Homebound Communion

One of our Deacons' important responsibilities is to care for the members of each parish and help them stay connected to the life of our church. One meaningful way they fulfill this responsibility is by ensuring that those who cannot attend worship in person can still receive Holy Communion.

Ordained Deacons have the privilege of serving Communion to others. We encourage each of our Deacons to reach out to Homebound members of their parish who may be unable to attend church because of age, illness, limited mobility, transportation difficulties, or other circumstances. Deacons can ask whether they would like to receive Communion in their homes and offer to help arrange a visit.

The Homebound Communion Visit

Volunteers bring the Communion elements (blessed during the church service), along with a printed order of service for everyone to follow. The service includes Scripture and the sharing of the bread and cup, providing an opportunity for prayer, worship, and fellowship in the comfort of the recipient’s home.

How to Arrange Homebound Communion

Deacons are encouraged to identify parish members who may wish to receive Homebound Communion. However, because circumstances change and some needs may not be apparent, all members and caregivers are also welcome to request a visit directly.

Through this ministry, we help ensure that physical limitations do not prevent members from experiencing the Sacrament, the comfort of worship, and the continuing love and care of their church family.

Anyone wishing to receive Communion at home, either regularly or as needed, should complete the form below or contact Susan Pratt, Coordinator of Membership and Caring Ministries, at the church office at 239-262-1311. Please make arrangements by the Friday before Communion Sunday.

Why Homebound Communion Matters

Homebound Communion is much more than bringing the elements of Communion to someone’s home. It is an opportunity to:

• Build and maintain meaningful personal relationships with parishioners.
• Provide caring, personal contact for those who may be isolated or facing life’s challenges.
• Remind members that they remain an important part of our church family, even when they can no longer attend worship or other church activities.
• Identify individuals who may benefit from additional visits, encouragement, or support.
• Answer questions about church life and help members stay informed and connected.
• Give Deacons an opportunity to serve God and others through a practical expression of Christ’s love.
• Most importantly, bring the sacrament of Holy Communion to those who might otherwise be unable to receive it, including on the same Sunday their congregation celebrates the Lord’s Supper.

This ministry also complements the caring relationships developed through ministries such as Stephen Ministry, offering personal connection and spiritual encouragement without requiring someone to ask for help or explain the difficulties that prevent them from attending church.

The Meaning of the Lord’s Supper

The Book of Order of the Presbyterian Church (USA), part of our church’s constitution, describes the Lord’s Supper in beautiful and meaningful terms. It is an expression of thanksgiving to God, a sign of God’s sustaining grace, an invitation into God’s covenant, and a remembrance of Jesus Christ’s life, death, and resurrection.

The Book of Order emphasizes these important teachings:

1. Remembering Jesus Christ. The bread and cup recall Jesus’ Last Supper with his disciples, his death, and the new covenant established through him.
2. Receiving God’s grace. The sacrament is not merely a memorial or a human act of remembrance. It is a means through which Christ nourishes believers by the Holy Spirit.
3. Giving thanks to God. The congregation expresses gratitude for God’s faithfulness, love, and saving work.
4. Sharing in Christian fellowship. Communion unites believers with Christ and with the Church throughout the world, including the faithful who have gone before us.
5. Renewing our commitment. Those who receive the bread and cup reaffirm their baptismal promises and renew their commitment to love and serve God, one another, and their neighbors.
6. Looking forward to God’s kingdom. The Lord’s Supper offers a foretaste of the heavenly banquet and the hope of Christ’s coming kingdom.

The Presbyterian Church (USA) understands the Lord’s Supper as both a remembrance of Jesus Christ and a present experience of God’s grace through the Holy Spirit. It calls Christians to faith, gratitude, reconciliation, fellowship, and service. This is especially relevant because it addresses celebrating the Lord’s Supper in settings such as ministry to the sick.

With this understanding, many of our current and former Deacons volunteer to serve members who cannot attend worship but still want a personal, meaningful experience of receiving the Lord’s Supper.