CBCGB 暫停每月聖餐禮宣言
經過教會長老團、教牧同工團慎重的考慮、禱告、和討論後，教會決定在新冠狀病毒漫延以致教會必須採取網上聚會期間，暫停每月第一個星期的聖餐禮。改為由崇拜的講員在講道結束時，以誦讀耶穌受難經文，誦唱耶穌受難詩歌，默想、禱告來紀念我們的主在十架上的恩典和大愛。我們是基於以下的理念和考量而作此調整：
精義重於形式
聖餐是基督教會的兩大聖禮之一，神的眾教會順服耶穌基督的命令，定期在崇拜中舉行聖餐禮，也努力嚐試還原最後晚餐的形式於現今的禮儀中。然而由於對聖餐經文的詮釋有不完全相同的觀點，在各教會傳統中對於聖餐有不完全相同的實踐。首先對於聖餐的意義和功能，就有不完全相同的詮釋。[1] 在禮儀的實踐上，關於誰能主持聖餐，誰能領受聖餐，多久舉行一次，用甚麼餅，用甚麼飲料，用甚麼杯，程序如何，剩下來的餅和葡萄汁(酒)該如何處理，各教會也有不同的做法。面對眾教會在實踐上的差異，我們需要持定的正如保羅所持有的原則，在基本的教義上堅持立場(如加拉太書1-2章、腓立比書3章) ，在相對的實踐形式上尊重和包容差異(如羅馬書14-15章)。精義重於形式，我們也應當堅守精義，而在形式上接受相對的差異。
紀念是本質
如同多數的新教教會/更正教會，CBCGB在聖餐禮的意義上，主張由改教神學家慈運理（Huldrych Zwingli）最早提出的「紀念」說。認為聖餐禮的遵守不是人得著或維持救恩的關鍵，餅和杯象徵耶穌的身體和寶血，本身也不具有特殊的功能。聖餐禮的持守在於透過實行這個禮儀，紀念耶穌的身體為我們而捨命，使我們藉著祂的死代替我們的刑罰，使我們得著新生命。紀念耶穌的寶血為我們流，透過祂的血我們和神立下新約，在新約中神應許永遠為我們的神，我們立志一生信靠祂、順服祂、跟隨祂、榮耀祂。在一次一次的禮儀中，我們紀念耶穌捨命的恩典和慈愛，讓我們一再的被祂的愛所激勵，在其中得著更新，靈命得著成長。
非常時期的彈性作為
在疫情漫延的非常時期，為保護所有弟兄姐妹的健康，以及善盡麻州社區一份子的責任，教會決定全教會所有的聚會都改為網上聚會。在改為網上聚會後，進行每月一次的聖餐成為極難實現的禮儀。經過討論和禱告後，我們認為儀式的本身不是目的，儀式的目的是為了帶領我們透過紀念主的救恩和主建立更密切的關係。堅持執行儀式的本身不是重點，重點是儀式所要傳遞的神的祝福。當我們暫時無法按照我們的傳統方式舉行聖餐禮時，如果在網上舉行禮儀，而要求會眾自行預備餅和杯，固然在疫情嚴峻的狀況下，增加會眾負擔，也可能造成會眾的誤解和困惑，因此我們決定取消聖餐禮。
但是同時，我們希望採用別的方式來達到聖餐禮原有的目的。我們希望全教會會眾仍有定期思考耶穌基督救恩和大愛的時候，所以我們決定在每月第一個星期的主日崇拜，由講員在講道結束時，以誦唸基督受難的經文、誦唱基督受難的詩歌、以及安靜默禱來紀念主的死。這是在非常時期以不執行聖餐禮的方式，達到全教會紀念主救恩的彈性作法。我們希望全教會弟兄姐妹能理解這個彈性作為的理念，大家仍一同來紀念主的受難。我們更期望恢復現場崇拜來到的時候，各堂會會眾能再一次聚集在一起領聖餐紀念主的救恩和大愛。如果有何任弟兄姐妹有進一步的問題，歡迎和教牧同工及長老聯繫。
[1] 有關教會歷史中的對聖禮的四種主要觀點, 請參考Erickson, Millard, 《基督教神學》, 卷三, 台北:華神出版社, 2005, pp.402-409, (Erickson, Millard, Christian Theology, Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books, 1998, pp.1109-1112)。
Statement that CBCGB Will Cancel Holy Communion Temporarily
After prudent thinking, prayer, and discussion among the board of elders and pastoral staff, the church has decided that, during the COVID-19 pandemic when all the meetings of the church have to be online, we will temporarily cancel Holy Communion on the first Sunday of each month. We will change our practice to remember the salvation and love of our Lord through the reading of scripture, singing hymns of Jesus’s suffering and death, meditating on the Lord’s death, and prayer. The practice will be led by the preacher at the end of the sermon. We make such changes based on the conviction below.
