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RevMikeyMac's avatar

Two points:

First, being recently retired and moving to a new community, my wife and I have had the opportunity to attend a number of different churches, from independent Bible to more liturgical (e.g., Lutheran) and a local GMC congregation. We both feel that many congregations today have so "downgraded" Holy Communion that it gives the impression that it's an afterthought at best and an interruption to the pastor's message at worst! We leave those services feeling we've missed something very important (God's means of grace through the sharing together of Christ's body and blood represented in the bread and the cup).

Second, being a recently retired GMC pastor, I can be available to congregations who do not have an ordained pastor available to serve Holy Communion - and am glad to do so. I suspect other retired GMC elders feel the same.

Thanks for reinforcing the power and priority of the Sacraments by referencing the Doctrines and Disciplines of the GMC. In contrast to those denominations and independent churches who have almost given up the practice of observing Communion (for all intents and purposes by their mode of observation), we need to restore the table's central place in our worship, hopefully creating a sense of awe and "thanksgiving" (eucharist) for Christ's great gift of himself for our salvation and sanctification!

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Jack from Raleigh, NC's avatar

It seems to me that the earliest churches celebrated weekly communion.

Paul had a lot to say if the congregants took communion in an unworthy

manner.

John Wesley was passionate about takng weekly communion and communion was considered the pinnacle of the service.

The participants walked away feeling forgiven and refreshed for another week.

Wesley called it "spiritual food" for the coming week and means of Grace.

To top it off, participants encountered the Living Lord in one of the greatest mysteries we know about.

Why would we want to do anything else?

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