Reformed Presbyterian Minutes of Synod 1993

176 1993 MINUTES OF THE SYNOD OF THEunknown to the session in charge of the Table.c. Every session must guard the purity of the Sacrament by exercisingdiligent and continual oversight of those under its care, never assumingthat church membership alone is sufficient basis for admission to theSacrament. Those who seek to commune but are not under care of thesession must be examined.9. It is the privilege and duty of every member to observe the Lord'sSupper regularly and with careful preparation. The people should benotified at least a week in advance of the celebration of the Sacrament. TheSession may provide for one or more services of preparation, at timesconvenient for the congregation, including the preceding Lord's Day. TheCovenant of Church Membership may be explained at some time duringthe services of preparation or at the sacramental service.10. All services connected with the Lord's Supper should present theLord Jesus and His redeeming love. The psalms, the scripture, and thesermon should center on Christ and His death on the cross, and on theblessings which flow from His atonement.11. The people should be reminded of the duty of self-examination andwarned against partaking of the supper unworthily. Passages of warningand invitation should be read from the Scriptures. If a corporate confessionof sin and an assurance of pardon have not been part of the preachingservice, they may be made here. During the singing of an appropriatepsalm, such as the twenty-fourth or one hundred sixteenth, the people maymove to tables or to a suitable section of the auditorium, if custom andconvenience so indicate.12. The teaching elder should stand near the table bearing the elements.When all is ready, he shall pray, thanking and praising God for His Son andfor the redemption which He has purchased and applied to His people; andcontinue by using these or similar words:"Sanctify, O Lord, so much of these elements as shaU be used upon thisoccasion, which we now set apart from a common to a sacramental use, inthe name and by the authority of Jesus Christ, the King and Head of theChurch. Amen."He shall then take the bread and break it, saying:"For in the night in which he was bedayed, the Lord Jesus took bread,gave thanks, and broke it, and gave it to his disciples, saying, This is mybody given for you; do this in remembrance of me."(Here the bread may be distributed.)Taking the cup, he shall say:"In the same way, he took the cup, gave thanks and offered it to them,saying, This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many forthe remission of sins. Drink from it, all of you."