Communing All the Baptized

Calvary Lutheran Church in Grand Forks delights in welcoming all of the baptized people of God to the communion table. "Admission to the Sacrament is by invitation of the Lord, presented through the Church to those who are baptized." This is a quote from The Use of the Means of Grace, a document produced by the ELCA that is a wonderful resource for congregational study.
The process of moving from communion offered to Fifth graders to communion offered to all of the baptized was a year-long effort. It began with a number of people requesting that the table to opened to their children. It progressed to a council decision to study the subject and culminated in a wonderful Lenten study time which included the whole congregation in conversation.
We prepared a wide variety of materials for study. Each Lenten service centered around the themes of communion. The Sunday school talked about communion and adult study groups focused on the subject.
At the present time, about 25 percent of the children have taken communion by the time they are in Fifth grade.
The Synod Resource Center has great materials for congregations as they work with this and Pastor Steve Wold of Calvary would love to visit with anyone interested (701) 772-4897).
The following is the new bylaw adopted by Calvary Lutheran.
Chapter 1.
COMMUNION PARTICIPATION
       131.01. Holy Communion is the body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ, given with bread and wine, Instituted by Christ himself for us to eat and drink.
       B1.02. Admission to the Sacrament is by invitation of the Lord, presented through the Church to those who are baptized. The educational ministry of the church will provide learning opportunities for the baptized child and their parents. These opportunities will teach that the crucified and risen Christ is present, giving his true body and blood as food and drink, and that we receive forgiveness of sins, life and salvation.
       BI.03. Records of participation at the Lord's Supper are to be maintained in accordance with the guideline of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.