A Change to How We Worship

Friends,

Grace and peace to you from our Lord Jesus Christ.

Since the earliest days of the Methodist movement, the Reverend John Wesley encouraged all Christians to partake of the Lord’s Supper as often as they could. Wesley recognized, as United Methodists do today, that not only must we obey our Lord’s command and partake, but that when we come to His Table, God’s grace and our Christ’s presence is made real in the bread and cup. In a sermon titled “The Duty of Constant Communion,” Wesley wrote:

“If therefore we have any regard for the plain command of Christ, if we desire the pardon of our sins, if we wish for strength to believe, to love and obey God, then we should neglect no opportunity of receiving the Lord’s Supper. Then we must never turn our backs on the feast which our Lord has prepared for us.”

Following the American Revolution, the Methodist Episcopal Church was formally organized at the Christmas Conference in 1784. Methodism spread across the newly independent United States so quickly that soon there were more churches worshipping on a Sunday than there were ordained clerics. And without pastors to administer the Sacraments, partaking of the Lord’s Supper every Sunday fell out of practice. This is why many churches still, including ours, continue to celebrate Holy Communion only once a month.

As the world around us breaks and breaks, and evil seems to win the day again and again, I am convinced that the call for us to go deeper in our faith and our Methodist roots is all the more pressing. So starting this Sunday, we will celebrate Holy Communion on the first and third Sundays of each month. I pray that in doing so, we will witness to the profound truth that God’s grace is for all people regardless of who we are or what we have done. That in all things, we do not have to fear because God is with us. And that one day soon, we will feast at our Lord’s heavenly banquet when sin and death will be no more. 

I recognize that this is a significant change to our worshipping life. While I will say more about this on Sunday, please do not hesitate to ask any questions you may have.

I look forward to seeing you.
 
In peace,
Pastor J.J.