Confession Time! How often do you take Communion?
 

We do it once a year as a rule but there have been years I did it twice I felt the need to do it.

Every "First Wednesday" service (monthly). We also have it available to take individually in our weekly Sunday morning 8 AM prayer service, if people want to go up and partake of it on their own.

once a year, twice tops....

I take it as oft as we do it. Four to six times a year I think.

We have communion the first Sunday of every month at our church.

So the other question is:

What 'form' do you use? Do you do intinction, where you dunk a piece of bread that you tear off of the loaf into the cup of juice? or do you use the little wafer things? Do you use juice or wine? does it make a difference?
Do you pass it out and then hold it so that you can all partake at the same time? or do you come to the altar and take it individually?

And the biggest question of all - does Jesus really CARE how we do it or even how often? As long as we DO it, is that good enough?

There have been times when there was division in the church and I could not preach or pray it out. There is something about communion service that makes folks examine themselves. I don't do this every little problem maybe twice in 13 years but ti has worked each time.

I don't always partake, but I do it once in a while.

My Bishop used grape juice but had, at one time, used wine. I thought his interpretation sounded correct and we've used grape juice... however, I think his spirit was incredible when he said, "I've taken it both ways. I've been blessed both ways. Now it's just a matter of following my beliefs and not wondering if someone can be blessed doing it the other way."

As for the bread? My wife makes our own unleavened bread. Just seems more 'personal' that way and is much more acceptable than those cardboard wafers.

:slaphappy

Our First Wednesday service is an Encounter service, where we just have intense times of praise & worship, usually gifts of the Spirit flowing, deep prayer for healing, Holy Ghost, etc. We don't have preaching/teaching that night. At the end, we always have communion. Sometimes it's very solemn; sometimes very joyful.

We have what we call a "Soaking Service" every Sunday AM at 8:00. It's 45 minutes of just quiet meditative worship with music playing. Some people are prostrate on the floor; some are in seats; some walking and praying. The communion trays are at the front and people can just go up individually instead of corporately and partake. Some participate; some don't. It's an awesome time in the presence of the Lord.

You are from Indiana and you are a juicier??????????????????????? Heaven help.:winkgrin

:sshhh

Bro. Epley, you use wine, right? I have always been leery of using wine because we have a lot of ex-alcoholics who don't need to taste it again in any form. Is that ever a problem?

There twice the amount of alcohol in Nyquil and communion wine. I have served communion to many ex-alcoholic and none of them ever went on an alcoholic binge after a communion service. I believe the new birth delivers them from alcohol.

:winkgrin

Fruit of the vine is Bible talk for WINE. NOT for juice.

Do you think they are never tempted again? I know some who are instantly delivered, but others struggle against temptation all their lives, even filled with the Holy Ghost. I don't think the New Birth keeps you from temptation. JMHO.

WINE is the BIBLE way! The BIBLE way!

Is not grape juice fruit of the vine as well............................ :crazy

:winkgrin

You are probably one of those quacks that believes Jesus turned the water into juice and the people got drunk because of the sugar content!

I insist on taking it at least once a year. I have missed regular communion which is always scheduled on Watch Night service. I then find myself so hungry for it, feeling a great need, I will call a few of my brothers around to share the elements with me, in repentance and contrition followed by a deep searching time of prayer with them. Though we do not have footwashing in our church, there have been times that I've called different ones into a private setting and washed their feet...often with tears.

if it was grape juice in the Bible, then please someone tell me how grape juice did the Corinthians drink to get get drunk and deswerve Paul's rebuke.
(answer found in 1 Cor 11:21)

Did God ever tell the Hebrews, his children to buy and enjoy fermented drink ?
(Answer found in Deut. 14:26)

If wine was grape juice in the bible why did God say, "wine and OTHER fermented drink." ??

Moderation is what is taught in the scripture concerning alcohol.
MODERATION..the most hated word amongst Pentecostal Conservatives.

Never. Our church only does it at the unbiblical "watch night" service, and I am not driving all the way to church (I live out in the country) amongst a bunch of drunk drivers and crazies in the wee hours. Sorry, that is past my bedtime, and my husband would have my hide!

I think the breaking of bread should really be at EVERY time of fellowship with other believers. And I have a big problem with the whole "communion" thing as I was raised catholic. But that's me :-)

Isn't that the truth!:killinme

Our ex-Catholics really want to take communion. I guess I don't understand why it affected you in that way. I mean, I understand if we were doing it in Latin or something. LOL!

On a monthly basis.

I have never found that it has become common.

Personally, I would not have any objection to receiving communion every week.

We used to take it every month but Brother Alvear felt some of the people were not taking it serious as it should be taken so at the present the last time we had it was watch night service. He mentioned to me last week he was fixing to call a communion service. I am glad as it is a special time of remembering the great price that was paid for our salvation.
When I was single (a thousand years ago) ha... I leaned toward wine but Brother Alvear believes it should be grape juice.
Yes, and I do share the concern about people that have drinking problems as I have a sister that has had problems in the past and the doctor told my other sister she should never take communion with wine. Strange but true.
Yes, I do believe God delivers but there is always the human element involved...and we all are very much flesh...
And as someone else said I too have been blessed taking it either way. I make no fusses about it or about most things people fuss about.
I focus on what it represents…HIS precious sacrifice.

We have communion once a month - 2nd Sunday of the month normally. We never had practiced doing it so often until we came here and at first I wondered if it would become "common" by doing it this often but it hasn't become common at all.

Instead, each month it's a wonderful time in the service to reflect on Calvary and what all was accomplished there and what that means to me personally.

We have it ever Sunday morning. For those that think it becomes 'common', why don't you have preaching or singing once a month or once a year as well?

No, it isn't. We never practiced Communion this often before. Usually it was sporadic - a few times a year.

I like monthly better actually. :)