Dear Church Family,
While we continue to be unable to meet together for worship, we are profoundly grateful to the Lord for the technology made available to worship at home during these extraordinary times.
As you know, the Lord’s Supper is a gift of grace the Lord gives His people that they might grow in grace. Through the setting apart of common elements, the Holy Spirit graciously uses the them as a “visible sermon” to seal the promises of the Gospel to His people’s hearts and to cause them to believe and rest more deeply in them. A wonderful gift indeed!
While this sacrament is given to the Church to participate in together, the Westminster Confession of Faith (29.4) and the EPC Book of Worship (3-3G) make provision for individuals who want to participate but are unable to join the physical gathering of God’s people due to circumstances beyond their control. Given our current circumstances, we most certainly fall within those provisions. Therefore, while its not ideal to participate in the Lord’s Supper apart from one another, we believe it is better to observe the sacrament than to deprive each other the spiritual nourishment and growth of grace that results from participating in it by faith!
How to prepare:
- Prior to the service, select the elements you will use to represent the body and blood of Jesus. We realize that many of you will need to be creative in the common elements you choose in order to observe the Lord’s Supper. Remember, it is not the elements which bring grace to us, but the Holy Spirit!
- In order to have the appropriate reverence for this meal, set your chosen elements aside prior to Sunday morning. This will not only help you prepare for worship; it will also give your family a tangible object to see during the week and thus give you the opportunity to reflect on the sacrament’s importance.
- The pastors will instruct you in all that you will need to do in order to participate as they lead in the “Liturgy of the Table” during the service.
We realize it’s a great disappointment for all of us that we won’t be together for this high moment of worship. However, we trust the Lord will use these home communion services to bless us!
We love you, church family! May God be glorified, and His people edified!
