Brethren Communion & Love Feast

Brethren Communion & Love Feast

A four-part service of: The Meal, Feet Washing, Sacrament of Bread, Sacrament of the Cup

The Meal

📷As the disciples gathered around a table to share a meal with Christ during their observance of passover, the Brethren also gather at tables to share a meal with Christ. It is a time of quiet fellowship, introspection, and worship. Not all local churches follow the same order of service, but each incorporate all four parts; the Meal, Feet Washing, and the Sacraments of Bread & Cup. This first stage of communion is usually a simple meal consisting of a single bowl filled with a soup-broth mixture which is most often beef, rice, and pieces of bread, although the ingredients do vary among different congregations. The communion service is usually held in the sanctuary with uniquely constructed shelves, fastened to the back of each pew in order to support all the elements of the communion service. “Now when the even was come, he sat down with the twelve. And as they did eat...” (Matthew 26:20-21). This time of eating is an opportunity for reverent fellowship. Moderate conversation along spiritual themes is frequently encouraged. In older times, the preparation of the meal itself was an all day's job. Some churches used large butchering kettles over an open flame to boil the meat. As families gathered to help prepare, it became a time of bonding and renewal. Children played games while adults talked about meal preparation in bygone years or general church life.

During that first Biblical communion service in the Upper Room, the disciples began arguing about who would be the greatest in the coming kingdom. “And there was also a strife among them, which of them should be accounted the greatest,” (Luke 22:24). It's human nature to vie for dominance and this jostling for priority resulting in a hierarchy has been labeled the “pecking order” among behavioral scientists. Jesus was displeased with this unspiritual exhibition of self-centeredness. And he said unto them, “The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them...But ye shall not be so, but he that is greatest among you...as he that doth serve,” (Luke 22:25-26).

Feet Washing

📷It is very possible that while the disciples were quarreling over hierarchy in the coming kingdom that Jesus chose to theatrically impress upon them how God perceives greatness. Quietly leaving the table, He girded Himself with a towel in the role of a servant and proceeded to wash their feet, a common task of slaves who refreshed sandal clad travelers upon entering a house. The disparity of role playing attained an immediate response from the very one who would have assumed the greater role in the kingdom, Peter. Although other denominations regard this event as a teaching rather than an ordinance, the Brethren continue to follow Christ's example because He clearly said, “ye should do as I have done to you,” (John 13:15). In a typical Brethren communion service, men and women sit on opposite sides of the sanctuary and sing favorite hymns, a capella, during the feet washing service. Men remove foot wear while seated in each pew, and women generally walk to another room of the church to remove shoes and hosiery. As instructed by an appointed deacon, each member then walks to the front of the church, sitting on the first pew and positioning, in turn, each foot in a basin of water. A waiting celebrant washes one foot at a time and dries each with a towel, girded at the waist with a string. Traditionally, each participant then embraces with a holy kiss and customarily greets the other with “God bless you (first name).” Roles are then exchanged so that the latter is girded with the same or fresh dry towel in order to wash the feet of the next person coming forward as the previous member returns to his/her seat. Feet washing continues to cycle in this fashion until each member has participated. This current method is called the ‘single mode’ as opposed to the former ‘double mode’ in which one person would continue to only wash feet while another person would only dry. It was not without worldly dismay and heated debate as the single mode gradually became more popular in one congregation after another.

Singing familiar hymns, a capella, during this service has a dynamic impact on formative hearts. Tears of joy frequently issue as persons of all socio-economic and occupational levels commune in a classless harmony of worship and praise. In melodious quietude, one often recalls past communion services and is additionally enriched by the import of their remembrance. Tragically, many of us also notice that departed loved ones are not present at the table. Although tears of remorse may flood our eyes, they are changed to tears of hope as we look forward to that great communion in God's coming kingdom, when we shall once again embrace each other in Christian love, but in a new multi-dimensional communion. A favorite minister repeatedly made the analogy during this part of the service of our need to “clear the pipes” before the contents may flow easily. He meant that before communication can freely flow vertically between us and God, we must first restore communication horizontally between our fellow members. In other words, before the sacraments of bread and cup which restore us vertically with God, we should wash each others feet and reaffirm our Christian love to our brothers and sisters. We need to remove any obstructions in our horizontal relationships before we may “clear the pipe” in our vertical relationship with God.

“He riseth from supper, and laid aside his garments; and took a towel, and girded himself. After that he poureth water into a basin, and began to wash the disciples' feet, and to wipe them with the towel wherewith he was girded,” (John 13:4-5). 📷“So after he had washed their feet, and had taken his garments, and was set down again, he said unto them, Know ye what I have done to you? Ye call me Master and Lord: and ye say well; for so I am. If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another's feet. For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you. Verily, verily, I say unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord; neither he that is sent greater than he that sent him. If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them,” (John 13:12-17).

