A Table Set Every Sunday
Trinity Church of Portland celebrates the Lord’s Supper every Sunday because we believe it is a covenant renewal meal — a visible sermon that proclaims Christ’s death and affirms our unity as His body. This is unusual in many Protestant churches, where communion may be observed monthly or quarterly. So why do we do it?
Because the Table is a means of grace. Just as our bodies need daily bread, our souls need regular nourishment from Christ Himself.
A Visible Word
The Reformers called the sacraments “visible words.” Just as we gather weekly to hear the Word of God preached, we gather weekly at the Table to taste and see that the Lord is good. Preaching and communion are not in competition — they are companions. The Word proclaimed and the Word enacted belong together.
When we eat the bread and drink the cup, we are doing what Jesus told us to do: “Do this in remembrance of me” (Luke 22
). He did not say how often. But the earliest Christians clearly understood this to be a regular practice — Acts 2 tells us they devoted themselves to “the breaking of bread,” and Acts 20 describes the church gathering on the first day of the week to break bread together.What Happens at the Table
Communion is not merely a memorial. It is a means of grace. At the Table:
- We remember. We look back to Christ’s sacrificial death on the cross — His body broken, His blood poured out for the forgiveness of sins.
- We proclaim. Paul writes that “as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes” (1 Corinthians 11). Every communion service is an announcement of the gospel.
- We commune. We are united with Christ and with one another. The Table reminds us that we are not isolated individuals — we are a body, one loaf, one cup.
- We anticipate. We look forward to the marriage supper of the Lamb, when Christ will return and all things will be made new.
Nourishment for Our Souls
Just as the body needs daily bread, the soul needs regular nourishment. Weekly communion is not a ritual performed out of obligation — it is a gift received in faith. It strengthens weary hearts, assures doubting minds, and binds us together as a community formed by the gospel.
This rhythm nourishes our faith and strengthens our bond as a congregation. We come to the Table not because we are worthy, but because Christ invites us.
Come and See
At Trinity, the Lord’s Table is reserved for baptized Christians — those who have trusted in Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of sins and have demonstrated their obedience to Him in baptism. The Table is exclusive, but receiving Jesus is inclusive. If you have not yet come to faith in Christ, we invite you to hear the gospel proclaimed and to consider the One to whom the bread and cup point.
Whether you come to partake or simply to observe and learn, you are welcome at Trinity Church. We gather every Sunday at 10
AM at 909 NE 30th Avenue in Portland, Oregon.