Communion

     Today is the day we call "Good Friday" -- that day when Jesus hung on the cross for the sins of all mankind, showing his love for every person. 
We celebrated that day, that sacrifice, tonight with a special observance of communion (or the Lord's Supper.)
     That week, Jesus had entered Jerusalem, prayed over it, cleared the Temple and faced both praise and ridicule from the people he came to save. On that Thursday, He and His followers gathered in a very special upstairs room that they borrowed and celebrated the Passover. As He shared that they were to continually celebrate this same ordinance and in doing to to remember Him. 
     This night, at Church of the Cove, we gathered in a darkened worship center, illuminated by candles. 

     There were a few chairs for those who would not be able to stand, but those who attended were asked to be uncomfortable as we recalled all that our Savior suffered on that Friday so long ago. 


Preparation
     We were asked to spend a few moments in preparation for receiving communion, examining our lives. Each person attending then walked up the aisle between the candles to one of two tables to break off a piece of the bread and lift it to heaven, confessing all sins to God, seeking forgiveness for this. 
     What a beautiful sight as a couple walked forward, the wife approaching the table as the husband stood back. As her hand lifted the piece of bread to the Lord, his arms were raised in worship and prayer. Sisters, students, single adults and entire families walked to the end of that aisle as each person took that time to prepare for their own personal communion, and then returned to the back of the worship center.


Bread and Wine
     Next, each person walked forward to take a piece of that broken-off bread from a basket. Those holding the baskets spoke a word to each person -- helping to seal the thought in each mind that the Lord's body was broken because of His great love for them. Next the attendee walked to one of five people lined up along the altar. Each of these held a goblet filled with grape juice. 
     As the attendee approached, that one holding the goblet asked the question, "How may I pray specifically for you right now?" and then prayed for that stated need. When the prayer finished, the person dipped the bread into the juice as they heard the phrase, "the blood of Christ, shed for you." 


Worship
     It's not the norm for the way we observe communion/the Lord's Supper. Then again, is there such a thing as a "norm"? May it never become something so mundane that we consider any part of it normal! As tonight's service concluded, the praise team led in a song by Travis Cottrell, "Jesus is the Lord." (Click the link to listen to Travis Cottrell's team.)
      Jesus is worthy of all worship, all praise, all honor and all thanks. One day, every knee will bow and every tongue confess that He is the Lord. Our prayer is that this day, this moment, you recognize the immense love God has for you -- that love being the very reason there is a "Good Friday" and accept Christ as your own Savior and Lord. If you'd like more information about that, please contact us.