today was communoin at my church and for reasons i did not feel that the crowd was in to the service . they did not know how to respond to prayers or the general confession and i must admit that i learn it as a chidl in sunday school as part of the advancement teaching . do any your churches do this any more ? or has the spirituality of the communion service going out of it and people or taking it for granted? has it got to the point of give me ,my wine and wafer and let me go. because we even have the benditicion after the opening of the communion service . am i just old fashion in my belief or in the teaching of the ame church ? or is there a set structure for communion services ?

-- Anonymous, October 05, 2003

Answers

May I suggest that you observe the Lord's Body and Blood rather than the crowd. BE Blessed

-- Anonymous, October 05, 2003

I feel you sis King, it's too much distraction going on in my church during the Lord's Supper. People are walking in and out of the church, talking ( not whispering) while in line waiting. This Sunday I did a lot of silent praying during the entire service. It's easy fro you to tell us the lay Pastor Parish to stay focus when there is so much movement around during the worship service. Like sister King,I am an old fashions AME and I feel that the Commmunios is a very spiritual time of the service and should be reverence. People are in such a hurry to rush out into the world until the Holiness of the communion is missig. Pastor made the statement he will move as fas as the cobgregation move. The members are more concern with getting out in time to see football rather that offering service in the community. God help us all.

-- Anonymous, October 06, 2003

Sunday was World Communion Sunday and as Allen Chapel AME Church's (Greenwood, SC) contribution, I asked that family receive the Lord's Supper together as opposed to Officers, Members, Choir then Ushers. IT WAS SIMPLY BEAUTIFUL. When I and the associate minister went to wash our hands, I asked the congregation to sit with their family members to receive the Lord's Supper, then I called each family one by one. Rev. Reagins, the Local Elder at the church, distributed the bread and I give the wine. I instructed the family to take the bread together and distributed the wine. AGAIN, IT WAS BEAUTIFUL. It was the first time that I had so few unused communion cups left over. It was very moving and very spiritual.

-- Anonymous, October 06, 2003

Hello, In respone to Roslaind King's question...

At my church, communion service is a holy event. During the communion service, no one can go in and go out the santuary. There is NO moving around at all. If you have to leave, you must do it before the communion service. The santuary is quiet and prayerful. Most of the people at my church take this seriously or at lest respectable. I know of several churches like this.

I can understand your sadness on this matter and you are NOT old fashion about your beliefs. I am 19 years old and I believe the in those same beliefs as you. The LORD commanded us to do this in remembrance of Him and not to take it unworthy according to the scriptures.

Fedrick Allen Wilson

-- Anonymous, October 06, 2003