communion within apch
The American Protestant Church of The Hague (APCH), along with whole Christian church, recognizes Communion (also known as the Lord’s Supper or the Eucharist) as a sacrament or ordinance, that is, a holy ritual, instituted by our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ for his people. Through the Lord’s Supper, we receive a sign and seal of God’s grace given to us through the death of Jesus Christ on the cross for our sins. The Apostle Paul, in I Corinthians 11:23-32, spoke of this gift of Christ for the church :“For I received from the Lord what I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night when he was betrayed took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it, and said, “This is my body, which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.†In the same way also he took the cup, after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.†For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.“
Therefore, at APCH we celebrate Communion on the first Sunday of the month and during special worship services or seasons, such as Good Friday or each Sunday during Lent. We believe that the Lord’s Supper is a sign and a seal: a sign that points to Christ and his death on the cross for all our sins, and a seal of God’s certain rich grace for all who receive it through faith. One might even say that, “as surely as our bodies are nourished by the bread and cup, so surely our souls are fed through faith in Christ by the Holy Spirit’s work within us.â€
We welcome at the Lord’s Supper all who believe that Jesus Christ has died for their sin and desire to live a new life in him. Those that are not yet certain that they want to partake but value a blessing are invited to come forward with their arms crossed; they will receive such a blessing from the Communion Servers.
During the Contemporary Service, we come forward and practice intinction—walking to the front, we take a piece of bread, dip it into a common cup, and receive it. During the Traditional Service, we celebrate in a different way each month, alternating between three modes: intinction in the front, receiving from trays passed through the seats, and coming to the front to kneel and receive the elements at the “altarâ€. If parents or caregivers desire their children to receive the Supper, the children should believe that they have been forgiven through Christ’s death and resurrection. If parents choose themselves to give the elements to the children, the parents reaffirm their promises at the infant’s baptism or dedication that they are raising their children to believe that they are forgiven through the death and resurrection of Christ, though the children themselves have not yet professed that.
Communion is served at APCH by the Pastoral Staff and current and previous members of the APCH Council.
Therefore, at APCH we celebrate Communion on the first Sunday of the month and during special worship services or seasons, such as Good Friday or each Sunday during Lent. We believe that the Lord’s Supper is a sign and a seal: a sign that points to Christ and his death on the cross for all our sins, and a seal of God’s certain rich grace for all who receive it through faith. One might even say that, “as surely as our bodies are nourished by the bread and cup, so surely our souls are fed through faith in Christ by the Holy Spirit’s work within us.â€
We welcome at the Lord’s Supper all who believe that Jesus Christ has died for their sin and desire to live a new life in him. Those that are not yet certain that they want to partake but value a blessing are invited to come forward with their arms crossed; they will receive such a blessing from the Communion Servers.
During the Contemporary Service, we come forward and practice intinction—walking to the front, we take a piece of bread, dip it into a common cup, and receive it. During the Traditional Service, we celebrate in a different way each month, alternating between three modes: intinction in the front, receiving from trays passed through the seats, and coming to the front to kneel and receive the elements at the “altarâ€. If parents or caregivers desire their children to receive the Supper, the children should believe that they have been forgiven through Christ’s death and resurrection. If parents choose themselves to give the elements to the children, the parents reaffirm their promises at the infant’s baptism or dedication that they are raising their children to believe that they are forgiven through the death and resurrection of Christ, though the children themselves have not yet professed that.
Communion is served at APCH by the Pastoral Staff and current and previous members of the APCH Council.
