Different Strokes... Assisting with the Lord's Supper Part 2

So you've been invited to assist with serving the Lord's Supper (or Eucharist, or Communion, or whatever name your church prefers).

Some churches are more strict about how things are done, and about training or not training people in their roles.  In some, you have to undergo a course, and then be authorised by the local Bishop, to serve the Lord's Supper.  In others, anyone can be roped in at the last minute.

I think the Lord's Supper is such an important part of our Christian life that anyone who helps to serve should first, be known to be a believer.  They should be someone who is known to be responsible, and respectful.  But happily, they don't have to be perfect ...  I do think it's very wise to spend a bit of time on training before they begin, and then to follow up with encouragement and advice over time. 

First let me say that there are a great many different ways to organise a celebration of the Lord's Supper, and every church will do it slightly differently, if not vastly differently.  That is in part a function of the number of people in the congregation.  But it's also a reflection of your theology - your understanding of God. 

For example, if your church emphasises that every believer is a priest, as Peter suggests in 1 Peter 2:9, then you might each serve the bread and the wine to the person next to you: once each person has been given and eaten a piece of the bread, they take the loaf, turn to the next person, and pull a chunk off to give them.  Your pastor might suggest some words to say as you serve each element, or it might be a silent celebration.

Or your church might emphasise that some people within the congregation have been especially set apart to perform a priestly role, and so only a specially authorised person is permitted to lead the Lord's Supper service, and only people who are specially authorised are permitted to serve the bread and wine. The prayers may be laid out in an authorised prayer book, and the celebration may include colourful robes, stately processions, bowing and graceful hand movements, and so on.

There's a lot of diversity between Anglican churches, and between Anglican ministers, so some will look more like the first, and some more like the second.  I confess that personally I prefer the first, and I believe it is a better reflection of our Lord's intention;  but in my current church, we're more 'middle of the road' - we have authorised people leading and serving, but the ceremony is relatively casual.