First Corinthians 11 tells of the first observance of the Lord’s Supper when it says: “He broke the bread and said, ‘This is my body, which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.’ In the same way, after supper he took the cup, saying ‘This cup is the new covenant of my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me’” (vv. 23–26).
Two thousand years later, Jesus’ followers still obey His command to celebrate His body and blood through the celebration of the Lord’s Supper, also known as communion.
In Baptist churches across Alabama, the celebration of the Lord’s Supper is done in many ways. Whether the practice is done in a traditional or a more contemporary way, however, it is always especially meaningful.
For many years, the traditional practice of the Lord’s Supper in Baptist churches has been to use individual cups and a passed wafer. It has also been traditionally confined to a few, special times throughout the year. That is changing, though, as many churches are making the decision to expand their celebration of the Lord’s Supper.
Pastor Walter Nunn of Lakewood Baptist Church in Huntsville said the Lord’s Supper is a mixture of both traditional church practices and special seasonal activities. It is observed four times a year — once on Good Friday and three more times at morning services.
Whereas the morning observances are done in the traditional manner of passing individual portions, the Good Friday service is presented in a different way. “On Good Friday, we come up to the altar and take the elements,” Nunn said. “And during that service, I focus on the last things of Jesus.”
Nunn also stressed that the church considers the Lord’s Supper an ecumenical activity. “All Christians are charged to do it, so everyone is invited to share together,” he said.
At First Baptist Church, Roanoke, Minister of Music and Education Stephen Dean said the Lord’s Supper is an important “time of reflection and commitment to our Lord Jesus Christ and one that our congregation seems to take very seriously.”
One special observance is the church’s Christmas Eve Lord’s Supper. “In a typical Lord’s Supper service our deacons serve the bread and juice by passing them down the aisles,” Dean said. “Our Christmas Eve service involves each member coming to the altar where our pastor serves each individually.”
Integral observance
David Hull said First Baptist Church, Huntsville, said is dedicated to making the Lord’s Supper an integral part of the worship services. It is observed each month, alternating between morning and evening services.
Generally, the church’s method is to pass Lord’s Supper trays in what Hull, pastor of First, Huntsville, calls “traditional Baptist fashion.” There are times, though, when the method is changed.
“On Maundy Thursday, our choir presented the musical drama ‘Joy Comes in the Morning,’” Hull said. “We began the service with the Lord’s Supper and had people come to tables rather than passing the elements.”
Celebrating the Lord’s Supper is an important spiritual practice for Hull’s church. “Every Lord’s Supper service points to the cross and resurrection of Christ,” he said. “In that sense, the observance of the Lord’s Supper is of utmost importance for [us].”
The sacred symbolism of the Lord’s Supper elements should not be lost on Christians, Nunn said. “Life is in the blood and the Lord’s Supper juice represents that blood,” he noted.
“It reminds us of Christ’s life and death on the cross,” Nunn said. “We can never forget that.”
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