March 27, 2025
Communion
Service? Of course Christians know what
communion is, the Lord’s Supper, the Eucharist, the solemn taking of bread and
wine which we do in remembrance of Jesus as requested at his pre-crucifixion meal. Different denominations celebrate this event at different
intervals (weekly, monthly, intermittently), but in my experience it’s included
as part of the regular worship service. The website of Stratford Park Bible
Chapel, however, lists a separate Communion Service every week before its Sunday
School and then regular Sunday session. Curious, I decided to check it out.
As 9 a.m. neared, the traditional sanctuary with a high
wooden ceiling and stained glass came to life as a pianist filled the room with
music. Although nursery care is available for the 11 o’clock Community Bible
Hour, there’s none for this short service, so we had a range of ages from kids to
seniors. Many people came in carrying their Bibles. A gentleman welcomed me and
explained that there would be a guest speaker for the adult Sunday School class starting the next hour and that I was invited to stay for Taco Day lunch.
A young man came to the front and gave a brief opening talk
from Mark 10:45, expressing the wonder that Jesus, our creator and master, came with an intent to serve. He explained that we would sing and share until Communion time at
9:30. A woman near the back stood and thanked everyone for care she had recently
received and then read a blessing. A man stood to give his thoughts about the
death of Pope Francis. The eternal destiny of both the pope and the president, as
leaders, would be determined by their hearts not their works, he said.
Two song books were in racks on the pew backs: a traditional
hymnal and a spiral-bound book of “modern songs.” Someone called out a page
number from the traditional book and we sang
How Great Thou Art. The
next choice,
Majesty, was from the contemporary book. Someone else stood
to give another example of Christ’s service to humanity, intercession. He read
from Romans 8 and Hebrews 8. Then another requested song. No matter what song was chosen, the piano man easily accompanied it! The intermingled
singing and sharing happened until 9:30, as anticipated, and then ushers went
forward to pick up the elements of communion.
They came down the aisles serving, and a woman in front of me
turned to whisper that this is open communion and all Christians are welcome to
participate regardless of church membership, a message the usher quietly repeated when he got to my row. So I thankfully tore a small piece from the homemade loaf of
bread. Next came the juice which was offered in tiny, real glass cups rather
than the customary plastic ones. The ushers wait while each person takes
a cup, drinks from it and returns it to the serving tray. Next offering bags
were passed with no comment or appeal and not to persons who do not customarily attend. During this time another guy came to ask if I’d like to be
introduced as a guest. No thank you and thanks for asking. :-] A
pastoral candidate and his family were introduced, however, and then with a
reading of Luke 12:32 the service ended. "Do not be afraid, little flock, for
your Father has chosen gladly to give you the kingdom."
