By Ron Higey

“Do this in remembrance of me” (1 Cor. 11:25). What these words, used regarding communion, actually mean continually challenges me. In talking with many people, these words are generally understood to mean that we remember Jesus’ death and resurrection. However, Jesus’ work on the cross cannot be separated from the totality of His life. Remembrance of Him, I believe, should be an encompassing journey on the entire life and ministry of Jesus.

But rather than having communion be a powerful time of remembering Jesus, communion and its celebration have often been something that we are not quite sure what to do with, something tacked on at the end of the service. Those rare times where it is moved up in the order of service, it is still rushed through as the sermon remains the focal point of the service.

Communion ought to be a time to encounter our all-sufficient Savior and receive from Him all that He intends for us. It should not be limited to just remembering salvation. I believe that this can only happen as we help our people prepare themselves. This is done primarily through prayer and meditation. To help my congregation with this journey, we decided to change how we do communion.

Now, when we will celebrate communion (once a month in our church) instead of having it be one small part of the service, our church made communion and prayer the focus of the entire service. To have adequate heart preparation we must slow down, focus our minds and give God our full attention. Only then can we hear from the Lord concerning ourselves so that our walk would be blameless.

Here’s how we shape our communion service. We start with singing, meditation and prayer, much prayer. We regularly instruct on the practical aspects of confession and allow for a response, i.e. going to another for reconciliation. Paul said, “So I strive always to keep my conscience clear before God and man” (Acts 24:16). We stress the importance of being pure before the Lord when we come to the Table. Not only do we seek to be blameless, but we encourage our people to seek God for what He might have for them in terms of ministry, body life, job, family and the lost. This becomes a time for us to hear from Jesus the head of the church. Then and only then are we ready for communion.

As we begin this portion of our service, I instruct the congregation to come for the elements after their hearts have been prepared. Our elders come to the front and hold the elements. Instead of passing the elements and serving everyone at the same time, each member comes to an elder to be served. This takes awhile. The elders address each person by name, serve the congregant and then offer to pray for the person. In addition to this, the front of the church is available for people to stay and pray. We have had individuals come and pray for short periods of time and some longer periods of time. Some will take communion first and then pray, while others will pray and then take communion. It is not uncommon for someone from the congregation to come and pray with those in the front.

While the communion service is progressing, another elder is available to pray with those who have physical, mental, emotional or spiritual needs. The elder anoints with oil in obedience to Jas. 5:16. However, the elder does not pray alone. He will ask those sitting in pews to join him in prayer for whatever the need might be. Men, women and children are invited and encouraged to pray. Each member of the body has an opportunity to pray with and for each other.

Communion is now a dynamic, active event. People are moving back and forth, seeking God, being prayed for, praying for others. All the while remembering Jesus—His life and His work.

As a church, it took us the better part of a year for the congregation to fully understand and commit to a participatory style of celebrating communion. We have seen people develop closer relationships, care for each other more throughout the week and grow in their prayer lives. We are still learning and growing in this. Sometimes there is a strong spirit of prayer and other times not as much. We do not force anything, instead we respond to what we see the Spirit of God doing on a particular Sunday.

In reflecting on this, I am convinced that it was the foundation of prayer that made the difference. Our communion service is prayed for throughout the week. Prayer for the service and during the service is expected. The leadership of the church has prayed and leads the church by example in prayer. Our goal as a church is in reality to become a house of prayer. We want not only to pray more, but to see God answer and grow us to a deeper level of praying. The progress we have made toward this goal by raising the emphasis of communion and prayer has been noticeable.

--Rev. Ron Higey is the senior pastor of Vestavia Christian & Missionary Alliance Church in Vestavia, Alabama.