Fifty Acts 43 Communion in three parts.

Coming from the central belt, Communion is something carried out four times a year on set Sundays, so i was keen to see how it's done elsewhere.

On Friday I went along to see preparation for Communion, which was to take place on the coming Sunday.  What I was expecting was a group of Elders discussing who will carry the bread, who will carry the wine etc.  What I wasn't expecting was a formal, public act of worship.

Communion is taken very seriously up here, so much so that when Commuion Sunday rolls round, church attendance actually drops, as the adherents decide not to attend.  While I understand that nowadays they are welcome, traditionally you had to be a full member to be at the top table, so only full members will turn out.

Communion weekend starts on the Friday with a short service which is intended as a start to the weekend.  The Sunday commences with the session being convened before the service, and while nobody appeared to have been turned away, it is my understanding that traditionally if you hadn't been at the Friday service, or if there was some other questionable stain on your character, then you would be barred from receiving Communion.  Nobody at the door asked for proof of my moral or spiritual fibre.  This is probably a good thing.  Finally, Sunday evening had another service to bring the weekend to a close.

In amongst the tradition, there was certainly a reverence for the occasion, from members and adherents alike.  Should there be more ceremony around Communion?  Or more reverence? Certainly there's a lot to be taken in about the importance the congregation places in the Sacraments. 

Interesting indeed.