How often should Christians take Holy Communion? I recently sat down with Dr. Matt O’Reilly to explore why John Wesley believed constant communion was essential for Christian life and growth. Together we discuss the theology, history, and practical implications of Wesley’s commitment to attending the Lord’s Supper as often as possible.
In his sermon The Duty of Constant Communion, Wesley insisted that the Lord’s Supper isn’t optional. It’s a command of Christ and a means of grace.
Comment by David on October 13, 2025 at 8:10 am
I knew of a case in a city where a Methodist Church held communion every fourth Sunday and another two blocks away did so only four times a year. It was rumored there were churches which had communion only annually on Good Thursday.
Comment by Qohelet on October 13, 2025 at 10:31 am
The standard in every United Methodist church I’ve ever been in is once a month. I believe this is a relic of the circuit rider days and my own little church experienced this between pastors a few years ago; we could find someone to lead the service every week but getting someone ordained in to celebrate the sacrament took a team effort with retired clergy and other nearby churches.
If it were up to me I think it would be good to do as much as possible, but the key thing is an open table. The joy of hearing you are welcome to take communion after coming from a church that restricts it is a singular joy. I can only compare it to the first time you put on a pair of glasses and get to fully see.
Comment by John on October 13, 2025 at 10:41 am
I’ve always attended churches to offered communion once a week and some that offered an additional communion service in the middle of the week.
Comment by Wilson R. on October 13, 2025 at 3:24 pm
When I was growing up, the standard was only once a month, generally the first Sunday of the month. As Oohelet says, this was a relic of the circuit riding days.
As an adult, I’ve been a member of two United Methodist congregations. Both of them have communion weekly. But my understanding that these are a minority.
According to the UM Book of Discipline, an ordained elder must bless the elements before they can be served, but the servers themselves can be laypersons. So one way churches manage weekly communion is for the elder to pre-bless the elements if they’re going to be out of town on Sunday and unavailable to serve.