Leading Communion: A Sample Guide for Conducting the Lord’s Supper

Scripture Reading or Story/Illustration

When one is preaching and then following the sermon by leading communion, I think it is a good idea to attempt to bridge from the theme of the message to the Lord’s Supper.

Otherwise, I like to introduce the Lord’s Supper a couple of different ways. First, one can use a scripture theme such as the Cup of Judgment (Psalm 75) or the Wedding Supper of the Lamb (Rev. 19:6-9). Both of these tie nicely into the Lord’s Supper and introduce some aspect of communion. For example, Psalm 75 identifies God’s judgment as drinking from a cup of wine, which is exactly the picture we get of what Jesus did for us, praying in agony in the Garden of Gethsemane, “Let this cup (of judgment) pass, but not my will but yours be done." In Revelation 19, the Wedding Supper of the Lamb is the ultimate heavenly meal of which the Lord’s Supper is a foretaste. These passages can draw people into the communion experience.

A story or illustration can also draw people to the Lord’s Supper. For example, I recently told the story of Gordon Lightfoot’s song, The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald, which tells the story of a ship sinking in Lake Superior in 1975, killing all 29 men on board. This remarkable song with the haunting melody has kept the memory of that disaster alive for nearly 50 years. Isn’t that exactly what we are trying to do in the Lord’s Supper: keep alive the memory of what Jesus has done for us? An illustration like this can link a common experience to a spiritual reality.

Presentation

This refers to the presentation of the elements--the bread and the cup--that will visually help the congregation see, and remember, what Christ has done for them. The presentation is an “unveiling,” where the minister reveals the elements that will first be seen, and then as the communion progresses, heard, and then touched, and finally tasted. This involvement of various senses makes the experience even more memorable and meaningful than most other worship experiences.

A current trend in many churches is to use the prepackaged communion elements, which includes a cup of juice with a small circular wafer enclosed in the lid of the cup. While this is much more convenient for preparing communion--in fact, very little preparation is needed at all--it does diminish the sensory experience of the Lord’s Supper and is a bit clumsy for many to open.

I prefer using matzo for the communion bread and, prior to the worship service, to break up an appropriate amount (as pictured below) that will be distributed during the Lord’s Supper.



Also, a single, unbroken matzo (as pictured below) is placed on top of the tray of broken matzo pieces. This will be used for the presentation.

Presentation of the Bread

The minister uncovers the matzo and lifts it up for the congregation to see and says, “This is the Body of our Lord Jesus Christ, which was broken for you.” He or she then breaks the matzo into pieces into the tray with the other matzo pieces. The breaking is intended to illustrate the violence of Christ’s death, and the experience is both visual and auditory as the sight and sound of the breaking of the bread is a vivid reminder.

Presentation of the Cup

The minister then removes the lid of one of the trays of communion and lifts it in the air for the congregation to see, and then says: “The Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ, which was shed for you.” The minister then concludes the presentation by reminding the congregation, “These are the gifts of God for the people of God.” This ties into the other word sometimes used for communion: the Eucharist, from the Greek word eucharisteo, or giving thanks.

Instructions

Participation

The instructions explain who should participate in communion and its relationship to other ordinances. Here is a sample of what can be said to instruct the congregation.

At First Church, we have two ordinances. The first is water baptism, which symbolizes the beginning of the Christian life and should be done once in a lifetime to symbolize that new beginning. So if you are a new Christian who has yet to be baptized in water, we invite you to participate and then be baptized in an upcoming baptism service. On the other hand, Holy Communion, also known as The Lord's Supper, is something we do regularly because it symbolizes our ongoing need for a Savior. So Communion is for baptized Christians. If you are not a Christian, we invite you to place your trust in Christ right now and participate with us. But if you are not prepared to do that, please remain in your seat when the people come forward to receive the elements.

You may refine the statement above to reflect your local church’s position on participation and the logistics. Ideally, baptism symbolizes the beginning of the Christian life and the Lord’s Supper symbolizes the ongoing relationship to Christ and His Body, the Church, and should be experienced in that order.

Logistics

Next, the minister will make some statement about the logistics of the distribution of the elements. The two basic models are to have the congregation served in their seats, normally by elders or deacons, or to have the congregation come forward to receive the elements and either eat the elements individually when they receive them, or return to their seats and wait until all are served. I prefer this latter method with all receiving the elements together because it requires each person to make a statement of faith by walking forward to receive the elements. I look at this as active participation in the communion rather than the passive participation that occurs while being served the elements.

The Communion

Now it is time to lead the congregation in receiving the communion elements.

The Bread

Optional: Have an elder/deacon pray over the bread before this portion.

The minister lifts the bread in the air while reading the text below. The congregation is likely to follow by lifting the bread as well.

Luke 22:19 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.” Let's eat the symbol of Christ's body together.

The minister and congregation eat together.

The Cup

Optional: Have an elder/deacon pray over the bread before this portion.

The minister lifts the cup in the air while reading the text below. The congregation is likely to follow by lifting the cup high as well.

Luke 22:20 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.” Let's drink the symbol of Christ's blood together.

The minister and congregation drink together.

Prayer

We thank you, dear Lord. You have fed us the spiritual food, united us with Christ, given us a foretaste of the heavenly banquet and provided a seat for us at your table. For this we are ever grateful. In Jesus' name, Amen.

Song of Worship

Prayer for Needs/Altar Call (optional)

If the elders served the congregation, they may already be in front or can return and line the front of the sanctuary to pray with people who are in need of prayer.

Benediction

Hebrews 13:20-21
Now may the God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, equip you with everything good for doing his will, and may he work in us what is pleasing to him, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.

These sample guidelines will help your congregation have a meaningful communion experience. Please modify them to meet your congregation's needs. Comment below if you have feedback! Thank you for stopping by this blog.