Lord's Supper as the central act of Christian worship?

[cjbauere]

Over the years I have attended many Protestant Sunday services (my wife is a non-Catholic Christian). One thing has always puzzled me. Why, when these churches consider the Lord’s Supper (communion) as the central act of Christian worship, does it come so early, rather than later in the service? Logically speaking, shouldn’t something so climactic come at the end of the service? From my observation the sermon has replaced the Lord’s Supper as the central act of Christian (Protestant) worship.

 

[reteeks21]

Over the years I have attended many Protestant Sunday services (my wife is a non-Catholic Christian). One thing has always puzzled me. Why, when these churches consider the Lord’s Supper (communion) as the central act of Christian worship, does it come so early, rather than later in the service? Logically speaking, shouldn’t something so climactic come at the end of the service? From my observation the sermon has replaced the Lord’s Supper as the central act of Christian (Protestant) worship.

The Protestant pastors I know don’t want to have communion overshadow God’s Word. Simply put, they don’t want them to forget the Bible. Now, I know that if we read Scripture we see that communion is VERY important, but so is teaching. I, personally, believe that they both are important and that communion needs to be stressed heavily when it is done because we shouldn’t receive Christ in an unworthy manner. Sometimes one tends to over-shadow the other, and I believe that there should be a holy balance.

P.S.
I have never been a part of a service where communion comes early. It has always been at the end, but that’s just my experience.

 

[Contarini]

Over the years I have attended many Protestant Sunday services (my wife is a non-Catholic Christian). One thing has always puzzled me. Why, when these churches consider the Lord’s Supper (communion) as the central act of Christian worship, does it come so early, rather than later in the service? Logically speaking, shouldn’t something so climactic come at the end of the service? From my observation the sermon has replaced the Lord’s Supper as the central act of Christian (Protestant) worship.

What kind of churches have the Lord’s Supper early? The Plymouth Brethren do, at least in Romania. I can’t think offhand of any others.

Edwin

 

[cjbauere]

What kind of churches have the Lord’s Supper early? The Plymouth Brethren do, at least in Romania. I can’t think offhand of any others.

Edwin

Early in that it comes before a typical 30 min. to 40 min. sermon during a 1 hour service.

 

[cjbauere]

The Protestant pastors I know don’t want to have communion overshadow God’s Word. Simply put, they don’t want them to forget the Bible. Now, I know that if we read Scripture we see that communion is VERY important, but so is teaching. I, personally, believe that they both are important and that communion needs to be stressed heavily when it is done because we shouldn’t receive Christ in an unworthy manner. Sometimes one tends to over-shadow the other, and I believe that there should be a holy balance.

The key word here though is “central”. If, as you say there should be a holy balance, then why use the word central? Why not integral? Or, change the phrase to include “the Word”?

 

[reteeks21]

The key word here though is “central”. If, as you say there should be a holy balance, then why use the word central? Why not integral? Or, change the phrase to include “the Word”?

I didn’t use the word “central”. I simply said there should be a balance. I’m not sure what’s difficult about that. Rather than central, let there be a balance.

 

[cjbauere]

I didn’t use the word “central”. I simply said there should be a balance. I’m not sure what’s difficult about that. Rather than central, let there be a balance.

My bad I should have clarified. The use of the word “central” comes from one of several “Core Beliefs” listed on the back of a bulletin I recently received.

 

[Publisher]

Among Friends the whole meeting for worship is an opportunity for communion. Each moment, each word spoken, if the Spirit moves someone to provide vocal ministry, is part of the whole Communion with one another and the Presence in our midst together. The idea that any part of the meeting for worship is “separated” from “communion” is not considered. One of the very “reasons” Friends do not use the “outward signs” of bread and wine is this very “misunderstanding” of what communion should be…each aspect…each moment…each “act” of worship should embrace the “communion experience”.

 

[MusicMan]

I’ve been the organist at services across mainline Protestantism. The Holy Communion is always last, and those parishes follow the standard, if not stripped down, Liturgy of the Word - Sermon - Liturgy of the Eucharist model that the Catholic Church uses.

