Communion — also called the Lord’s Supper — is a sacrament instituted by Jesus at the Last Supper (Luke 22:19-20), in which bread and wine are taken in remembrance of His body and blood, given for the forgiveness of sins. Presbyterian churches, including PCEA Milimani South Presbytery’s parishes, observe it as one of two sacraments (alongside baptism) recognized in the Reformed tradition — not as a ritual alone, but as a means of grace that nourishes ongoing faith.
Of all the regular practices in a Presbyterian church’s life, communion is among the oldest and most consistently observed — directly instituted by Christ Himself, rather than developed later by church tradition.
Where Communion Comes From
The practice traces directly to the Last Supper, the meal Jesus shared with His disciples the night before His crucifixion. Luke 22:19-20 records the moment of institution: “And he took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, ‘This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me.’ In the same way, after the supper he took the cup, saying, ‘This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you.'”
Two things stand out in this instruction. First, Jesus explicitly commands repetition — “do this in remembrance of me” — meaning communion was never intended as a single, historical event, but as an ongoing practice for the church. Second, He connects the bread and cup directly to His own body and blood, and specifically to “the new covenant” — tying communion to the larger story of God’s covenant relationship with His people, not treating it as a stand-alone ritual.
A Sacrament, Not Just a Symbol
In Reformed and Presbyterian theology, communion is one of two sacraments recognized by the church — the other being baptism. A sacrament, in this tradition, is understood as a visible sign of an invisible grace: an ordinary, physical act (eating bread, drinking from a cup) that God uses as a real means of strengthening and nourishing faith, not merely as a symbolic gesture or a memory exercise.
This is part of why communion is treated with real seriousness in Presbyterian worship — it is approached as a means of grace, something through which God genuinely meets and strengthens believers, not just a ceremony performed out of tradition.
Why “Communion” Is the Right Word
The word “communion” itself points to something beyond the individual believer’s experience. It comes from the Latin communio, meaning shared participation or fellowship. Taking communion is, by its nature, a corporate act — the whole gathered church shares in the same bread and the same cup together. 1 Corinthians 10:16-17 makes this explicit: “Is not the cup of thanksgiving for which we give thanks a participation in the blood of Christ? And is not the bread that we break a participation in the body of Christ? Because there is one loaf, we, who are many, are one body.” Communion, in other words, is as much about the unity of the church as it is about an individual’s private remembrance.
Communion in a Presbyterian Context
This sacramental understanding sits naturally alongside the elder-led governance structure already explored in what it means to be a Presbyterian church. Communion is typically administered under the oversight of the Kirk Session — the same body of ruling and teaching elders responsible for the spiritual life of the congregation — reflecting the same pattern of shared, accountable leadership that runs through every part of Presbyterian church life.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is communion in the Christian church?
Communion, or the Lord’s Supper, is a sacrament instituted by Jesus at the Last Supper, in which bread and wine are taken in remembrance of His body and blood, given for the forgiveness of sins.
Why do Presbyterians call communion a “sacrament”?
Because Reformed theology understands it as a visible sign of an invisible grace — an ordinary physical act that God uses as a genuine means of nourishing and strengthening a believer’s faith, not merely a symbolic ritual.
Is communion a private or corporate act?
Corporate. The word “communion” itself reflects shared participation, and 1 Corinthians 10:17 ties the “one loaf” directly to the unity of “one body” — the whole gathered church.
Final Thoughts
Communion is one of the most direct links a church has to Christ’s own instruction — “do this in remembrance of me.” For Presbyterian congregations, including those across PCEA Milimani South Presbytery, it remains a regular, sacramental practice: a shared meal that points back to the cross, forward to Christ’s promised return, and outward to the unity of the whole gathered church in the present.
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Scripture references are drawn from the Bible (NIV). Compiled by the Editorial Desk.