What if communion became a milestone moment in a child’s walk with Jesus—not just a quiet next step, but a celebrated act of faith in front of the whole church?
At LaGrave Avenue Christian Reformed Church in Grand Rapids, Michigan, we’ve found a way to do just that. It’s called Table Fellowship, and it’s transformed the way we welcome children to the Lord’s Supper.
A Simple but Powerful Shift
In many churches, children begin taking communion quietly, often without public acknowledgment. But Table Fellowship turns that moment into a celebration, a public moment in the faith journey of our youth, marked with intentional preparation and a declaration of faith before the congregation.
This step doesn’t replace full profession of faith or adult membership. Instead, it creates an intermediate milestone for children ready to say, “I believe in Jesus and understand the meaning of the Lord's Supper.”
How It Works
Here’s what it looked like for our daughter Olivia when she was in second grade:
- She attended 2 class sessions during the Sunday School hour to learn about communion.
- She shared her faith with two elders, while we listened.
- She was approved by our church council.
- She stood beside us in worship and answered the liturgical questions: “I do, God helping me.”
I’ll never forget hearing her describe faith in her own words:
“When we struggle with sin it’s like carrying a sack of rocks. Jesus takes our sack and carries it for us.”
It turns out the imagery came from Pilgrim’s Progress, but that didn’t lessen its impact. It moved me to tears.
Why It Matters
That simple ceremony left a lifelong impression—not just on Olivia, but on our whole family. She’s since made a public profession of faith, but that first declaration at age 7 gave her the confidence to walk with Christ from an early age.
We believe every church should consider something like this.
Could This Work at Your Church?
If your church doesn’t yet have a clear milestone between baptism and full membership, Table Fellowship could be the bridge. It honors a child’s developing faith and welcomes them publicly into the life of the church.
To help you explore this idea, we’ve included the full liturgy used at LaGrave Avenue CRC below.
>> Scroll down to read the full Table Fellowship liturgy
and consider how this milestone could bless the children in your church family.
Olivia preparing for her Table Fellowship Interview
The Liturgy for Admission to Table Fellowship (courtesy of LaGrave Ave CRC)
To the congregation: Today we are happy to celebrate God’s grace in the lives of [names]. When they were baptized, God publicly claimed them as part of his covenant family. Now they want to join that family at the Lord’s table. So today they will take a second step on the faith journey, declaring their faith in Jesus Christ as their Savior.
To the children: We are so glad that you want to join God’s people in celebrating the Lord’s Supper. You learned about the meaning and importance of the Lord’s Supper in Children’s Worship and in a Table Fellowship class. You met with the elders, and today you will stand with your parents before God and God’s people. This is a happy occasion for all of us!
Please stand now [or come forward] to declare your faith. I will ask you three questions and then ask each of you for your answer to these questions.
- First, do you believe that you are a member of God’s covenant family and that your baptism is a sign of your membership?
- Second, do you believe that Jesus Christ died for you, and declare that you have accepted him as your Savior and Lord of your life?
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Third, do you understand that the bread and the cup of the Lord’s Supper are symbols of Jesus's body and blood?
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And finally, do you promise to live your life for Jesus Christ and desire to grow in your faith as you continue to learn more about what it means to be a child of God?
Children: I do, God helping me.
To the children: I now welcome you to the privilege of participating in holy communion. May God bless you as you join with God’s people as we celebrate the sacrament. It is our prayer that you will keep on growing in your love for the Lord Jesus Christ and one day stand again to profess your faith and assume all the responsibilities and privileges of full membership in his church.