The Sacrament of Holy Communion

or the Lord’s Supper

Holy Communion Overview

Within the United Church of Christ (a denomination of the Reformed Tradition), we believe in two sacraments: Baptism and Holy Communion (otherwise known as the Lord’s Supper).

Communion is recognized within the Reformed Tradition as being a meal of remembrance of the life, death, resurrection, and ascension of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus the Christ; a meal of community bringing even closer together the congregation with one another and with the Trinity; and a tangible expression of the intangible grace of God.

We generally offer Holy Communion on “High Holy Days” (such as Easter, Christmas, and Ash Wednesday) and monthly during Sunday morning worship (usually the first Sunday of the month)

We welcome all those who profess a belief in Jesus Christ to share in Holy Communion. Visitors of other Christian denominations and churches are welcome to share in the sacrament.

Food Sensitivities and Allergies

We offer the option of wine or grape juice. We offer the option of “regular” bread and gluten-free bread.

If you have any additional food allergies or sensitivities, please let us know in advance, so that we can explore options to accommodate your needs.

Virtual Communion

Those joining us live for the live stream (via YouTube, Facebook, Phone Stream, etc) are invited to have their own bread and wine or grape juice to be blessed by the pastors during the live stream. Please note that, as we are referring to the living presence of the Holy Spirit, virtual communion should only be done while watching live and not through a later recording.

Home Communion

Our Elders take communion to our homebound members quarterly (who live within a reasonable driving distance); in addition to our Pastors bringing communion to our homebound throughout the year. If you would like to be added to the Home Communion list, please contact the church office or our Pastors.

For more information about our home visitation ministry, click on this Visitation Ministry link.

Do I First Need To Be Baptized?

Baptism is widely considered to be the first of our two recognized sacraments. Holy Communion is a meal of community; it is through baptism that we become a part of the church, the Body of Christ. Those who are not yet baptized (including children) are welcome to partake of the communion elements, but should seek to become baptized into the faith and family of Jesus Christ, if desiring to continue partaking of the sacrament of communion.

Click on this Baptism link for more information about the Sacrament of Baptism.

Children and Communion

Through the Rite of Confirmation, youth affirm their baptism and make their profession of faith in Jesus Christ as the Lord and Saviour, and as such may participate fully as any other baptized adult. Generally, the Sunday following the Rite of Confirmation, we hold a special communion service, where the newly confirmed youth participate in their first communion as full adult members, using special miniature chalices for the wine/juice, which they get to keep to commemorate the day.

Children of members, who have not yet gone through the Rite of Confirmation, are to: (1) follow the Children and Communion Guidelines; (2) participate in the Children Communion Classes (and refresher classes) prior to communing; and (3) have their parents permission and guidance to participate (in our tradition some parents prefer for their children to wait until being confirmed to participate in Holy Communion).

Those children who are visiting from another church, and have not yet gone through the Rite of Confirmation or Believers Baptism, are welcome to participate with their parents’ permission, if that is the tradition of their home church, as we will honor that tradition here, as well.

Click on this Children and Communion Guidelines link for more details about children’s participation in communion.