Building community - the need for informality

I was recently asked about the formality of what is commonly known as "communion" and whether it should simply be a part of our regular meals when believers gather. Here are my thoughts on the subject. Note that what I wrote was off the top of my head (and heart) and is not to be considered a formal treatise on the subject.

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First, while bread was common at Jewish meals, I don't think wine was.

Second, the meal in which what has become known as communion was instituted was Passover, hence the (unleavened) bread and the wine.

Third, in Acts, where we read of the believers meeting from house to house and "breaking bread", scholars don't really know whether the breaking of bread was "communion" (however they did that) or simply eating together. I lean towards the latter.

Fourth, apart from Paul's teaching in Corinthians regarding their abuse of communion, which in their case included a meal, we don't have much to go on as far as explicit details regarding how to do it.

Some conclusions: I think meals and more informality should be regular parts of our gatherings. I think this is essential in building the kind of community the New Testament calls for. This doesn't mean that our gatherings should be devoid of all formalities, but we could do a lot better than the current models, which are either just religious ceremonies or performance/audience oriented.

So I agree with your friend that the New Testament models something more akin to extended family gatherings than ultra-religious temple ceremonies or entertainment-style performances.

This is all besides the particular communion issue. Remembering the Lord though the consumption of matza (unleavened bread) and wine (I think grape juice [very new wine] will do) should occur within our community gatherings. If we do not address the overall nature of how we gather, as we create a homey atmosphere just for communion, then communion again takes on a very otherly nature, rather than something well integrated into our community lives.

That said, I would emphasize that what we call communion is taken from the Passover Seder (celebratory symbolic meal), not from everyday meals. It is important to preserve the intended biblical link of the original exodus of the people of Israel through Moses and the greater spiritual exodus of all people through the Jewish Messiah.