 

[Contarini]

Early in that it comes before a typical 30 min. to 40 min. sermon during a 1 hour service.

Yes, I understand that. Admittedly, since low-church Protestants have communion infrequently (at least in the U.S.) and my family attended church irregularly (because we had a home Bible study group and thought that most organized churches were too worldly), I may not remember the order very clearly. But it seems to me that nearly every Protestant worship service I’ve been to (with the PBs a notable exception) had communion after the sermon.

Again, what denominations or traditions are you talking about, and in what country or countries?

Edwin

 

[Nominefili]

Over the years I have attended many Protestant Sunday services (my wife is a non-Catholic Christian). One thing has always puzzled me. Why, when these churches consider the Lord’s Supper (communion) as the central act of Christian worship, does it come so early, rather than later in the service? Logically speaking, shouldn’t something so climactic come at the end of the service? From my observation the sermon has replaced the Lord’s Supper as the central act of Christian (Protestant) worship.

In traditional Lutheran services, the Lord’s supper is more or less the last part of the service. It comes after the prayers of the church, after confession + absolution, after the sermon, after any Baptisms that might take place that day, etc.

 

[4Squarebaby]

Well you said it yourself “central to worship”. In general services begin with praise and worship on a communion Sunday it becomes the ultimate or closing act of the worshipping part of the service.

Afterwards would come announcements and church business followed by the sermon or teaching portion of a Sunday service.

 

[Hisalone]

Over the years I have attended many Protestant Sunday services (my wife is a non-Catholic Christian). One thing has always puzzled me. Why, when these churches consider the Lord’s Supper (communion) as the central act of Christian worship, does it come so early, rather than later in the service? Logically speaking, shouldn’t something so climactic come at the end of the service? From my observation the sermon has replaced the Lord’s Supper as the central act of Christian (Protestant) worship.

NonDenom here. We do it at the end.

 

[Drawmack]

NonDenom here. We do it at the end.

Yup, pretty much right before walking out the doors.

 

[Contarini]

Well you said it yourself “central to worship”. In general services begin with praise and worship on a communion Sunday it becomes the ultimate or closing act of the worshipping part of the service.

Afterwards would come announcements and church business followed by the sermon or teaching portion of a Sunday service.

OK–*that’s *probably what the OP was talking about. I don’t think I’ve ever been to a communion service in a Protestant church that was structured in that way.

“Central” doesn’t mean literally “in the middle time-wise” but “climactic” (at least that’s how I would use it, and how I think the OP is using it).

That being said, in practice the Orthodox often have the sermon after the Liturgy, which reflects a somewhat similar approach. Orthodox liturgists typically push to put the sermon in the more ancient place, at the end of the Liturgy of the Word. But in practice for much of Orthodox history laypeople haven’t really been able to follow the Liturgy of the Word, so it makes sense that the entire Liturgy would be seen as corresponding to your “worshiping part of the service” followed by a (brief, in their case) sermon.

I think that at one time Catholics also did this, but I could be wrong.

Edwin

 

[PJM]

Over the years I have attended many Protestant Sunday services (my wife is a non-Catholic Christian). One thing has always puzzled me. Why, when these churches consider the Lord’s Supper (communion) as the central act of Christian worship, does it come so early, rather than later in the service? Logically speaking, shouldn’t something so climactic come at the end of the service? From my observation the sermon has replaced the Lord’s Supper as the central act of Christian (Protestant) worship.

Friend, you are precisely correct

The reason for this is unbelief because of a lack of Faith. They can’t see Jesus, thus “he can’t be there.” The lack of Faith is so lacking as to lead many to create their own versions of what Jesus in a most clear and articulate manner tells all in His Divinely Inspired Words just ain’t so!

On the other hand, one can see, hear and read The Word of God [despite a very common Protestant lack of understanding of even the most clear and obvious intent passages.] Therefore it “is” and consequently it takes precedence over what they choose to understand as a “mythical presence.”

