How to Lead Communion in Your Home
Communion has been a practice of followers of Jesus since the Last Supper when Jesus shared a final meal with his disciples. At this final meal, Jesus told them his body was about to be broken and his blood spilled both for them and for the world. He also told them that this sacrifice needed to be remembered. Since the birth of the church shortly after Jesus’ ascension, the church has celebrated communion again and again to continue this act of remembrance. While we normally take communion, or celebrate the eucharist during church services as a whole congregation on Sunday mornings, we can take communion in a way similar to the disciples at Jesus final meal before his crucifixion: at home, around a table. Below is an easy guide to take communion at home.
- Get your supplies ready. The Last Supper took place on Passover, the Jewish holiday remembering another great miracle: God rescuing his people from slavery in Egypt. Passover would have included only unleavened bread and wine was required for the liturgy of the passover meal. If you have matza and wine for your communion, great! But if you don’t or if you want to include kids or people who would rather not have wine, don’t worry! Feel free to grab bread, crackers or juice as a substitute.
- Choose a “Leader.” This doesn’t have to be anyone special, just someone who wants to read the passage as a guide for the moment.
- Pass around the elements. Once everyone has their elements, take a few minutes of quiet internal reflection asking the Lord for forgiveness and thanking him for what his sacrifice has done for you.
- Follow this guide together (psst, Leader, this is where you come in!):
Read:
On the night that he was betrayed, and “as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and after blessing it broke it and gave it to the disciples, and said, “Take, eat; this is my body.”” (Matthew 26:26)
Invite: Take and eat.
Read:
And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he gave it to them, saying, “Drink of it, all of you,for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. I tell you I will not drink again of this fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father’s kingdom.” (Matthew 26:27-29)
Invite: Take and Drink.
Pray to close:
Lord, We thank you for your sacrifice on the cross on our account. Thank you for the mercy we have received because your body was broken, and your blood was spilled. It’s because of this sacrifice that you call us your own, and that we have been made new. We remember what you did for us, we are thankful that it means we get to be in restored relationship with you, Jesus.
Amen
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