Communion Movements

A powerful ruler built a great palace. Among the rooms was one that was always locked. He called it the Chamber of Memories. Every day he visited that room, but no one else was permitted inside. Finally one day the servants got a peep inside the locked room. There was no silver, no gold, no precious jewels. All they saw was a humble shepherd's robe; the one the king had worn before he came to the throne. The Lord's Supper reminds us of what we were before Christ found us and how far we have come. The Baptist Faith and Message states: The Lord's Supper is a symbolic act of obedience whereby members of the Church, through partaking of the bread and the fruit of the vine, memorialize the death of the Redeemer and anticipate His second coming. Turn with me to I Cor. 11:23-28 As We Come into the New Year Allow us to reflect on and remember our Lord through the Lord supper I. The Movement of Reflection Of Self Repentance was an involved process in the early church. Sin was seen not as a personal matter but as something that destroyed the unity of the church. Penitents fasted and prayed for the forgiveness of their sins, appeared before the church to make public confession, and were barred from the Lord's Supper until they gave evidence of a change of heart and were absolved. (The only exception was for people facing persecution. They were readmitted to the Lord's Supper so they could receive strength.) In the first century, the Lord's Supper included not only the bread and the cup but an entire meal. As part of the meal, neighbors who had quarreled made peace again. Reader 1

II. The Movement of Remembrance Of the Body When a jeweler displays a fine diamond, he often puts it on black velvet. There, it catches fire from the lights of the room, its beauty multiplied, and its value becomes more apparent. The Lord's Supper is like that diamond. Sometimes it needs to be pried from traditional settings and thrown against the black velvet of the blackest night in history: the night it was instituted‑‑the night before Christ was crucified. When He Broke the Bread He said Take Eat: This is my body broken for you: This do in remembrance of Me Reader II- The Body- Luke 22:63-65 Mark 15-20 Psalm 22:14-18 Isaiah 53:5 And so it was that his body was broken for us At this time the deacons will stand and take up the bread and administer it As you receive the bread bow your head Remember how Christ body was broken for each of us until we shall all partake of the bread together Deacons serve the Church Head of Deacons serves Deacons and me I serve head of Deacons Give thanks for the Suffering Body-Deacon: Read vs I Cor 11:24 - Seat deacons

III. The Movement of Remembrance of the Blood

After the same manner he took the cup and said

This cup is the new testament in my blood; this do ye

as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me.

Reader III- The Blood-

Mark 15:22-26

Luke 23:33-38

Romans 5:8-9

I Pet 1:18-21

And so it was that his Blood was Shed for us

At this time the deacons will stand and take up the Juice and administer it

As you receive the Cup- bow your head

Remember how Christ's blood was

Poured out for each of us

until we shall all partake of the Juice together

Deacons serve the Church

Head of Deacons serves Deacons and me

I serve head of Deacons

Give thanks for the Precious Blood-Deacon:

Read vs I Cor 11:25 - Seat deacons

III. The Movement of Revelation of the Second Coming