The practice of the Presbyterian Church (USA) is to acknowledge that our table is an open table.  Anyone who is baptized, regardless of age or denomination, is invited to share in the sacrament of Holy Communion (the Lord's Supper).

At First Presbyterian Church, Carbondale, we observe the Lord's Supper (Holy Communion) on special days throughout the year. 

 

2007 Communion Schedule

Baptism of the Lord	January 7, 2007
Transfiguration	February 18, 2007
Ash Wednesday	February 21, 2007
Maundy Thursday	April 5, 2007
Easter Vigil (Saturday)	April 7, 2007
Easter Day	April 8, 2007
Trinity Sunday	June 3, 2007
Summer	July 1, 2007
Summer	August 12, 2007
World Communion Sunday	October 7, 2007
All Saints Day	November 4, 2007
Christ the King	November 25, 2007
Christmas Eve	December 24, 2007

 

The Church Year (www.cresourcei.org)

What is the sacrament of Holy Communion (the Lord's Supper)?

Basic Presbyterian / Christian beliefs are summarized, in question-and-answer format with Biblical references, in Belonging to God:  A First Catechism, from which the following is excerpted.

Question 41. What is a sacrament?

A sacrament is a special act of Christian worship which uses visible signs to present God's grace for us in Jesus Christ.  We believe that two sacraments were given by Jesus: baptism and the Lord's Supper.

Mark 1:9-11 "In those days Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan.  And just as he was coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens torn apart and the Spirit descending like a dove on him.  And a voice came from heaven, 'You are my Son, the Beloved; with you I am well pleased.'"

Mark 14:22-25 "While they were eating, he took a loaf of bread, and after blessing it he broke it, gave it to them, and said, 'Take; this is my body.'  Then he took a cup, and after giving thanks he gave it to them, and all of them drank from it.  He said to them, 'This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many.  Truly I tell you, I will never again drink of the fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new in the kingdom of God.'"

Question 45. What is the Lord's Supper?

In the Lord's Supper I am fed at the table of God's family.  Through the bread that I eat and the cup that I drink, the Lord offers me his body and blood.  He renews my faith, and gives me the gift of eternal life.  As I remember that he died for all, and therefore also for me, I feed on him in my heart by faith with thanksgiving.

1 Cor. 11:23-26 "For I received from the Lord what I also handed on to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night when he was betrayed took a loaf of bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, 'This is my body that is for you.  Do this in remembrance of me.'  In the same way he took the cup also, after supper, saying, 'This cup is the new covenant in my blood.  Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.'  For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until he comes."

Matt. 26:26-29 "While they were eating, Jesus took a loaf of bread, and after blessing it he broke it, gave it to the disciples, and said, 'Take, eat; this is my body.'  Then he took a cup, and after giving thanks he gave it to them, saying, 'Drink from 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 never again drink of this fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father's kingdom.'"

1 Cor. 10:16 "The cup of blessing that we bless, is it not a sharing in the blood of Christ?  The bread that we break, is it not a sharing in the body of Christ?"

More extensive description is provided by The Study Catechism, from which the following is excerpted.

Question 66. What do you affirm when you speak of "the communion of saints"?

All those who live in union with Christ, whether on earth or with God in heaven, are "saints."  Our communion with Christ makes us members one of another. As by his death he removed our separation from God, so by his Spirit he removes all that divides us from each other.  Breaking down every wall of hostility, he makes us, who are many, one body in himself.  The ties that bind us in Christ are deeper than any other human relationship.

Eph. 2:19-20 "You are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are citizens with the saints and also members of the household of God, built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the cornerstone."

Rom. 12:5 "So we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually we are members one of another."

Eph. 2:14 "For he is our peace; in his flesh he has made both groups into one and has broken down the dividing wall, that is, the hostility between us."

1 Cor. 12:27 "Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it."

Gal. 3:28 "There is no longer Jew or Greek, there is no longer slave or free, there is no longer male and female; for all of you are one in Christ Jesus."

Eph. 4:4 "There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to the one hope of your calling."

1 Cor. 12:4-7, 12-13 "Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; and there are varieties of services, but the same Lord; and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who activates all of them in everyone.  To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.  For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ.  For in the one Spirit we were all baptized into one body--Jews or Greeks, slaves or free--and we were all made to drink of one Spirit."

Question 67. How do you enter into communion with Christ and so with one another?

