Three Communion Services
Three sermons preached by Dr. Campbell at a communion season in Scalpay, Harris.
One of the traditional elements of Presbyterian religion in the north and west of Scotland is the communion season. The Sacrament of the Lord's Supper is an important element of Christian worship, and is celebrated in our congregation twice a year (for a discussion of the sacraments, click here). These communion seasons become times of concentrated Bible teaching, with services usually held from Thursday to Monday. The themes of these services is as follows:
- Thursday: Confession of sin
- Friday: Evidences of grace
- Saturday: Preparation for the Table
- Sunday: Administration of Lord's Supper
- Sunday (evening): evangelistic service
- Monday: Thanksgiving
In our Presbytery, the tradition is maintained that the minister of the congregation is assisted by visiting ministers for these services, which are also normally attended by members and adherents from neighbouring congregations. In this way, the communion season becomes not only a high point within a specific congregation, but an occasion for fellowship and the strengthening of bonds between congregations of God's people.
Dr. Campbell assisted at a communion season in the Free Church congregation of Scalpay, Harris, from 7th-10th March 2003. This congregation is vacant at present, and has been dispossessed of its church building by the Free Church (Continuing), a group who separated from the Free Church of Scotland in January 2000 and who are also at present suing the Free Church of Scotland in court for all its buildings and assets, contrary to the teaching of Scripture in 1 Corinthians 6:1-8. However, the Scalpay Free Church congregation have secured a suitable place of worship, and are continuing to hold services under the auspices of the Free Church of Scotland on a regular basis. Rev Kenneth I. Macleod, Stornoway, also assisted at this communion.
Three of Dr Campbell's sermons are reproduced here.
