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Believers in Christ who have professed their faith are welcome to receive the nourishment and refreshment of the bread and cup of the Lord “as sure signs” in remembrance of Christ’s body and blood poured out for us in his once-for-all sacrifice on the cross.
Communion is celebrated on:
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February 26, 2012 AM Service (1st Sunday in Lent)
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April 5, 2012 PM Service (Maundy Thursday)
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June 3, 2012 AM Service (Trinity Sunday)
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August 5, 2012 AM Service
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October 7, 2012 AM Service (World Communion Sunday)
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December 2, 2012 AM Service (1st Sunday in Advent)
The Lord's Supper reminds us and assures us that we share in Christ's one sacrifice on the cross and in all his gifts. Christ has commanded me and all believers to eat this broken bread and to drink this cup. With this command he gave this promise:
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First, as we see the bread of the Lord broken and the cup given, so surely his body was offered and broken and his blood poured out on the cross.
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Second, as we receive from the hand of the one who serves, and taste with my mouth the bread and cup of the Lord, given me as sure signs of Christ's body and blood, so surely he nourishes and refreshes my soul for eternal life with his crucified body and poured-out blood. (Matt. 26:26-28; Mark 14:22-24; Luke 22:19-20; 1 Cor. 11:23-25)
To eat the crucified body of Christ and to drink his poured-out blood means to accept with a believing heart the entire suffering and death of Christ and by believing to receive forgiveness of sins and eternal life. Through the Holy Spirit, who lives both in Christ and in us, we are united more and more to Christ's blessed body. And so, although he is in heaven and we are on earth, we are flesh of his flesh and bone of his bone. And we forever live on and are governed by one Spirit, as members of our body are by one soul. (John 6:35, 40, 50-54; John 6:55-56; 1 Cor. 12:13; Acts 1:9-11; 1 Cor. 11:26; Col. 3:1; 1 Cor. 6:15-17; Eph. 5:29-30; 1 John 4:13; John 6:56-58; 15:1-6; Eph. 4:15-16; 1 John 3:24)
Who are to come to the Lord's Table? Those who are displeased with themselves because of their sins, but who nevertheless trust that their sins are pardoned and that their continuing weakness is covered by the suffering and death of Christ, and who also desire more and more to strengthen their faith and to lead a better life. (1 Cor. 10:19-22; 11:26-32)
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