No. As a guest, you’re completely free to let the trays pass without taking anything, and without concern that anyone will be critical of your decision. The Lord’s Supper is a time of remembrance for Christians, and there’s no pressure on a visitor to take part. You can simply pass the trays along and follow the rest of the service.
If the thought of it makes you a little nervous, that’s normal. It’s exactly the kind of thing worth explaining ahead of time.
What the Lord’s Supper Is
The Lord’s Supper, also called communion, is a simple memorial that Jesus gave His followers the night before He died. It’s a small piece of unleavened bread and a small cup of grape juice, taken in memory of His body and His blood. Paul recorded Jesus’ own words:
“This is my body, which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me” ().
Because it’s a memorial for those who follow Christ, the New Testament describes it as a time for personal reflection:
“Let a person examine himself, then, and so eat of the bread and drink of the cup” ().
That’s why Christians take a quiet moment during it. As a visitor, you’re welcome to sit with your own thoughts, and no one expects anything more of you.
Why We Observe It Every Sunday
You may notice we observe the Lord’s Supper every week. That’s because the early church did. Luke wrote,
“On the first day of the week, when we were gathered together to break bread, Paul talked with them” ().
“To break bread” here most likely refers to the Lord’s Supper. It was one of the purposes for which Christians gathered on the first day of the week. We simply try to follow that pattern rather than establish our own schedule.
Some people wonder whether taking it every week makes it routine. For most of us, it does the opposite. It provides a steady, unhurried opportunity each week to remember what Jesus has done.
What It Looks Like During the Service
A man will offer a short prayer of thanks, and the trays are passed quietly down each row, first the bread, then the cup. The room is calm and reflective, and the whole memorial usually takes only a few minutes. You’ll see people bow their heads, read a passage of Scripture, or spend a few moments in quiet thought.
When the trays reach you, simply do whatever you’re comfortable with. You may take the bread and the cup along with everyone else, or you may pass the trays to the next person. Either choice is completely fine. Passing the trays is a normal thing for a visitor to do, and it won’t draw a second glance.
Come, and Bring Your Questions
If you’d like to understand the Lord’s Supper more deeply before or after your visit, the best place to begin is the New Testament itself, where Jesus gave it and the early church observed it. Read those passages at your own pace, and bring any questions with you.
At Memorial Church of Christ, you’ll receive clear, honest answers from God’s Word, and you’ll never be put on the spot.
Plan your visit: /plan-your-visit/ — come as you are, and ask us anything.
If you want to see what the Bible says about becoming a Christian, start here: /how-to-be-saved/.
When we meet:
- Sunday: Bible Class 9:00 am, Worship 10:00 am, Worship 6:00 pm
- Wednesday: Bible Class 7:00 pm