Communion

Communion is a special occasion during the church service when people wash each others feet as an act of humility and take part in the Lord's Supper. Communion occurs once every three months.

 

Why do we participate in the Foot Washing service?

 

Foot Washing is part of the Communion service because it is an example given to us by Jesus before He was crucified. "Now, having washed the disciples' feet, He [Jesus] said, 'I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you'" (John 13:14,15).

 

The act of Foot Washing was made into a sacred occasion so that we will always keep in mind Jesus' lessons of humility and service.

 

The spiritual experience that lies at the heart of foot washing lifts it from being a common custom to being a sacred ordinance. Jesus not only washed the disciple's feet to clean the dirt but a show them the deeper meaning of forgiveness, acceptance, assurance and unity. By following the example of Jesus and washing each other's feet we are humbling ourselves and getting rid of the pride and jealousy in our hearts. It is a time for making wrongs right and reaching out to each other.

 

What happens during Foot Washing?

 

Everyone who decides to take part in Foot Washing will go to a separate room. Children who are not baptized or people who do not want to take part will stay in the main church building. There will be separate rooms set up for women, men and married couples.

 

Each person who participates will be paired up with someone else and they will take turns to wash each others feet. A song maybe sung and a prayer told to end the service. This should be done with a spirit of humility. Everyone then returns to the main church building where the Lord's Supper will take place.        

 

The meaning of the Lord's Supper

 

The Lord's Supper is a memorial of Jesus' crucifixion. The unleavened bread symbolizes Christ's body that was broken for us and the unfermented wine symbolizes the blood He spilt for us when He died. The reason why the bread and wine is unfermented is to represent Christ's purity; He was not blemished with sin and therefore a worthy sacrifice for us.

 

Seventh-day Adventist's do not believe that the unleavened bread and unfermented wine used during the service become the actual body of Christ. They are symbols to help us remember the sacrifice that Jesus made for our sins so that we may have the gift of eternal life.

 

What happens during the Lord's Supper?

 

The unleavened bread and unfermented wine are placed on a table at the front of the church. The covering is removed and a prayer is told to bless the bread. The deacons (nominated leaders of the church) will break a portion of the bread and serve individual pieces of the bread to the congregation.

 

Each person will retain their piece of bread until everyone has been served, the Pastor will then invite everyone to eat the bread. After this a prayer is told to bless the wine and the deacons then distribute small glasses of the wine. After everyone has been served the Pastor will invite everyone to drink their wine.

 

Who can participate in Communion?

 

Seventh-day Adventists observe open Communion. Which means anyone who feels that they have committed their lives to Christ may participate. Children, however, should not participate until they are mature enough to have received formal instruction in the meaning of the service and committed themselves to Christ in baptism.