Do this in rememberance of me...

This morning I got involved in a fairly common discussion (for me). Communion.

I never really put any thought into the subject when I was younger. I grew up in the Disciples of Christ church where communion is taken every Sunday. Yes, it does get slightly redundant, but it is also an important centering point of the service each week. When I joined the Presbyterian church, I only had communion once a quarter or month. This made me really start thinking about it in a new way.

When I was younger and going to church camp every summer, we closed out every week with a special service by the water and took communion. Usually, we used the common elements- bread and wine (juice). However there were times that we used cheese puffs and hot cocoa or diet coke, doritos, grahm crackers... whatever we had. Thinking back on it, these were the more meaningful services for me.

The discussion this morning was about what elements are used and where communion can take place. This may be part of my Disciples upbringing (I have already heard from many in the Presbyterian church that don't agree), but I look at this as a way to come together in Christ's name anytime, anywhere, with anything. It does not have to take place during a worship service, and while I do understand the reasoning behind the Presbyterian way of only having Elders oversee communion, I think this does slightly defeat the purpose.

"Whenever two or more are gathered in my name." It does not say whenever an elder and two others are gathered in my name. Simply, and quite plainly, two or more. I think it is important that EVERYONE feel that they can take part in communion at anytime, even if an elder is not present. I have done a "Love Feast" before (communion minus the elder) and it was incredibly meaningful, but there is something about the actuality of Communion that puts me at ease.

We are also not instructed that we MUST use bread and wine. If so we would use wine in church rather than grape juice. Even further beyond that, bread and wine was used at the last supper simply because that was what was available at the time. Some say that they use them because they symbolize the body and blood of Christ, which is true, but anything can symbolize that. As I asked my friend this morning, why does it have to be grape juice/ wine? They answered because it looks like blood and it is what was used. SO... what if it was WHITE grape juice or wine? It no longer looks like blood. Does that change it?

Communion is not about making sure all of the right people are there and that you have the right elements. It is about being with our brothers and sisters in Christ and using what is available to "do in rememberance" of Christ. This means it can happen in church, around the dinner table, or even around a camp fire by the water with a bunch of middle school youth and no Elders.

Like I said... blame my Disciples of Christ upbringing :) (The Presbyterian Church will love having me around... lol)