We are excited to be celebrating the Lord’s supper this Sunday. Celebrating communion is a wonderful time for the church to worship together and provide a wonderful learning opportunity for children. We will not be offering classes for our 4th-6th grade students during this special service. We do have small groups or our 1st-3rd grades, but encourage parents to consider involving them in worship as well. Please see the HPKids’ Guide for Parents below…
To help parents prepare their child for worship, remember the four “P’s”:
- PREPARE your child by reviewing the Lord’s Supper Guide attached.
- PRIOR to church, settle the issue whether or not your child can participate in the Lord’s Supper. Baptism is the best indicator that your child is ready to participate in the Lord’s Supper.
- PARTAKING of the Lord’s Supper…Scripture is very clear that we should not participate in the Lord’s Supper in an unworthy way. If a child has made a decisive profession of faith, the parents should make sure the child understands the Lord’s Supper and then help the child participate.
- POTTY breaks…to minimize movement during the service, please take your child to the restroom prior to the start of the service. If your child needs to go to the restroom during church, we STRONGLY ENCOURAGE a parent to go with him/her.
The Lord’s Supper
Prepare your child’s heart for worship by explaining what the Lord’s Supper is and why we celebrate it at church.
It’s important to understand that the Lord’s Supper is only for believers who have confessed Jesus Christ as their Savior and Lord. Parents are thrilled when their child expresses interest or asks questions about salvation. When these opportunities present themselves, parents should prayerfully guide their child as they answer their questions. For some children, the salvation message clicks quickly, like turning on a light. For others, it’s gradual, like watching a sunrise. If you are unsure about whether or not your child should participate in the Lord’s Supper, it’d be best to wait until you have peace about the decision.
Baptism is the best indicator that a child is ready to participate in the Lord’s Supper.
If you have questions, please speak with a church staff member. It’s not something to rush into.
What is it?
The Lord’s Supper is something that Jesus did with his disciples. Look up Matthew 26:26-29.
Why do we do it?
The Lord’s Supper reminds believers that Jesus’ payment for my sins has already been made. The juice you take is a reminder of Jesus’ blood that was poured out on the cross for your sins. The bread you take is a reminder that Jesus’ body was broken for you.
What should I think about?
The Lord’s Supper is a special time for those who trust Jesus as their Savior. When we participate in the Lord’s Supper, we can think about the following…
- Jesus died for my sins.
- When I take the juice and bread for myself, I am saying that I trust Jesus as my Savior and that He died for my sins on the cross.
- I share in the benefits of His death, like forgiveness of sins, and eternal life, and other blessings here on earth!
Worship!
Because of Jesus’ great love, we can trust him in everything! Enjoy this special time of worship with your hearts, minds, lips, & hands.
Warning!
1 Corinthians 11:27 speaks about participating in the Lord’s Supper in an unworthy manner. To participate in an unworthy manner is to receive the bread and juice without understanding its meaning. That’s why it’s extremely important for parents to teach their children the basic truths of this sacrament. Children should know what is taking place and understand what Christ’s death means to the believer and the church. While its important for children to know and repeat the principles of the gospel, parents should not evaluate the spiritual state of their child solely on the fact they have said a prayer or can repeat the facts of the gospel. Again, baptism is the best indicator that a child is ready to participate in the Lord’s Supper.
Corinthians 11:28-29 tells us to examine ourselves spiritually before participating in the Lord’s Supper. Therefore, take some time to prepare yourself through prayer so that the attitude of your heart is pure.