Weekly Eucharist
“It is appropriate to celebrate the Lord’s Supper as often as each Lord’s Day. It is to be celebrated regularly and frequently enough to be recognized as integral to the Service for the Lord’s Day.” – Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) Book of Order, W-2.4009
The recovery of the fullness of the Service for the Lord’s Day – including Word and Sacrament – is one of the most important and exciting liturgical projects of our time. This website provides resources for congregations committed to celebrating – or interested in exploring – weekly Eucharist. Whether your congregation already celebrates weekly Eucharist or is just beginning to consider the idea, check out these materials to support and enliven Sunday worship.
Teaching resources
Learn about Invitation to Christ: Font and Table, the 2006 sacrament study of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), which encourages congregations to explore more frequent celebrations of the Lord's Supper.
Study "This Bread of Life," the Catholic / Reformed dialogue on the Eucharist or Lord's Supper.
Read "The Feast of Easter," Jonathan Carroll's article in Call to Worship about celebrating weekly Eucharst in the Season of Easter.
Read about John Calvin's attempt to establish the Lord's Supper each Lord's Day in Geneva.
Discover the fourfold pattern of eucharistic action in the New Testament—taking, blessing, breaking, and giving—through this study guide.
Won't weekly Eucharist make our worship services longer? Not necessarily.
Chip Andrus, a Presbyterian pastor and former Office of Theology and Worship associate is available for consultation and workshop leadership. Chip has great theological insight, liturgical savvy, and pastoral experience in successfully leading congregations through the transition from infrequent to weekly communion.
Liturgical resources
Download new eucharistic prayers for general use, lectionary dates, and other occasions, including lectionary-based Great Thanksgivings for the Seasons of Advent (Year A, Year B, Year C), Lent (Year A, Year B, Year C), and Easter (Year A, Year B, Year C).
Celebrate the Lord’s Supper each week in the Season of Easter 2016 (Year C). Learn more and find resources.
Learn about the Extended Serving of Communion, a way to expand the eucharistic ministry of your congregation, engage homebound members in the worship of the church, and cultivate the spiritual gifts of elders and deacons.
Explore Common Ministry, Shared Celebration, an initiative to encourage more frequent communion at the Presbytery level.
Musical resources
Download musical responses for the Great Thanksgiving (Sanctus and Benedictus, Memorial Acclamation, and Great Amen) set to familiar hymn tunes for Advent (Picardy, Veni Emmanuel), Christmas (Mendelssohn), Lent (Redhead 76), Easter (Easter Hymn), and Ordinary Time or general use (Dix).
Share your story
"I am very fortunate to belong to a congregation that has celebrated weekly and monthly communion for ten years. The first service, a contemporary service of worship, celebrates weekly communion in a unique style around the table. The second service, a traditional service, celebrates communion monthly. My church loves both, expects both and cherishes both. To each service we extend Christ’s invitation for all people to join at his table. It is a joy." Marty Shelton-Jenck, pastor, Community of Grace Presbyterian Church in Sandy, Utah
"We are easing people into the idea of weekly communion. We began this process by celebrating communion through all of Eastertide of last year. We will celebrate communion all of Advent this year." Dave Lewis, pastor, United Presbyterian Church of Shawnee, Oklahoma
"We are celebrating Eucharist more often, and I hope within a couple of years or maybe three that we will be at the weekly stage — ideas on how to make that happen would be most helpful." Pat Berger, pastor, Covenant Presbyterian Church, Gresham, Oregon
Share your congregation's story.
