Drinks and mixes!

In a baptist church, communion is practiced as one of the two acts of obedience in faith. Most of the time, this act is called an ordinance unlike in other churches where it is considered a sacrament. This means that for Baptists, grace or salvation is not received through communion. It is understood that these are symbolic acts commanded by the followers of Christ and by Jesus Christ Himself.

Actually, this is the second ordinance in the Baptist church, including the independent baptist church; which is patterned after the Last Supper. We can recall that it is taken from the scriptures where Jesus said to do it in His remembrance. With this in mind, we can observe the participants during communion break and eat the bread and drink a small shot of wine which symbolizes the body and the blood of Jesus.

Based on tradition, Baptists, like the independent Baptist; serve communion to the participants in their seats, and wherever they are. This depends on how each church arrange their communion as the arrangement itself has no remarkable significance in theology. The communion itself makes use of unleavened bread because they believe that this type of bread is the same type as the one served at the Last Supper. Those who wish to take part in the communion pass the plates of small crackers, wafers, or bread cubes around. Loaves of bread can also be used and accepted for breaking as well.

What is placed inside the cup is grape juice that is unfermented. The Baptists use small individual cups for this but if there is only a small gathering for the congregation, a common cup where they can all drink from is used. Most of the time, serving of both the bread and the wine is done by the pastor to the deacons. In return, the deacons are the ones who will serve the congregation then followed by the pastor. But in bigger churches, it is the pastors who serve one another, while the deacon focuses on serving the congregation. After the whole congregation has been served, the elements are taken all at the same time symbolizing their unity.

Depending on the desires of the church, communion can be held frequently. But most of the time however, communion should always take place during a regular church service of worship. Most importantly, this is also taken only by those who already have undergone baptism. However, this varies from congregation to congregation.