Did you know that the United Church of Christ, like many Protestant denominations, has only two sacraments, two ceremonies considered as especially powerful, outward expressions of grace and connection to God: baptism and communion?
Of the two, only communion is repeated regularly as part of our worship. So communion is an important part of life in the church. The way we perform it says a lot about how we see our roles in the church.
For me, the Lord’s Supper, Communion, happens when we gather around the table set for us by God. It is an invitation to an incarnational experience of the Spirit. Jesus, the ultimate example of God incarnate, gave us this symbolic meal shortly before his arrest and subsequent death. I’ve always felt that Jesus wanted us to have a strong sensory experience – a tangible, flavorful, sustaining, and nurturing act – to remind us regularly of our connection to God.
As you can imagine, over the centuries this important ritual has become a focus for disagreement. Whole denominations have formed and then split over who can and cannot receive communion—and who can administer it. In many denominations, for example, only ordained clergy can administer communion.
In the UCC, we believe that communion represents God’s table and that all are welcome. We also believe in “the priesthood of all believers,” where we each can serve to help connect each other to God and to Jesus. Nonetheless, communion practices vary from one UCC church to another.
At First Church, we have habitually made a distinction between the roles of the ministers in communion and the roles of the lay leaders, the deacons. Although the deacons have long distributed communion, only the ministers have offered prayers over communion. This distinction is not biblical; it is a matter of tradition.
I believe that it's time for First Church to modify how we do communion. I want us to make the blessing over communion into a holy act that is more widely shared. I would like the deacons to be more involved in communion and to offer a prayer at the communion table.
You have every right to ask, “Why?” For me, there are two reasons.
1. The Theological Reason
As I said, as a denomination we claim the “priesthood of believers.” I want to see us live out this claim, to act in accordance with the idea that all believers are empowered to lead.
Sharing Communion by Pastor Pam
Communion
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