Communion Update

We’re sure no one needs to be reminded that the last nine months have been a considerable disruption to our lives. However, we are thankful for the ways we’ve been able to continue to worship our Savior together here at Westgate. As we’ve walked through stay-at-home orders, limited capacity attendance, worship service planning changes, and much else, God has continued to guide us and bring our hearts together to receive the truth of the gospel. In the midst of a difficult year, God has proven his love for his Church.

One of the many factors the Elders have considered this year is how Westgate should receive communion. Earlier in the year, while Westgate could not gather in person at all, we suspended our practice of communion. This is primarily because we observe in scripture that communion is intended by Christ to bring the church together under the gospel, and therefore the physical assembly of the church is an important aspect of its practice. Scripture demonstrates that communion is not an individual exercise, but part of the life of the gathered church (see 1 Corinthians 10 and 11). However, many of our members are not currently able to physically gather with the church on Sunday mornings for worship, not because of a lack of desire, but out of an appropriate caution. For that reason, beginning Sunday, December 6, we will be broadcasting our communion service via Zoom at the end of the worship service. Those who wish to participate will need to request the Zoom link from the church office and log on at the appropriate time. There are several reasons that we’ve made this decision, but one important one is that by broadcasting over Zoom, we are together, receiving the elements together, and united under the gospel.

We hope that you and those in your household will plan to join us as we observe communion together December 6. We encourage you to drop by the church the week before to pick up the elements (prefilled, single serve). This is not because there is anything special about the particular bread and juice we partake, but that it helps us guard the sacred nature of the tradition. Scripture affirms that our hearts and minds ought to be set on Christ and his grace while we receive communion (see 1 Corinthians 11:27). One way we can do that is by using bread and juice set apart for this purpose.

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to reach out. We would love to discuss this with you, along with anything else on your mind. For the Zoom link, simply contact Julie in the church office (it will be available by December 3).

Your brothers in Christ,

Travis Vaclavik and Bruce Daggett
on behalf of the Elders