The Beauty of Taking Communion at Home

Growing up in a Church of Christ church, we took communion every week. We passed the plate down the pew, took our sip of juice, and remembered all Jesus did for us on the cross. I now attend a large, non-denominational church where we usually take communion once a month. Although it looks different now, I can still smell the pages of the old hymnals and hear the small snaps of the crackers as I break bread with fellow believers. Since moving our services online temporarily during the COVID-19 Crisis, our church celebrates communion weekly -- each of us with makeshift symbols of the body and the blood on our couches and in our kitchens. Many are partaking of The Holy Supper alone and some with spouses and children. All of us are finding a new way of honoring our friend Jesus. There’s something beautiful about taking a sip of Gatorade and eating a Cheez-It to commemorate our Savior’s sacrifice. We’re doing the best we can with what we have, and I know God honors that. My mind wanders to the widow who gave all the money she had. Jesus valued her offering above all the offerings of the rich who gave a portion of their wealth. Mark 12:44 says, she gave “all she had to live on.” (NIV) (See March 12:41-44 for the full story.)We are using all we have to bless the Lord, and He values our offerings. The only other time I’ve taken communion outside of church was at my wedding. I remember it being such a sacred time of awe and worship with my groom, and bringing that into our home each week has sparked something in my soul. I think we are all learning the power of simplicity and the art of humble worship. What we give to God doesn’t have to be a pretty production. We can give him the praise from our lips as we partake of leftover crackers and bread from our pantries. We can pray with our heads bowed and our bodies knelt down beside our couches, the hum of an online pastor playing in the background. We can hold both heartbreak and joy for the new normal of church at home. Maybe communion has never been as sweet as it is with toys in the floor and dishes in the sink. Maybe breaking bread in the place we are called to share love first is the beautiful gift we’ve all been needing.

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