Communion in our homes

Dear parents,

We hope and pray that you and your household are well. That in the midst of the all the joys and challenges we are walking through that you are abiding in Christ, Keeping yourself in his love and looking after yourselves and your family.

This Sunday we are for the first time taking communion during this online season. As communicated in the email to the whole church earlier this week we believe this a wonderful gift for us to remember, Encounter & anticipate Jesus together whilst we are scattered.

We are aware that bringing communion into our service brings an interesting question for us as parents. Should our children partake in the breaking of bread? Now each of us will have our own answer to that question and the heart of this email is not to tell anyone how to lead their household but rather to raise some things to ponder that we hope will help and bless you.

1. We believe that communion is a gift for the believer. I do not believe there is an age limit to salvation but I do believe that salvation isn’t automatic just because our parents are believers. Don’t assume your child’s faith but rather use this time to explore where they are at when it comes to things of God. My prayer is that we will hear many testimonies of children and teenagers being saved in during this lockdown.

2. Prepare them beforehand that communion is coming. It will be harder to have a meaningful conversation in the few minutes of the service where we are breaking bread together, so perhaps try and find don’t time to discuss it before our service begins on Sunday morning.

3. Linked to that invite them to ask questions, this could be a wonderful opportunity to teach into meaning and significance of communion. Look to make this about heart connection to God rather then head knowledge of simply knowing what it means. Ask them questions too.

4. You know your child, you know there journey with Jesus and our hope is that this can serve them and you. Our hearts desire is to not bring a declaration over what can and can’t happen but rather a Fatherly exhortation to approach the table in the correct manner, seeing this as a means of grace.

If you aren’t sure about where your children are at with the things of faith, don’t rush on. Be patient with them, invite them to explore and I pray that this season will mean that each of our households can declare in a fresh way “As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” Joshua 24:15

Please do get in touch if you have any questions or concerns.

Love in him
The elders