Editing Open Brethren (section)

===Weekly "Remembrance" meeting===
[[File:Former Brethren Chapel, Lower Church Road, Burgess Hill.jpg|thumb|Former Brethren Meeting House, [[Burgess Hill]]]]
A distinctive practice of the Brethren is a separate weekly Communion meeting, referred to as the "Breaking of Bread" or "The Lord's Supper". Although specific practices will vary from meeting to meeting, there are general similarities.
* The "Remembrance Meeting" is usually held each Sunday morning (though some assemblies hold it in the evening).<ref name="Muller, G. 1860 pp. 279">Muller, G. (1860) A Narrative of some of the Lords dealings with George Muller, pp. 279–281</ref>
* Where a meeting hall allows for the adjustment of furniture, the table bearing the communion "emblems" (bread and wine or grape juice) is sometimes placed in the centre of the room. Chairs may be arranged around the table in four radiating sections, all facing the table, although this is not a recognised standard.
* There is no order or plan for the meeting: rather the meeting is extempore; men (see [[#Separate_roles_of_men_and_women|Separate roles of men and women]]) will (as "led by the Spirit") rise and read or quote Scripture, pray, request a hymn to be sung or give a Christ-centred thought.
* Many of the more conservative assemblies do not have instrumental accompaniment to hymns and songs sung during the "Remembrance Meeting" but instead have men who "start the hymns" (choosing a tune, tempo, pitch and key and singing the first few words, with the rest joining in shortly thereafter).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://shipoffools.com/Mystery/2004/827.html|title=The Mystery Worshipper: Downshire Road Hall, Holywood, County Down, Northern Ireland|access-date=2009-07-18|archive-date=11 June 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180611074446/http://shipoffools.com/mystery/2004/827.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> In some groups, musical accompaniment may be used at the other meetings (i.e., gatherings). Here is an [https://soundcloud.com/lumbee-1/worship Acapella example] sung from [[Little Flock hymnbook|Hymns of the Little Flock]] at [[Prospect, North Carolina#Churches in Prospect|Preston Gospel Chapel]] recorded in 2017. Assemblies calling themselves "Bible Chapels", on the other hand, are much more likely to have musical accompaniment than those calling themselves "Gospel Halls". One notable feature of this time of worship is the use of a select few collections of hymns. Some examples of this are [[Little Flock hymnbook|Hymns of the Little Flock]] and [https://emmausinternational.com/products/hymns-of-worship-and-remembrance Hymns of Worship and Remembrance] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181215123022/https://emmausinternational.com/products/hymns-of-worship-and-remembrance |date=15 December 2018 }} (affectionately known as "The Black Book").
* Either at the beginning or toward the end of the "Remembrance Meeting" gathering, a prayer is said in reference to the bread concerning its portrayal as "the body of Christ", perhaps by an individual so appointed or (in a meeting where no one is appointed) by a man who has taken it upon himself.<ref name="Muller, G. 1860 pp. 279"/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bruederbewegung.de/pdf/embleydissertation.pdf|title=Embley|access-date=2009-07-18}}</ref><ref>Bradshaw, P.F. The new SCM dictionary of liturgy and worship, p.375</ref>
* Generally a loaf of leavened bread is used as an emblem of Christ's body – though many assemblies use unleavened bread or matzos. After giving thanks for the loaf, it is broken and circulated to the quiet, seated congregation. Congregants will break off small pieces, or take small pieces of broken unleavened bread, as it is passed, and eat them individually (i.e. not waiting for a group invitation to consume it together). At this time, the worshiper usually engages in silent prayerful worship of the Lord Jesus Christ.
* As with common Christian practice, wine has been traditionally used at Brethren Remembrance Meetings as the emblem of Christ's blood. Some individual meetings use grape juice, especially if someone in fellowship has had an alcohol problem in the past. The emblem of the blood is served after the bread has been circulated to the congregation and after it has been prayed over. In a similar fashion as each worshiper takes the "cup", so to speak, that individual again usually engages in silent prayerful worship of the Lord Jesus Christ.
* Most assemblies do not take an offering during the time their Sunday sermons are preached; but some, not all, do take an offering at the Breaking of Bread meetings. Only those in fellowship are expected to give. Many assemblies see [[tithe|tithing]] (the giving of 10 percent of one's income) as a commandment for Israel from the [[Old Testament]] law and not binding on Christians, although some assemblies do encourage tithing. Instead, the amount given is normally left to the giver and is a private matter between the individual and the Lord.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.preciousseed.org/search_articles.php?search_phrase=church+finance|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081208081815/http://www.preciousseed.org/search_articles.php?search_phrase=church+finance|url-status=dead|archive-date=8 December 2008|title=Precious Seed|access-date=2009-07-18}}</ref>

One reason for not taking up an offering at all meetings is to avoid causing any unbelievers who may be present to think that they might gain a spiritual benefit by making a donation. Some assemblies never send an offering bag round the congregation, even at the Breaking of Bread meeting. They prefer to simply have a box or two located at the back of the meeting hall, thus avoiding even the appearance of solicitation for funds. Many assemblies operate a "back seat" or "guest row" during the Breaking of Bread so that neither the offering bag nor the emblems of bread and wine will pass down the row of those not in fellowship. An offering bag, basket or box may be sent around after these two "emblems" have been passed, collecting money given voluntarily for use in maintaining the building, hall or room, to remunerate full-time or labouring members, or for distribution to the needy. In some cases an offering box may be placed at the door and not circulated.

* Because some assemblies do not encourage strangers to take Communion, it is common for those who are travelling to take with them a "letter of introduction" so they might be permitted to take Communion away from their home assemblies. These letters are typically read aloud to those present at the "Remembrance Meeting" and serve the purpose of introducing visitors to the meetings so that they can be made welcome and benefit from fellowship. These Open Brethren meetings operate what is termed a "Closed Table Policy". Any stranger arriving at such a meeting without a letter is allowed only to observe the meeting.

On the other hand, many of the more progressive assemblies welcome any who profess Jesus Christ as the Saviour and who give evidence of such after simple questioning by either one or more of the assembly elders or one or more of those ushering at that particular meeting. At some assemblies, a pamphlet explaining the Scriptural basis and purpose of the Lord's Supper is handed to visitors before they enter the main meeting room where the assembly is gathered preparing themselves for worship. This pamphlet explains to the visitor what they are about to witness and perhaps, if they so choose, be a participant in.