First Communion Instruction
Holy Communion is one of the greatest gifts Christ gives to His Church. In the Lord’s Supper, Jesus gives us His true Body and Blood, under the bread and wine, for the forgiveness of sins and the strengthening of faith.
Scripture teaches: “Let a person examine himself, then, and so eat of the bread and drink of the cup (1 Corinthians 11:28).” For this reason, before communing all recipients of the Lord’s Supper should first receive proper instruction and be able to recognize their sin, their need for forgiveness, and what Christ gives in the Lord’s Supper.
Requirements for a Child Starting First Communion Class
1. Baptism—A child must be baptized before receiving the Lord’s Supper. If your child has not been baptized, please speak with Pastor Deberny.
2. Entering Fifth Grade or Beyond—First Communion instruction normally begins when a child is entering fifth grade. A younger child may be considered only in exceptional cases when unusual maturity and readiness are demonstrated.
3. Basic Understanding of the Bible—The child should understand the central story of Scripture, including creation, the fall into sin, and the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. The child should be able to give a simple answer to the question:
“If you had 30 seconds to summarize the story of the Bible, what would you say?”
“If you had 30 seconds to summarize the story of the Bible, what would you say?”
4. Understanding of Sin and Forgiveness— The child should understand that sin is disobedience to God and recognize that he or she is personally a sinner in need of forgiveness. The child should also be familiar with several of the Ten Commandments and understand that Jesus died and rose for the forgiveness of sins. If you need assistance teaching this to your children, please reach out to Pastor Deberny.
5. Regular Worship Attendance—The child and family should regularly attend worship at Grace Lutheran Church. First Communion instruction is part of the child’s ongoing participation in the worship life of the congregation. It is important that we continue to see you and your family in worship as your child prepares to receive the Lord’s Supper.
6. Classroom Readiness—The child should be able to participate attentively and respectfully in a 40–45 minute class with other children.
7. Ability to Receive Wine—The child should be able to receive a small taste of wine during instruction in preparation for Holy Communion.
8. Willingness to Serve as an Acolyte—The child should be willing to begin serving as an acolyte as part of preparation for Confirmation and growing participation in the worship life of the congregation.
An Opportunity for Parents
Some parents may not have received First Communion instruction themselves or may come from a different Christian background. Your child’s instruction is also an opportunity for you to learn more about the true understanding of the Lord’s Supper. Parents are welcome to attend classes and learn alongside their children and, when appropriate, prepare to receive Holy Communion together with them.
Some parents may not have received First Communion instruction themselves or may come from a different Christian background. Your child’s instruction is also an opportunity for you to learn more about the true understanding of the Lord’s Supper. Parents are welcome to attend classes and learn alongside their children and, when appropriate, prepare to receive Holy Communion together with them.
Sign Up
Parents who believe their child is ready should complete the First Communion application using the Google Form below. Completing the form begins the application process. The church office will contact you, and Pastor Deberny will speak with you to assess whether your child is ready for the program. If your child is ready to begin, Pastor Deberny will provide you with a detailed curriculum plan.
Parents who believe their child is ready should complete the First Communion application using the Google Form below. Completing the form begins the application process. The church office will contact you, and Pastor Deberny will speak with you to assess whether your child is ready for the program. If your child is ready to begin, Pastor Deberny will provide you with a detailed curriculum plan.
Our next First Communion class will take place on Wednesdays at 6pm, starting from August 5th – September 2nd.
We hope to see you join us in worship in preparation for First Communion!