The Essential Meaning is Prior to the Form:
Holy Communion is one of the two Sacraments of the Church. God’s churches follow the commands of Jesus Christ in the Bible and practice Holy Communion periodically during worship. The churches also attempt to reflect the original practice taught in the Bible. However, since there are different interpretations of the Holy Communion passages, there are different practices in different church traditions. First, there are different interpretations to the meaning and function of Holy Communion. [1] Second, there are different practices in churches regarding who is qualified to officiate communion, who is qualified to partake the bread and cup, how frequently we administer it, what type of bread to use, what type of drink to use, what kind of cup, what the process should be, and how to do deal with leftover bread and grape juice/wine. Given the various understandings and practices of Christian churches, we need to follow Paul’s example, to hold steadfast in essential truth as held in Galatians 1-2 and Philippians 3, and to respect and accept the various forms of practice as expressed in Romans 14-15. The essential meaning is prior to the form. Let’s hold steadfast in essential truth and accept the differences in form.
The Essence of Holy Communion is “To Remember”:
As with most Protestant churches, CBCGB holds the standpoint of “Memorialism” first proposed by Ulrich Zwingli, the reformed theologian. We claim that Holy Communion is not the means of receiving or keeping salvation. The bread and the cup are the symbols of Jesus’s body and blood without possessing special power by themselves. To practice Holy Communion is to remember that Jesus’s body was given for us so that we receive new life through his atonement on the cross. It is also to remember that His blood was poured out for us and that through His blood, God has made a covenant with us. In this new covenant, God promises he will be our God, and we decide to believe, obey, follow, and glorify Him with our entire lives. As we practice Holy Communion repeatedly, we are inspired by Jesus’ love, and we experience renewal and growth in our spiritual lives.
Flexible Practices in a Special Context:
During the COVID-19 pandemic, for the wellbeing of all brothers and sisters in the church and for the wellbeing of Massachusetts communities, the church has decided to move all meetings online. After making such change, to have Holy Communion once a month as usual becomes a difficult practice. During discussions between elders and pastoral staff, we claim that the rite itself is not the purpose; the purpose is attained through the practice of rite in that we remember the salvation of the Lord and thus build up intimate relationship with Him. The priority is not insisting on the practice of rite but delivering God’s blessing through practice. When we are unable to hold Holy Communion according to our traditional practice, we considered that if we practiced Holy Communion online and asked the congregation to prepare their own bread and cup, it may cause a burden for those in special situations. It may also cause misunderstanding and confusion in the congregation. Based on the above conviction, we decided to cancel Holy Communion.
In order to help the congregation to remember the salvation and love of Jesus Christ, we have decided to follow the practice listed below on the first Sunday of every month. During that Sunday service at the end of the sermon, the preacher will lead the congregation in reading Scripture describing Jesus’ suffering and death, in singing a hymn of Jesus’s salvation, and in praying and meditating on the Lord’s death. Through these practices, we thus remember the death of Jesus Christ for us. This is an alternative practice to Holy Communion for the congregation to remember the salvation of our Lord during this unusual period. We sincerely hope that all the brothers and sisters can understand and accept this alterative practice. Through such practice, we can still remember the salvation of our Lord together. Further, we hold the hope that when we return to in-house worship, we can all gather again and remember the salvation and love of our Lord through partaking the bread and the cup. If any brother or sister has a question about our decision, you are welcome to contact any of the pastoral staff or lay leaders.
[1] There are 4 primary interpretations to the meaning and function of the Holy Communion in different church traditions. See Erickson, Millard, Christian Theology, Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books, 1998, pp. 1109-1112
Statement that CBCGB Will Cancel Holy Communion Temporarily