What is also evident is the carryover of this mentality to our Catholic Church. At the cost of countless souls!

Renouncing Christ catholic’s [fall-away’s] are the second largest christian denomination .

Love and prayers

Dear God save us!

 

[ferdie]

Over the years I have attended many Protestant Sunday services (my wife is a non-Catholic Christian). One thing has always puzzled me. Why, when these churches consider the Lord’s Supper (communion) as the central act of Christian worship, does it come so early, rather than later in the service? Logically speaking, shouldn’t something so climactic come at the end of the service? From my observation the sermon has replaced the Lord’s Supper as the central act of Christian (Protestant) worship.

The Mass is at the heart of Christian life, and the public worship of the Catholic Church. The liturgy dramatically presents our faith to us, the creation, incarnation, and redemption.
Well, as some protestants rejected the Real Presence of Jesus Christ in the Eucharist, I guess they are left with a need to replace the Catholic Mass with word service, sermon, or preaching.The pulpit becomes more important the the altar

 

[gurneyhalleck1]

By the time of the end of the Middle Ages, the sermons and didactic part of the Mass had become so watered-down and substandard that the Protestant Reformers felt it incumbent upon themselves to revitalize the Word of God with quality sermons and real strong preaching. Sadly, the Holy Communion became a bit diminished. Some Lutherans and Anglicans, etc. only celebrated the Eucharist once a month or biweekly or even every other month in some places. Mainline Protestant denominations rediscovered the importance of Communion over time. Most Anglican churches have celebrated the Eucharist as the summit of their worship now for decades. The Catholic Church took a leadership role and showed itself to be the role model by always faithfully placing Communion as the heart and soul and central moment of the Mass. I think many Protestant followed suit and learned this importance from Catholicism.

 

[JonNC]

By the time of the end of the Middle Ages, the sermons and didactic part of the Mass had become so watered-down and substandard that the Protestant Reformers felt it incumbent upon themselves to revitalize the Word of God with quality sermons and real strong preaching. Sadly, the Holy Communion became a bit diminished. Some Lutherans and Anglicans, etc. only celebrated the Eucharist once a month or biweekly or even every other month in some places. Mainline Protestant denominations rediscovered the importance of Communion over time. Most Anglican churches have celebrated the Eucharist as the summit of their worship now for decades. The Catholic Church took a leadership role and showed itself to be the role model by always faithfully placing Communion as the heart and soul and central moment of the Mass. I think many Protestant followed suit and learned this importance from Catholicism.

Well said, Scott.
When I was a kid, my dad’s church only wanted the scarament once a month, no matter how hard he tried to convey true Lutheran teaching.
Fortunately, this is changing, and I think it is in part due to Catholic leadership by example in this area.

Late LCMS presidant A.L.Barry said:

Our Lutheran Confessions make it clear that the Lord’s Supper is offered every Lord’s Day and on other days when there are communicants present (AC XXIV. 34 and Ap. XXIV. 1). In saying this, our Confessions are merely reflecting the truth of the Sacred Scriptures, which place the Lord’s Supper at the center of worship (Acts 2:42; 20:7; 1 Cor. 11:20, 33), not as an appendage or an occasional extra.

Jon

 

[gcnuss]

When I was a kid, my dad’s church only wanted the scarament once a month, no matter how hard he tried to convey true Lutheran teaching.
Fortunately, this is changing, and I think it is in part due to Catholic leadership by example in this area.

Jon,

Of course, we have those Lutherans who not only don’t want to be led by the Catholic example, they don’t want to do anything that appears Catholic – for instance, receiving communion every week. It’s the old “too Catholic” argument. When I tried to have a constructive discussion on this, one member’s response was "I was raised anti-Catholic and I’ll stay anti-Catholic. That was his sole thought about increasing the frequency of communion.

That said, we have moved to more frequent communion if not every Sunday. If I count it up, we celebrate communion on about two-thirds of the Sundays in the Church year, including every Sunday from Palm Sunday through Trinity Sunday. And, my anti-Catholic member and his wife have departed for a congregation where they don’t have communion so often.