How often do you receive communion?

[NicaG]

Forgive my ignorance....in the Episcopal Church, generally every Sunday service celebrates the Eucharist. It's the principal act of worship. I know this is the same in the Roman Catholic Church, and also in the Orthodox Church. But what about Protestant Denominations? It seems like some churches have a service with communion once a month, or maybe even less? Why is that?

[Smokering]

My church (Reformed Baptist) does it twice a month - once at the morning service, then too weeks later at the evening.

AFAIK there's no Scriptural reason for it. It does make the service much longer. Some churches only celebrate it rarely to prevent it becoming a meaningless ritual, in order to keep it 'special'. I think there's a good Scriptural case for doing it regularly and frequently.

My church also uses Ribena, which I think it kinda pathetic (although I hate wine, so it doesn't bug me as much as perhaps it ought). On the plus side, we just started using gluten-free bread.

[SquishyBuggles]

I was raised in the Lutheran Church, Missouri synod and we took it every other week. My husband was raised Baptist and they do it once a month.

[katheek77]

My Presbyterian church has two services on Sunday.

It offers communion weekly at "short" service.

It's once or twice a month at "long" service.

[tricia80]

Twice a year in our church... we also do feet washing as Jesus did at the last supper...

We also do it a bit different... each member wishing to receive communion and gives testimony stating he is right with God and his fellow man.. then members have one week to air any grievances to the ministry if none found then they partake...

[Tradd]

I'm Orthodox and I receive Communion just about every week - unless something happened and I couldn't get to Confession before that Sunday, so then I wouldn't receive.

Frequency of Communion is a very individual thing among the Orthodox. Some receive every week, others less often.

[DahliaRW]

I'm non-denominational Christian and we do it every Sunday, as the Bible shows by example.

Act 20:7 And upon the first [day] of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul preached unto them, ready to depart on the morrow; and continued his speech until midnight.

The express purpose here was that they gathered together to break bread. Everything else seemed to have less of a purpose.

[cappuccinosmom]

evangelical mega-church here.

We usually have it once a month, and also on Christmas, New Year's Eve, and Easter.

[Viola]

Originally Posted by NicaG

It seems like some churches have a service with communion once a month, or maybe even less? Why is that?

I am Presbyterian (PCUSA) and we do it once a month. And then on certain holidays, I guess like Maundy Thursday, Christmas Eve, World Communion Sunday in October. But I don't think we have it on Easter, oddly enough unless it would be our normal day for it, and since we have no Vigil service, it feels lacking. I don't think we do it on Good Friday, either, but I don't believe Episcopalians do either, at least from my recollection.

I used to belong to an Episcopal church and before I had joined, they were in the habit of only doing the Eucharist every other week. On alternating weeks they did Morning Prayer. When the new priest came in, he said that they must add the Eucharist to the Morning Prayer service, so we had two different formats, but always had the Eucharist. It was an old country church, very small attendance, and I guess the families there hadn't wanted to have it every week and got away with not doing so. The new priest started keeping the communion elements in the tabernacle on a continuous basis, and also holding a daily mass.

I'm honestly not sure why my church does it only once a month, other than it is not a sacrament for us, so I guess they feel like they don't have to do it as frequently. Our Book of Order states that the session (the governing body) is responsible for authorizing all observances to ensure regular and frequent celebration, in no case less than quarterly, but more can be added. It almost seems like it's some tradition, because it sounds like you could do it once a week if that is what the people wanted.

[purplestraws]

Our church doesn't do it at any time specifically...basically whenever the church leadership feels led pretty much. It's actually made taking communion a very meaningful thought-provoking time...they really encourage us to examine our relationship with God. It's made a big difference in my spiritual life. The church I went to growing up (Presbyterian) just did it at specific times...and it was just something we did...it didn't really have any spiritual significance to me.

[lilyka]

We have the opprituity to receive every week, and sometimes during the week. So long as i am properly prepared for communion I recieve. Sometimes that is more frequently than others.

[JamieCatheryn]

We do it monthly, first Sunday of the month. Also for holidays sometimes. Open to all born again believers who've shown up and prepared their hearts for the sacrament. We spend a while on it - a worship song while ushers pass out the bread and cups, and someone sharing thoughts and scripture for each element then praying. But we eat together every week so we do "break bread" in community more frequently.

[Kidzaplenty]

:

[holyhelianthus]

I'm assuming communion is the equivalent of the LDS passing of the sacrament??????? If I am correct then we partake every Sunday excepting General and Stake Conference. If I'm wrong ignore me.

[Queen of Cups]

The Baptist church we go to most of the time has communion once a quarter plus at special services (Christmas Eve, Maundi (sp?) Thursday, and maybe another one or two during the year). The idea is that if you do it every week, its not as special. I totally disagree with that though, btw. The Lutheran Church we go to sometimes does it every week. The formerly-Baptist community church we used to go to did it every other week, with prayer/anointing on the alternate weeks.

[PatienceAndLove]

Just an edit on the Catholic thing:
Communion is offered every Sunday, but Catholics are only required to receive once a year.
And they must be Catholic and in a state of Grace (like the Mennonite PP mentioned about being right with God, etc...)

[kapatasana]

Originally Posted by PatienceAndLove

Just an edit on the Catholic thing:
Communion is offered every Sunday, but Catholics are only required to receive once a year.
And they must be Catholic and in a state of Grace (like the Mennonite PP mentioned about being right with God, etc...)

Wow, I learned something here! In all of the the 18 years I spent attending MAss every week, the 8 years in CCD, and the Communion, Reconciliation, and Confirmation classes I'd never heard that before. Is it once a year in general, or does it have to be a specific Mass (like Easter)?

[theretohere]

We have it planned 1st and 3rd Sundays, and it's available every day if you stop by the church. We also have private confession and absolution available twice a week.

[spero]

RC here and generally receive once/week, on the Sabbath day.

When I was a jail chaplain I also rec'd on Fridays, as we held Liturgy and Communion service with the female inmates.

Originally Posted by tricia80

Twice a year in our church... we also do feet washing as Jesus did at the last supper...

We do the foot washing on Holy Thursday/Maundy Thursday. Six people are selected from the congregation and our pastor (Deacon) washes & kisses their feet.

Originally Posted by Viola

I am Presbyterian (PCUSA) and we do it once a month. And then on certain holidays, I guess like Maundy Thursday, Christmas Eve, World Communion Sunday in October. But I don't think we have it on Easter, oddly enough unless it would be our normal day for it, and since we have no Vigil service, it feels lacking. I don't think we do it on Good Friday, either, but I don't believe Episcopalians do either, at least from my recollection.

I grew up Presbyterian and this was my experience ... though I can't remember about Easter, I'll have to ask my mom.

In the Roman Catholic Church, there is never consecration on Good Friday. It is the only day that consecration cannot take place. We do receive (reserved) Communion on that day, though.

[ChasingPeace]

I'm Roman Catholic, but not allowed to receive communion because my dh refuses to get an annulment so our marriage can be convalidated in the Church. So my answer is "never."