Some Information Regarding the Celebration of the Lord’s Supper
At Evangelical Reformed Church, we celebrate the Lord’s Supper every week. It is a “means of grace,” that is, like God’s Word, it is a means by which God strengthens and encourages the believer’s faith.
Just as food and drink strengthens our physical bodies, the Lord’s Supper strengthens us spiritually. Christ does this by being spiritually present in the common elements of the bread and the cup. As a result, it is at this Table that we have “communion” with Him and are fed spiritually.
In addition, the Lord’s Supper is a visible picture of the grace of God for us. The bread represents the body of Christ broken for us. The cup represents His poured out blood. In this way, it is an “object lesson” for us of what it cost our Lord to redeem our body and soul from death and hell.
This said, it is clear that the celebration of the Lord’s Supper is an intimate meeting with Christ, which is not to be entered into lightly. Individually, we are to examine ourselves, the Apostle Paul says in 1 Corinthians 11, so that we do not eat and drink in an “unworthy manner.” He continues by saying that “anyone who eats and drinks without recognizing the body of the Lord eats and drinks judgement on himself.”
The elders of our church are charged to fence (protect) the Table. We do so to the honor of our Lord as well as for the protection of those who may partake.
Member parents who believe their child(ren) exhibits saving faith and satisfy our Church Order and Confessions are asked to bring their child(ren) to the elders to be examined.
If you are visiting and have questions about our understanding or practice of celebrating the Lord’s Supper, please contact an elder (an usher will gladly introduce you to one).