Frequency of Communion

Definition

Frequency of Communion refers to how often a church celebrates Communion. Because Scripture does not prescribe a set frequency, the matter is often decided by denominations or individual congregations. Weekly Communion is the term for the practice of celebrating Communion every Lord's Day.

Biblical and Historical Background

Acts 2:42 records that the early believers continued "in breaking of bread," and Acts 20:7 records that "upon the first day of the week" the disciples "came together to break bread." On this basis, it is widely held that the early church celebrated Communion every Lord's Day.

In the Middle Ages, lay participation in Communion became infrequent. In 1215 the Fourth Lateran Council required the faithful to receive Communion at least once a year. During the Reformation, John Calvin wished for Communion to be celebrated frequently. The Geneva city council, however, did not accept this, and Communion is reported to have been celebrated four times a year as a result. In the eighteenth century, John Wesley stressed "constant Communion." Today the Catholic Church and the Orthodox Church place the Eucharist at the center of worship and celebrate it every Lord's Day.

Practice in Korean Churches

Most Presbyterian, Methodist, Holiness, Baptist, and Pentecostal churches in Korea celebrate Communion two to four times a year. The timing often coincides with Easter, Thanksgiving, Christmas, or World Communion Sunday, the first Sunday in October. The scarcity of ordained ministers available to administer the sacraments in the early missionary period is often cited as one reason for this practice. In recent years, some churches have increased the frequency to once a month.

The Anglican Church of Korea generally celebrates the Holy Eucharist every Lord's Day. The Lutheran Church in Korea also tends to celebrate Communion frequently. Some Brethren churches and some congregations affiliated with the Korean Council of Churches of Christ maintain the tradition of breaking bread every week.

Those who favor more frequent Communion appeal to the example of the early church and hold that worship is complete only when Word and sacrament are joined together. Those who support the current frequency argue that frequent celebration can reduce the rite to mere formality. They also maintain that sufficient time is needed for the self-examination described in 1 Corinthians 11:28 and for preparation for Communion.