Come and See

Why has there been such an increase in the number of Presbyterian congregations celebrating the Lord's Supper every week? Come and See explores the following causes: generational change, ecumenical convergence, revisiting Reformed roots, heightened interest in spirituality, new perspectives offered by ritual studies, and the postmodern opening to a deeper appreciation of Scripture. Worship that is a balance of Word and Sacrament is incarnationally serious, recognizing that human persons are embodied beings who bring to worship all of our senses--not only the ability to process words. Presbyterian congregations celebrating weekly Communion are discovering ways of being and thinking missionally as they link their experiences of being nourished at the Holy Table to the needs of people who are physically as well as spiritually hungry. Come and See describes a number of congregations who have made the transition to weekly Communion and tells how they did it, working within Presbyterian polity and local cultures. Some are traditional, established congregations, while others are new church developments. They may be found in the north and south, east and west, across the broad Presbyterian theological and demographic spectrums. "In Come and See, Byars has provided a rich resource for pastors, worship committees, and governing bodies that is theological, sociological, and practical as churches take a fresh look at how Word and Sacrament together make for a more missional response. I certainly plan on using it with our worship team and recommend it to others. The response could well be transformational for churches of all sizes, traditions, and settings." --Stephen R. Montgomery, Pastor, Idlewild Presbyterian Church "'Whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the saving death of our risen Lord until he comes again.' We need to proclaim the past-present-future presence and power of our risen Lord and Savior at every turn in every moment; that's the power of weekly celebrations of the Eucharist. Ronald Byars in Come and See reminds the church of our Lord's call and promise. Byars puts into conversation the actual practices and lived theology of worshipping-witnessing communities with the rich theological treasure of the Reformed traditions and the biblical witness. In one volume, we receive that which is being heard, tasted and drunk. As you read and reflect upon what Byars has written, may the testimonies and our theological traditions metabolize in your life and that of your communities, leading you to meet the Word at the table." --Neal D. Presa, Pastor, Middlesex Presbyterian Church, New Jersey Ronald Byars is Professor Emeritus of Preaching and Worship at Union Presbyterian Seminary, Richmond, Virginia, where he taught following many years in pastoral ministry in both Michigan and Kentucky. In addition to Christian Worship (2000), his most recent book is The Sacraments in Biblical Perspective (2011). He lives in Lexington, Kentucky.