forgive us our debts [sins], as we also have forgiven our debtors [those who sin against us]” (Matthew 6:12). Make sure we are honoring the Lord’s Supper for its intended purpose – to remember Christ. We are told to eat the bread and drink the cup in remembrance of Christ. Therefore, this is a significant time for those who believe Christ’s death and resurrection, as the bread and wine/juice symbolize the body and blood of Christ.
Step 4
Reflect on all that Jesus did and suffered to pay the penalty for your sin (John 3; Romans 5:8). Follow Jesus’ example, bless the bread and cup with a prayer by asking the Father for a blessing as you serve each element of the table.
“While they were eating, Jesus’ took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, “take eat, this is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me.” (Matthew 26:26)
“In the same way, after supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me.” For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.
(Matthew 26:27)
Now Eat and drink in faith, receive the fellowship of believers and the blessings of God. Rejoice and perhaps you would like to sing the hymn we close Communion with at our church, “Blest Be the Tie that Binds.”
“Blest be the tie that binds Our hearts in Christian love; The Fellowship of kindred minds Is like to that above.”
Benediction: Now Go in God’s Peace and in the Joy and wonder of His Love! Amen!
Paul reminds us that Communion is for Christians only, those who have been born again and are committed to Christ. It should not be treated as a casual act but that which is Holy. Paul issues a clear directive in 1 Corinthians 11:23-30.
“For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: The Lord Jesus, on the night 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.” In the same way, after supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me.” For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes. So then, 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. Everyone ought to examine themselves before they eat of the bread and drink from the cup. For those who eat and drink without discerning the body of Christ eat and drink judgment on themselves.” (ref also, Matthew 26:26-28)
Step 1
Have the Communion elements ready and on the table. Bread for the body of Christ and Wine or Juice representing Christ’s blood which was shed for the remission of our sins.
Step 2
“Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name.” Psalm 100:4
Consciously enter God’s presence, quiet down and focus on Him alone. Approach His throne boldly (Hebrews 4:16). Acknowledge His presence by giving Him praise. Give Him praise for who He is. Praise Him for providing our salvation. Give Him praise for His majesty, hallow His name (Matt. 6:9-13) for any other aspect of Him that is revealed to you.
Step 3
Before we partake in Communion, we must examine our own heart for unconfessed sin. Confess any sin that has crept in to your life (ref. 1 John 1:8-10). If there is unresolved conflict in your life, seek reconciliation if possible (Matt. 5:23).
Jesus instructed us to ask for forgiveness and to forgive when He taught in His model prayer, “… [Father,] “forgive us our debts [sins], as we also have forgiven our debtors [those who sin against us]” (Matthew 6:12). Make sure we are honoring the Lord’s Supper for its intended purpose – to remember Christ. We are told to eat the bread and drink the cup in remembrance of Christ. Therefore, this is a significant time for those who believe Christ’s death and resurrection, as the bread and wine/juice symbolize the body and blood of Christ.
Step 4
Reflect on all that Jesus did and suffered to pay the penalty for your sin (John 3; Romans 5:8). Follow Jesus’ example, bless the bread and cup with a prayer by asking the Father for a blessing as you serve each element of the table.
“While they were eating, Jesus’ took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, “take eat, this is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me.” (Matthew 26:26)
“In the same way, after supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me.” For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.
(Matthew 26:27)
Now Eat and drink in faith, receive the fellowship of believers and the blessings of God. Rejoice and perhaps you would like to sing the hymn we close Communion with at our church, “Blest Be the Tie that Binds.”
“Blest be the tie that binds Our hearts in Christian love; The Fellowship of kindred minds Is like to that above.”
Benediction: Now Go in God’s Peace and in the Joy and wonder of His Love! Amen!
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