Canadian Mennonite
Volume 8, Number 12
June 14, 2004
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Communion at Emmanuel

Winkler, Man.

Acrylic painting by Chad Friesen

Communion at Emmanuel Mennonite Church here is a sacred event celebrated eight or nine times a year.

Every Maundy Thursday, just before Good Friday, the church holds a love feast. The evening begins with a meal of soup and bread, followed by the story of Jesus’ betrayal and the last supper. Seated around tables, members break bread for one other and share grape juice.

The story of Jesus washing his disciples’ feet in John 13 leads to an invitation for members to demonstrate their willingness to serve one another, and accept service, by participating in footwashing or hand washing.

A rugged cross is a focal point.

“People are invited to pray at the cross,” said Marvin Koop, pastor. “There is continual movement to the cross. We try to connect our Lenten theme to the service. One year we had a broken pot and the pieces were placed on each table. People brought these pieces to the cross as symbols of their brokenness.”

Another occasion when communion is celebrated is in midsummer, when the church family is more scattered.

“In a time when we’re all going different ways it serves to draw us together,” said Koop.

Emmanuel Mennonite also brings in the new year with a communion service.

In addition, Easter Sunday, World Communion Sunday in October, and the first Sunday of Advent are always celebrated with communion. Every baptism service includes a communion celebration.

“In 2002 we had four or five baptism services, but usually there aren’t more than two,” said Koop. Emmanuel Mennonite has two worship services every Sunday to accommodate a membership of over 200.

Koop recalled that when he came nine years ago, communion services were sometimes held Sunday evenings. Attendance, however, was low and now communion is part of morning worship, except for Maundy Thursday.

“At our communion services…all who are baptized are invited to partake,” he said. “We begin with an explanation of what communion means, have a prayer of confession and then pass the peace of Christ.”

Sometimes the two pastors and lay minister invite participants to come to the front in small groups to receive the communion elements and a blessing. Other times the deacons serve the elements to members in the pews.

“Sometimes, especially at our Easter Sunday communion service, we have a more celebratory communion,” said Koop. “We have a banquet-type of display with special fruits. We have a large communion banner which we display at all communion services.”—Evelyn Rempel Petkau




Natural altar call

Communion symbols point to God’s greatest expression of grace and forgiveness. Communion is therefore the most natural “altar call” opportunity that the church has. We don’t need to guard the gate of grace; we need to open it for all.

While communion is for those who confess Jesus as Lord, I have always used it as an occasion to invite any who hear God calling them to make a confession of faith to come and receive the bread and wine. In this way they make their intentions known that they want to become disciples of Jesus.

I have found that having people come forward as households, blessing the children, and having pastors and elders who are offering the symbols use people’s names as they give communion, make for powerful connections.

I sometimes have a quick prayer with a person I know is experiencing difficult times. If new people come, I ask them their names.

Communion should not be less than four times a year, and preferably more. For me, Good Friday has been a time to include a service of healing. As people come forward, they have an opportunity to have an anointing service first, then communion.—Lawrence Martin, Minister of Pastoral Leadership Training, Mennonite Church Eastern Canada






Artwork by Rita Corbin






Communion traditions in Saskatchewan

Communion takes many forms among Saskatchewan Mennonites. Some sit; others walk to the front to receive the elements. In some churches members receive the bread and cup from the pastor; in others, they serve each other.

Whether or not to include children in communion is also handled differently by different congregations.

Some churches, like Grace Mennonite in Regina, welcome all children to the table. In this congregation, a number of families come from different faith backgrounds where children have participated in communion.

Grapes and fish-shaped crackers are given to those children who “anticipate making an adult decision for baptism in the future,” said Grace co-pastor Terry Zimmerly.

Carrot River Mennonite allows children to be involved according to the parents’ discretion. “If the parents feel that their children understand the significance of communion, they can include them in the service,” said pastor Craig Friesen.

“I have invited parents to educate their children about the significance of this service,” noted Ed Olfert, pastor of Grace Mennonite in Prince Albert, who allows the children to take communion, citing the constitutional qualifier of “all believers in Jesus Christ are welcome to participate.”

Where ailing seniors are unable to come to a communion service, the pastor and deacons take a communion kit to the care home and administer the elements there.

Other variations pop up in which elements are used and how they are used. In Hague Mennonite and Grace Mennonite, Prince Albert, for example, there are both formal and informal expressions of communion. During the formal times, juice or wine is used in a somber, reflective service, along with traditional baked biscuits or bread. The elements are carried through the sanctuary and served by deacons or other members.

In a less formal setting, such as an evening service or a church retreat, a French bread loaf is shared around the group. Sometimes even cinnamon buns are used.

Hague Mennonite observes a “love meal” twice a year in the evening. First Mennonite in Saskatoon has a healing and communion service once a year in January.

Deciding who serves the communion can sometimes be a struggle. At one larger church in Saskatoon, deacons help the pastors serve the 200 members. In other churches, some women deacons feel they should not be in that role. Sometimes, in more relaxed settings, teenagers may serve the sacraments or people partner up and serve each other.

For communion on Maundy Thursday, some churches use a cross, a crown of thorns and palm branches as visuals to enhance the worship. Grace Mennonite in Prince Albert includes a Christ candle in this service (although allergies are becoming an issue). In Carrot River, the church moves the pulpit over and puts the table in the centre.

Churches differ in using wine or juice. Some churches offer both.—Karin Fehderau


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