Restarting Communion
The celebration of the Lord’s Supper is a sacrament instituted by Christ himself (Matt 26:26-29 pars.; 1 Cor 11:23-25) for the spiritual nourishment of his people.
Throughout church history, the Supper has been administered in-person to the gathered communion of the saints and accompanied by the preaching of God’s Word.
In March, ROC suspended the celebration of the Lord’s Supper as part of the COVID-19 shutdown. When we reopened in May, we did not yet believe it was appropriate to restart communion due to (a) low in-person attendance, with the vast majority of members still worshiping online, and (b) safety concerns, especially during the summer COVID spike in central FL.
However, we now believe we can restart our monthly practice of celebrating the Lord’s Supper together in a reasonably safe manner, beginning October 4 (and, Lord willing, continuing monthly thereafter).
Video Overview
Details on the Process
Note: This protocols documented here are based on consultation with medical experts and other churches and represent best-practices for administering communion during the pandemic. We cannot, however, guarantee safety for any partaker of the Lord’s Supper.
- The Lord’s Supper will be offered at both 9:00 & 11:00 am services
- Pre-packaged elements will be used, with the cup and bread offered together in a sealed package (similar to what is shown to the right)
- The elements will be stored in a tray that will only be handled and uncovered by the server(s)
- After the minister offers the words of institution, the elements will be distributed as follows:
- All servers will be wearing gloves (which they will put on immediately prior to serving) and masks
- An usher will go down each row to distribute hand sanitizer
- Following the usher, an elder/deacon will go down each row with a tray of pre-packaged elements and place them into the hands of each participant (congregants are not to touch the tray, to avoid cross-contamination)
- The distribution will happen only once, given that both elements are packaged together (versus our normal practice where the bread and cup are distributed and consumed one after another)
- Once the elements have been distributed, the minister will offer the words of participation—first the bread, then the cup. When instructed, participants will remove their masks to eat and drink, and then put their masks back on.
- All participants will be asked to hold their used packaging during the final song and, after the benediction, carry it out of the worship center and dispose of it in a trash bin that will be located in the foyer.
What About Those Watching the Livestream?
- The elders of River Oaks are firmly persuaded that the sacrament of the Lord’s Supper is to be celebrated in the context of the physical gathering of the church (“when you come together,” 1 Cor 11:33). Essential to the sacrament is our visible, “embodied” union with one another through Christ. Thus, “virtual communion” or “online communion”—as has become popular during the pandemic—is not actually sacramental, in our view.
- (By analogy, a “private” communion held at someone’s house apart from the corporate gathering of worshipers is considered out of accord within our doctrinal standards: see Westminster Confession of Faith 29.4)
- Thus, we do not encourage those who are worshiping from home via the livestream to “partake” of the Lord’s Supper on their own (i.e. using their own bread and wine). While this may seem like a convenient way to participate, we believe it unwise and unsupported by Scripture.
- What should you do instead?
- Spend time in personal prayer while the Lord’s Supper is taking place
- Just as you would if in-person, reflect on your own sin and remind yourself of the atoning work of Christ on your behalf
- Ask the Spirit to minister renewed grace and assurance of Christ’s love
- Stir up your longing for the great eschatological banquet towards which the Lord’s Supper points
- Stir up your longing also for the embodied presence of the communion of saints
- If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact the pastors.