By the power of the Holy Spirit as it works through Word and sacrament. Because the Spirit uses them for our salvation, Word and sacrament are called "means of grace."  The Scriptures acknowledge two sacraments as instituted by our Lord Jesus Christ -- baptism and the Lord's Supper.

1 Cor. 10:17 "Because there is one bread, we who are many are one body, for we all partake of the one bread."

1 Cor. 12:13 "For in the one Spirit we were all baptized into one body--Jews or Greeks, slaves or free--and we were all made to drink of one Spirit."

Col. 3:16 "Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly."

Question 68. What is a sacrament?

A sacrament is a special act of Christian worship, instituted by Christ, which uses a visible sign to proclaim the promise of the gospel for the forgiveness of sins and eternal life.  The sacramental sign seals this promise to believers by grace and brings to them what is promised. In baptism the sign is that of water; in the Lord's Supper, that of bread and wine.

Mark 1:9-11 "In those days Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan.  And just as he was coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens torn apart and the Spirit descending like a dove on him.  And a voice came from heaven, 'You are my Son, the Beloved; with you I am well pleased.'"

Mark 14:22-25 "While they were eating, he took a loaf of bread, and after blessing it he broke it, gave it to them, and said, 'Take; this is my body.'  Then he took a cup, and after giving thanks he gave it to them, and all of them drank from it.  He said to them, 'This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many.  Truly I tell you, I will never again drink of the fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new in the kingdom of God.'"

Question 69. How do you understand the relationship between the word of promise and the sacramental sign?

Take away the word of promise, and the water is merely water, or the bread and wine, merely bread and wine.  But add water, or bread and wine, to the word of promise, and it becomes a visible word.  In this form it does what by grace the word always does: it brings the salvation it promises, and conveys to faith the real presence of our Lord Jesus Christ.  The sacraments are visible words which uniquely assure and confirm that no matter how greatly I may have sinned, Christ died also for me, and comes to live in me and with me.

Luke 24:30-31 "When he was at the table with them, he took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them.  Then their eyes were opened, and they recognized him; and he vanished from their sight."

1 Cor. 10:16 "The cup of blessing that we bless, is it not a sharing in the blood of Christ?  The bread that we break, is it not a sharing in the body of Christ?"

Matt. 28:20 "Teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you.  And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age."

Col. 1:27 "To them God chose to make known how great among the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory."

Question 77. What is the Lord's Supper? The Lord's Supper is the sign and seal by which our communion with Christ is renewed.

1 Cor. 10:16 "The cup of blessing that we bless, is it not a sharing in the blood of Christ? The bread that we break, is it not a sharing in the body of Christ?"

Question 78. What does it mean to share in the Lord's Supper? When we celebrate the Lord's Supper, the Lord Jesus Christ is truly present, pouring out his Spirit upon us.  By his Spirit, the bread that we break and the cup that we bless share in our Lord's own body and blood.  Through them he once offered our life to God; through them he now offers his life to us.  As I receive the bread and the cup, remembering that Christ died even for me, I feed on him in my heart by faith with thanksgiving, and enter his risen life, so that his life becomes mine, and my life becomes his, to all eternity.

1 Cor. 11:23-26 "For I received from the Lord what I also handed on to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night when he was betrayed took a loaf of bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, 'This is my body that is for you.  Do this in remembrance of me.'  In the same way he took the cup also, after supper, saying, 'This cup is the new covenant in my blood.  Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.'  For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until he comes."
Mark 14:22-25 "While they were eating, he took a loaf of bread, and after blessing it he broke it, gave it to them, and said, 'Take; this is my body.'  Then he took a cup, and after giving thanks he gave it to them, and all of them drank from it.  He said to them, 'This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many.  Truly I tell you, I will never again drink of the fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new in the kingdom of God.'"

Question 79. Who may receive the Lord's Supper? All baptized Christians who rejoice in so great a gift, who confess their sins, and who draw near with faith intending to lead a new life, may receive the Lord's Supper.  This includes baptized children who have expressed a desire to participate, and who have been instructed in the meaning of the sacrament in a way they can understand.

Luke 13:29 "Then people will come from east and west, from north and south, and will eat in the kingdom of God."
1 Cor. 11:28 "Examine yourselves, and only then eat of the bread and drink of the cup."
Phil. 4:4 "Rejoice in the Lord always; again I say, Rejoice."

Links to additional resources for personal study and devotion.