As for me, in addition to what Gav said, I would also say that for Bapos there is strong case why it’s “right” to use bread and wine due to what they symbolise and signify…:-)

And yes I would also argue for believer’s participating in communion only. Questions of at what age, or how the table is hedged veer more to adiaphora IMHO although I have known of church splits over that issue, particularly amongst Presbies (which is why I guess, they are so many Presby denominations…bit like Alphabet Soup)

Surely any tradition needs to set Lord’s Supper/communion/eucharist/whatever in the context of the salvation history in which God gave it to us through Jesus.

The Passover meal is the backdrop against which Jesus applies the passover meal to himself. So Exodus 12 outlines the passover feast which Jesus applies to himself

12 “On that same night I will pass through Egypt and strike down every firstborn of both people and animals, and I will bring judgment on all the gods of Egypt. I am the LORD. 13 The blood will be a sign for you on the houses where you are, and when I see the blood, I will pass over you. No destructive plague will touch you when I strike Egypt.

And when your children ask you, ‘What does this ceremony mean to you?’ 27 then tell them, ‘It is the Passover sacrifice to the LORD, who passed over the houses of the Israelites in Egypt and spared our homes when he struck down the Egyptians.’ ” Then the people bowed down and worshiped

At the Last Supper, Jesus applies it to himself as he teaches his disciples that in his death he becomes the Passover Lamb. Luke 22 briefly records his words:

19 And he took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me.”

20 In the same way, after the supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you.

Those who trust in the death of Jesus for their forgiveness have God’s judgement passover them. This ought to be the central point of any communion celebration hoowever you do it.

A lot of the falafel that church history has added to the Lord’s Supper has obscured the celebration of Christ as the Passover Lamb rather than highlighted it.

Any celebration of the Lord’s Supper /Communion/ whatever that fails to point you to the benefits of the death of Christ for us has failed as a symbol… Talk about what to eat, and what to drink, and how much, when, and where is largely irrelevant if the substitionary death of Christ is not the focus.

Paul is able to “For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed.” 1 Cor 5.

To eat unworthily is to celebrate communion without refreshing your trust in the benefits of Jesus death for you. The Corinthians needed to be rebuked for shabby behaviour at the Lord’s Supper meals they shared togehter.

I’ll get off the soapbox

Gav the Anglican

I reckon Churches of Christ people will have the best ideas – like Bapos they don’t require things to be done a special way, but they tend to do it every week, and so will have thought of lots of different angles. One day at a CoC we had a meal together and remembered Jesus, and that was communion. I think Jesus wanted the disciples to remember him every time they got together.

I would suggest not doing it the same way every time. The stuff in the Anglican prayer book is powerful, but I wouldn’t want to do it like that every month. Keep looking at Jesus from different angles.

Its something I have always struggled with and whenever I have lead communion I have always tried to do something different.

Some people get up in arms when I do, but thats just because different people have different views.

At my old baptist church we only ever had it every fortnight. One fortnight would be Sun AM and the next Sun PM. Kids could join and anyone else for that matter. I remember racing out after church to polish off the leftovers – now that was a feast!! Baptist’s use REAL bread not these little stale crackers.

Which reminds me, last year I was looking at the little cracker in my hand and there was a cockroach egg in it – I didnt join in with everyone that morning and kept on my Bible to remind myself to chat to the lady in charge of the communion supplies. We have also had to endure mouldy grape juice (yes its possible) and sometimes, its started to ferment. It is sick…Im all for the whole meal (like lunch or something)