About Holy Communion

Holy Communion (also known as the Eucharist or the Lord's Supper) is one of the ordinances given to the Church by Jesus Christ, who initiated it on the last Passover that He celebrated with His disciples before His death. It is a meal that memorializes the Lord's one-time-for-all-time sacrifice for our sins on the cross, and it is to be celebrated until the day that the Lord comes again. Bread and wine (or grape juice) are commonly used as elements that represent His body and His blood, although during the COVID-19 pandemic, other foods and drinks have been substituted within reasonable limits.

Here are some prayers that can be used in Holy Communion if you plan to celebrate it either by yourself or with a few fellow believers:

1. Prayer of personal examination before communion:

Lord God, Heavenly Father, thank You for the gift of Your only begotten Son Jesus Christ dying on the cross for me. Please prepare my heart for Holy Communion today. Examine me and seek out any sin that may be hidden within me; expose it that I may confess it and repent of it. Help me to remember the price that You have paid to ransom my soul from Hell by sending Your Son Jesus to take my place, dying the death that I should have died, and giving His life for me so that I may have eternal life with You. In Your Son Jesus' name, I pray. Amen.

2. Blessing the emblem of the body of Christ.

"For I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you, That the Lord Jesus the same night in which He was betrayed took bread: And when He had given thanks, He broke it, and said, Take, eat: this is My body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of Me." (1st Corinthians 11:23-24)

Lord God, please bless the emblem that represents the broken body of Your Son Jesus Christ. Scripture says that it is by the Lord's stripes that I am healed. I pray right now that through this emblem that You would heal my broken body, mind, and spirit so that I would be made whole in You. I give You thanks in Your Son Jesus' name. Amen.

3. Blessing the emblem of the blood of Christ.

"After the same manner also He took the cup, when He had supped, saying, This cup is the New Testament in My blood: this do you, as oft as you drink it, in remembrance of Me. For as often as you eat this bread, and drink this cup, you do show the Lord's death till He come." (1st Corinthians 11:25-26)

Lord God, please bless the emblem that represents the shed blood of Your Son Jesus Christ. Scripture says that without the shedding of blood, there is no forgiveness of sins. I pray that through this emblem I will remember the one sacrifice that has paid for all my sins, that I am cleansed of all unrighteousness and impurity that I should be made holy as You are holy. I give You thanks in Your Son Jesus' name. Amen.

4. Thanksgiving prayer.

Lord God, Heavenly Father, thank You that You have given me the privilege to partake of Holy Communion with You. Help me to live out my life in service to You and that I may advance Your Kingdom here on earth as it is in heaven. In Your Son Jesus' name, I pray. Amen.