Of the Lord's Supper, XXIX:3

The Lord Jesus has, in this ordinance, appointed His ministers to declare His word of institution to the people; to pray, and bless the elements of bread and wine, and thereby to set them apart from a common to a holy use; and to take and break the bread, to take the cup, and (they communicating also themselves) to give both to the communicants; but to none who are not then present in the congregation.

This paragraph concerns the proper administration of the Supper. The Confession is clear that ordained ministers of the gospel officiate. Some are under the impression that any Christian may administer the Supper. The Confession denies this, placing the authority to administer the Supper only in the hands of duly-ordained ministers of the church. This helps to prevent abuses; for one thing, there is ostensibly more accountability for the ordained minister, who answers to the local session as well as to the presbytery and general assembly. According to the Confession, the minister declares the words of institution (never sacrament without word), prays, blesses and sets apart the elements from their common to sacred use (but the elements remain bread and wine), takes and breaks the bread, takes the cup, and communicates himself in both kinds along with the congregation. In the Middle Ages it was the typical practice for the priest to offer only the bread to the congregation, reserving the wine for the official celebrants. The Reformers admantly (and biblically) opposed this.

The Supper, when celebrated, is not subsequently offered to those not present, with certain exceptions. The emphasis here is on the proclamation of the word and the communion of believers as key to a proper observance of the Supper. It is appropriate to celebrate the Supper in private homes (for shut-ins) or hospitals and nursing homes when the sacrament is celebrated with a group of like-minded believers and the word is also proclaimed.

Tomorrow: Forbidden practices touching on the Supper.