This is the last week of our Remarkable Faith series, and I’m so glad you’ve joined me in reflecting on our most memorable moments in our faith walks.
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In the church where I grew up, kids could take communion whenever they wanted. Well, you know, during a communion service. But we didn’t have to go through a class or be pre-approved or anything. My mom wasn’t a big fan of that laissez-faire approach, though, and didn’t allow my brother or me to participate in the Lord’s Supper until we could tell her, in our own words, what it meant.
Because of that early emphasis on the importance of and reverence for communion, I’ve always taken it seriously. And now that I go to a Baptist church, opportunities to take the bread and wine juice are a lot fewer than the Presbyterian and Methodist churches I attended before. So when I get the chance to take communion, it’s always a big deal.
However, the most memorable time of communion in my life so far didn’t take place in any church, regardless of denomination or sacrament schedule.
The summer after my freshman year of high school (or was it the summer before? Honestly, I can’t remember for sure.), my youth group went to Padre Island for a week of camp. Yes, we were roughing it on the Gulf.
I remember a blistering sunburn and flirting with the boys in the group and seeing dolphins play in the ocean. But more importantly, I remember Camp Communion.
We used a hot dog bun and a paper cup of grape juice. We passed it around quietly, squinting in the moonlight outside our cabin. I think we may have sung a verse or two of They’ll Know We Are Christians By Our Love.
I don’t remember what I confessed or the words of my silent prayer that night. But I remember being moved like never before.
Communion is always a special time, but that one was the most remarkable of my life so far.
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Has the Lord’s Supper played a part in your story? Was a communion service a memorable part in your life? Do you have a remarkable faith?
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That is an awesome story!
Thats a great story. I love to hear about firsts:)
We just celebrated passover as a family and took communion wiht the third cup as in the last supper. It was pretty amazing to share with my girls the big picture, how the story of Moses and the Israelites fit into the story of Jesus the Passover Lamb. Things I never understood growing up…that Jesus died on passover, the same hour the lambs were being slaughtered…and that he rose on firstfruits, another biblical holy day. I never know Moses got the ten commandments on a holy day called pentecost, and centuries later, God when send the Holy Spirit to write the law on our hearts on that very day. Its been really amazing learning about how every OT holy day is a prophecy and being able to share the tightly woven fabric of the bible with my family. So this year was our first passover, and I am liking the tradition and the emphasis, and its given a deeper meaning to this whole season and communion…
The big picture is so important, isn’t it? Love how you’ve added that element to your Easter celebration!
This is so nice, Mary. What a sweet reflection.
Probably the communion I best remember was about three years ago on Easter Sunday with my oldest daughter. She and I were traveling in England and had the wonderful opportunity to worship on Easter at All Soul’s in London. It was such a privilege to share communion with believers from across the globe. I loved it. (My daughter, however, freaked out about the real wine in a common cup! It was kinda funny, too.)
Very cool, Shelly. Although I have to admit I might freak out at real wine, too!
At the church I grew up in, we didn’t just pass the plate of bread or tray of juice. We served each other communion. Holding the bread/juice for the person after me, I would say to them, “The body of Christ broken for you. The blood of Christ shed for you.” I loved that because we emphasized what was happening, and we served each other as the physical body of Christ. It’s something I definitely miss in my church today.
Wow. That sounds just incredible.
On part of your story made me giggle, because my Mom also didn’t let me take Communion until much later than my peers. We were Episcopalian, so they do infant baptisms and then anyone who has baptized can receive Communion. She finally decided when I was around nine or ten that I probably could go ahead and receive Communion. I still remember that she made me practice at home with these little cookies and a glass of water. I laughed during it, and she got all crazy with me about how I couldn’t laugh during Communion. I told her that it was because we were using cookies that I was laughing. I have to admit that for the first 30 years of my life, that is probably my most vivid memory having to do with Communion.
When we converted and became Catholic, Communion became something that felt much more special. I think something about going to the church for almost a year during the conversion process and not being allowed to receive Communion made it so that even four years later, I still feel lucky every week.
Angie, what a great story! I can’t believe your mom made you practice at home!!