Sacrament of the Bread

📷Bread is a universal food product which is known in almost every country of the world. It is simple, yet very nourishing. How appropriate that Christ used it to represent Himself, for His message of repentance and restoration is universally simplistic and nourishing to hearts and minds suffering from spiritual emptiness. During the last supper with His disciples, Jesus took bread, and blessed it prior to breaking it. More than one pastor has seen a deeper truth in this action, for the bread may also symbolize each of us as Christians. Jesus takes our searching hearts from the routine of daily living and blesses them in consecration for service before He breaks us with trials and hardships that are intended to increase our commitment for service. As we are broken for service, we are strengthened as we realize that Christ becomes our power for service. Jesus did the very same thing when feeding the multitude. He blessed the bread, broke it, and then the miracle took place. Likewise, if we humble ourselves to the leading of Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit will also direct our contrite hearts along miraculous pathways of service. Our responsibility is to yield ourselves to God.

Brethren observe these considerations during the receiving of the first sacrament of communion. Historically, the Brethren and other Anabaptist groups reject the doctrine of Transubstantiation which holds that the bread actually becomes Christ's body. Although scripture records these very words “Take, eat; this is my body,” (Matthew 26:26), Anabaptists regard the bread only as a symbol, and hold that this belief does not diminish it's sacredness. Procedures and methods vary among local churches, but generally, deacon wives will meet in the church kitchen, days before the communion service in order to bake unleavened bread. Usually it is formed into long strips, one inch wide, and then cut at three or four inch intervals so that two people may simultaneously hold one piece and break it together. During the service of communion, the presiding minister typically asks each member to share one piece of bread with another member. Following a brief prayer of consecration, each person recites the words of Apostle Paul, “The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ?” (1 Corinthians 10:16), and further attempts to break the bread during the recitation when saying the very word “break.” One of this writers childhood memories of communion was actually following the evening service at dismissal when he would race through the back pews having clean, unused tables, yet containing fresh, sweet communion bread. After collecting several pieces, he would then run off to a private classroom to enjoy his treasure. Now as a middle-age adult, he observes small boys and girls doing the very same thing, and with difficulty, resists a “tear of remembrance.”

“And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and blessed it, and brake it, and gave it to the disciples, and said, Take, eat; this is my body,” (Matthew 26:26). 📷“And as they did eat, Jesus took bread, and blessed, and brake it, and gave to them, and said, Take, eat: this is my body,” (Mark 14:22). 📷“And he took bread, and gave thanks, and brake it, and gave unto them, saying, This is my body which is given for you: this do in remembrance of me,” (Luke 22:19). 📷“Our fathers did eat manna in the desert; as it is written, He gave them bread from heaven to eat. Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Moses gave you not that bread from heaven; but my Father giveth you the true bread from heaven. For the bread of God is he which cometh down from heaven, and giveth life unto the world. Then said they unto him, Lord, evermore give us this bread. And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst,” (John 6:31-35). 📷“The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ? For we being many are one bread, and one body: for we are all partakers of that one bread,” (1 Corinthians 10:16-17).

Sacrament of the Cup

📷As grain offers bread, likewise the fruit of the vine yields a multitude of products to consumers world-wide, some of which are intoxicating. Although more liturgical denominations may use wine as the communion sacrament, the Brethren insistence on temperance generally excludes it. Vineyard oriented words occur at least 520 times in the Old and New Testaments, bringing joy at a marriage in Cana, healing wounds on the road to Jericho, an element of passover, and the shamefulness of Noah. Additionally, it's storage in animal skins offered a parable of Christ's kingdom in Matthew 9:17, and on the pathway from the Upper Room to Gethsemane, it's trunk served to illustrate a believers dependence on Christ as the vine from which all the branches receive their life sustaining nourishment. Brethren furnish each table with enough small glasses of grape juice to accommodate the number of adults that may comfortably sit in one row. The presiding minister instructs that the previously filled glasses be carefully passed from their repository to all celebrants in each row. Following brief remarks and a prayer of consecration, each member repeats the words of Apostle Paul, “The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ?” (1 Corinthians 10:16). While drinking the Blessing, members are encouraged to consider that it symbolically represents the shed blood of Jesus Christ, and to additionally reflect on the price of His sacrificial death that has reconciled us to God. “For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do show the Lord's death till he come,” (1 Corinthians 11:26). Closely observing that final night in the Upper Room, “And when they had sung an hymn, they went out into the mount of Olives,” (Matthew 26:30), a final hymn precedes dismissal.

“And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, Drink ye all of it; For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins,” (Matthew 26:27-28). 📷“And he took the cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them: and they all drank of it. And he said unto them, This is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many,” (Mark 14:23-24). 📷“Likewise also the cup after supper, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood, which is shed for you,” (Luke 22:20). 📷“The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ?” (1 Corinthians 10:16). 📷“I will not drink henceforth of this fruit of the vine, until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father's kingdom,” (Matthew 26:29). 📷“Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, ye have no life in you. Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day,” (John 6:53-54).

“For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do show the Lord's death till he come.” 1 Corinthians 11:26