Serving Communion

The first Sunday of every month, communion is "served at the rail" in my church. This means that the congregation participating goes to the front and kneels at the rail where the pastor and others pass out the communion elements. I have always treasured this time - especially to hear the words - "Christ's body given for you." and "The blood of Christ shed for you." which are directly spoken to me. After partaking each group is dismissed back to their seats with a "Go in peace." Somehow it makes my communion time very personal yet I feel in community with the others around me.

The people serving are usually the pastor, the liturgist and two members from the congregation - many times a couple. This past Sunday I was asked to serve along with a widowed woman who was sitting next to me. It was a great honor for me to follow behind the pastor and to hand a cup of grape juice to each person at the rail, offering them the emblem of Christ's blood being shed for them. Some looked up at me, some said thank you, others just held out their hand with heads bowed. I wish I could have personally addressed each by their name as our pastor does - but I do not know everybody's name. I found it to be a very touching experience and several times I had to swallow hard to keep the rising emotion back.

It hit me every time that Jesus died for each one of these people kneeling at the rail - different cultures, different socioeconomic circumstances, different life positions, different backgrounds. It was powerful to hand out the emblem of His blood - like it represented a drop shed for each one. It was exciting to see each one as they approached and participated - their faith, their eagerness, their appreciation, their experiencing communion with Jesus Himself. I was overwhelmed with the privilege I had to experience this.

Truly communion is a time for exactly what the name represents - coming together to remember what Jesus did for us. But it is not just our assembling together - it is in the presence of Christ Himself, for it is He who invites us there. I am so glad that my church does it every week and once a month at the rail. It renews me for the week with the reminder of Jesus' love for me - at the moment when He died and at the present moment as He meets with me in my remembrance. May it never become routine or taken for granted and may it remain sacred.