These practices vary widely across the denomination. They all deserve serious theological reflection, yet most commonly churches simply follow local custom on these matters – “doing it the way we’ve always done it” – rather than taking on the hard work that such theological reflection would entail.

Thus, for example, there are Presbyterian congregations that celebrate the Lord’s Supper four times per year and those that do so every week, as well as those, like your new congregation, who take Communion once per month. John Calvin, the father of Presbyterianism, advocated for celebrating the Eucharist every week; but the elders of Geneva were afraid that this would seem like “too often” to the people, and their viewpoint prevailed.

As to the means of receiving Communion: although some churches suppose they are doing it “the way Jesus did,” very few use unleavened bread and glasses of wine while reclining at table, at the end of a Passover meal. Some congregations come forward and eat unleavened bread and drink wine from a common cup, while kneeling at a railing; other congregations feel squeamish about everyone’s mouth being on the cup (for fear of spreading germs) and come forward and stand while dipping a piece of a broken loaf of leavened bread into a cup of grape juice. Some congregations use individual cups, either plastic (because glass cups require washing) or glass (because plastic cups seem tacky).

Similarly with the recitation of creeds: the practice varies widely, with some churches reciting the Apostles Creed at every service, while others include a selection from the Book of Confessions, and still others never include the recitation of any creed.

Very few congregations explore what would count as “too often,” or the symbolism inherent in various means of partaking of the Sacrament, or what it would mean for us to declare our faith in a unison statement. Instead, their practices are habits: the way they have gotten used to doing it, which they now experience as the normal way of doing it.

While I don’t think you can expect that they’ll just change their habit to match yours, you could do good service by encouraging the worship committee to engage in theological reflection on these questions.