Very few Baptist churches celebrate the Lord’s Supper every week, but in most British churches is only a monthly observance, whereas in the USA it is much less frequent and can even be celebrated just once a year. This infrequency needs to be reformed. Indeed, one former Reformed theologian was of the decided opinion that “the absence of the Eucharist shows contempt for grace” (J.J. von Allmen), while Calvin regarded infrequent communion as “an invention of the devil”. By contrast in Anglican churches on a Sunday communion is celebrated every Sunday.
Traditionally, in a Baptist context, the Lord’s Table is for the Lord’s people. The Table is ‘open’ to all who love the Lord Jesus Christ and are seeking to follow him, but the assumption is that those who come to the Table are in a committed ‘covenant relationship’ with his people. In a Baptist context we enter into that covenant relationship when we commit ourselves to the Lord and his people through baptism and church membership. However, it is an ‘open’ Table, so that there is no necessity for recipients of the bread and wine to have been baptised. Children, however, are not encouraged to take bread and wine: communion is for the baptised. In my own case I had to wait until the day of my baptism, when I was then allowed to receive communion. It used to be, and still in many Baptist churches remains, a very solemn service in British and European Baptist churches as we focus on the Lord whose body was broken and whose life blood was outpoured for us.
In most Baptist churches communion is not even an issue for children, for the simple reason that they are almost always in their Sunday School classes while the Lord’s Supper is being celebrated in the church. Precisely because in Baptist churches children are not normally present at communion, the Lord’s Supper tends to become something of a ‘mystery’. The children see the Table laid, but they never see the action of eating and drinking. However, occasionally the children were brought in to experience communion so that they had some idea of what happened in such a service.
By contrast in Chelmsford Cathedral, for instance, where we now worship, most of the children do not join the main service until communion begins. The Eucharist, as the Cathedral calls it, is the focus of the whole service. Everybody then comes up to the front, where bread and wine are offered to all who come forward. The children are then taken up to the front, where most of them receive a blessing from one of the clergy. Some, however, receive the bread and wine. From my perspective the only requirement is that the recipients have been baptised and even then that is waived. Certainly there is no requirement that people have been confirmed.
So the question is: how should we best welcome children to communion? I wish to suggest that we can learn from both the Baptist and the Anglican ways of conducting communion. I like the idea of weekly communion, and I like too the way in which children are invited to come up with their parents. Baptists tend to ignore their children until they have been baptised. My memory as a child was of sitting through communion services just observing, not being part of the service. I like the way in which children within an Anglican context receive a blessing. Indeed, I have been present at communion services where more time is taken over the children than over the adults. On the other hand, I am of the firm opinion that children need to wait until they have come to faith – and either have been baptized believers or, in an Anglican context, have been confirmed. As I have said, the Lord’s Table is for the Lord’s people.
Thank you for this. I fear I must disagree with you slightly, as my belief is that children are part of the Church family and should not be excluded from the Table; indeed it would seem natural to include them. This came to a head many years ago at a church anniversary where our morning service was followed by lunch and then Communion. Just as we were sitting down, one lady asked if her 8-year old daughter could receive the elements. I had to do some quick thinking and pastoral concerns took precedence: “Yes”, I said. Afterwards one of my Deacons said, “Hmmm … we never talked about that!” but seemed quite happy with what had taken place. From then on we always invited children to “commune” – here Baptists have an advantage over the Anglicans as we generally use non-alcoholic wine!
This is also the policy of my present church, indeed it was discussed a number of years ago, before my time. The church was delighted that I shared their view and this was definitely an element in my “call”. Our Communion service is more liturgical than in most Baptist services (e.g. we have responses!); one prayer we sometimes use is this one:
Jesus was often a guest.
He shared many meals with his friends,
and they long remembered his words at the table.
Though some disapproved of the company he kept,
Jesus ate and drank with all kinds of people
and showed everyone the love of God.
Wherever people met together
Jesus was glad to be welcomed and to be fed.
Today, we are the guests of Jesus.
He welcomes us,
whoever we are and whatever we bring,
and he will feed us at his table.
Older or younger, rich or poor, joyful or in sorrow,
Jesus invites us
to share bread and wine with him,
to remember the story of his life and death,
and to celebrate his presence with us today.
Paul
Once again something to think about for the weekend!
I find a greater reticence since Covid!
Some vicars tog up with Ppe for communion and pass the gel down to the deacons.
I know there is Covid about – certainly round here and many still fear it-but many have medical procedures to face and others vulnerable people to deal with.
My Anglican Church has stopped the regular communion in the main service , it is available at. 8 am to a select few. The common cup is the issue too.
While Baptist deacons put in gloves and insist the preparation is the same .
I can see why it had slipped …. But also like you sad it has.
I like what we did on an Emmaus ‘walk’
we took our own bread and dipped it in the cup
A compromise which was acceptable to all
But not communion ac I know it when one is served !
Hey ho
This is the fourth Sunday so no issues !!
I do think children should be able to be included in the Communion service and from their perspective a blessing is probably more meaningful than receiving bread and wine – an extension of the hug they might receive at home from their parents as a sign of love and care, but hopefully imbued with a more solemn feeling, fostering the beginning of a recognition of the acceptance and love of their spiritual Father God.
Good post. The last Baptist church I served observed the Lord’s Supper 4 times a year…but bad weather often reduced that to three times a year. I requested that we partake at least once per month, and they humored me. I observed spiritual growth and depth among the congregation the last twelve years of my service with them. American Baptists seem to have pushed forward the entertainment agenda, and reduced the importance of the Eucharist. I am baffled by this, and saddened. Surely our remembrance of Christ encourages us all to remember His sacrifice and renew our observance of His touchstone supper. My understanding only, I suppose. Thank you for your thoughts. Former pastor of the Walton’s Mountain Church, Virginia