Lynne McNeil Editor

EDITORIAL

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HOW often do you celebrate the sacrament of communion?

The standard for many Church of Scotland parishes seems to be around four times a year and an occasional special one, perhaps at Easter.

Yet communion, one of the most special and holy moments within our Church, can provoke many different opinions and debates. This month’s cover feature looks at the sacrament and its place within the Church of Scotland.

For some, Communion Sunday can be a source of irritation, with services lasting a little longer than usual. For others, the sacrament is not celebrated often enough. The reformers themselves were divided over the issue, with Calvin and Luther in favour of weekly communion, whilst Knox preferred a less frequent model.

The delivery of the sacrament can also divide if new ministers adopt a different approach. Some congregations have retained the common cup of wine, whilst others have adopted the approach of offering individual thimbles. The letters pages of this magazine, have, in the past, also carried debates about the type of bread used in communion with some suggesting that artisan homebaked bread could be used instead of a standard white loaf. I also remember the controversy many years ago when it was suggested non alcoholic wines could be used as a communion alternative.

This year’s General Assembly saw the subject of children and communion raised again. It’s 25 years since the Assembly approved a report allowing baptised children to partake of the Lord’s Supper.

“Perhaps there needs to be a wider look at the practice of communion in general.”

Today there will likely be a number of unbaptised children taking part in worship and this may now be a barrier for some who are part of the church family and exclude them from moving on in their faith journey. The official number of children who celebrate communion is, however, tiny compared to the numbers passing through the Church doors every week.

The Church – and the western Christian community – has changed dramatically since the original report and this year’s Assembly agreed to look again at the rules concerning children and communion.

But perhaps there needs to be a wider look at the practice of communion in general. Should it be something reserved for special Sundays in the year, or should it be celebrated more often and more widely?

Communion Monday at the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland is a particularly special moment during the week. There is a sense of solemn unity in sharing a common path, regardless of divisions. It is an integral part of the day and eagerly anticipated by commissioners and is an uplifting time during the week.

What would be wonderful to experience would be to re-energise communion in our local churches with a sense of wonder at the mystery of the sacrament and end the days of sighs and watch tapping.