Hello All,
Lord’s Supper date is April 7, 2020, at Sundown or a month late on May 7, 2020, at Sundown. When people are sick or special circumstances come up, the Old Testament provisions allow for doing the service at the second Passover date of May 7. We do not go by the Old Testament on this Christian celebration, but feel that is a good standard for people who can't do the Lord's Supper at the correct time. See Numbers 9:10-11. “… If any man of you or of your posterity shall be unclean by reason of a dead body, or be in a journey afar off, yet he shall keep the passover unto the LORD. The fourteenth day of the second month at even they shall keep it….”
The “Lord’s Supper” service is a very important once-a-year service, and other than in cases as mentioned above, should be kept.
One of each house may perform this service. It should be done shortly after sundown and it would only take a few minutes to read a verse that relates and one or two short prayers. First, usually the feet are washed. In quarantine cases, use a damp wash cloth to wipe the person’s feet. Then wash out the cloth and if the person can, let him/her try to wipe your feet, placed where they can reach and attempt to do so. Read Mark 14:22-26. Read John 13:1-17 for feet washing, then read I Corinthians 11:23-34 about not taking the emblems unworthily. For the Emblems, read Matthew 26:17-30 and/or Mark 14:12-26 and/or Luke 22:7-20.
For the Emblems, a very small part of an unleavened bread wafer about 1/2" x 1/2" would do, or Matzo Jewish passover cracker and about 1 - 2 tablespoons or more of pure (unleavened) grape juice would be sufficient. Walmart or similar food stores will have both items at this time of year. Home-made unleavened bread can be made with a small amount of flour for each person and oil and water to moisten (no other indgredients), pressed flat, and baked. A short prayer of thanks for what Jesus did for us and a blessing on the food is all that is needed. In a church service, separate prayers are said for each the bread and fruit of the vine (representing Jesus' body and blood). At our church services, we don't close with a prayer, but with a song only — as in Mark 14:26 — and I usually read Numbers 6:24-26, the blessing.
Pearl and I have done this short version many times for people in similar situations.
If the Virus is under control, Pearl and I will be taking the Lord’s Supper in May with those who would like to meet at the church. If we can’t meet at the church then, each household will be on their own.
God Bless,
Pastor Ed