Communion

The Lord’s Supper is the sign and seal of eating and drinking in communion with the crucified and risen Lord. During his earthly ministry Jesus shared meals with his followers as a sign of community and acceptance and as an occasion for his own ministry. He celebrated Israel’s feasts of covenant commemoration. In his last meal before his death, Jesus took and shared with his disciples the bread and wine, speaking of them as his body and blood, signs of the new covenant. He commended breaking bread and sharing a cup to remember and proclaim his death.

On the day of his resurrection, the risen Jesus made himself known to his followers in the breaking of bread. He continued to show himself to believers, by blessing and breaking bread, by preparing, serving, and sharing common meals.

Current PC(USA) polity upholds the relationship between baptism and communion by asserting that the Lord’s Supper is a sacramental meal to be shared by baptized believers.

PCBV practices an open communion in the tradition of the Presbyterian Church believing that the invitation to receive communion is an invitation to Christ’s table, and that it is not the province of human beings to interfere between an individual and Christ.

During Communion we eat the bread individually and drink the juice together.

As we pass the bread we say “The body of Christ broken for you”.

The response is “Amen”.

As we pass the juice we say: “The blood of Christ shed for you”.

The response is “Amen”.

At PCBV Communion is held usually on the first Sunday of each month, World Communion Sunday, and the following holy days:

  • Baptism of our Lord
  • Transfiguration of our Lord
  • Ash Wednesday
  • Palm Sunday
  • Maundy Thursday
  • Easter Sunday
  • Pentecost
  • Trinity Sunday
  • Christ the King Sunday
  • Christmas Eve