Lutheran pastors ‘receiving’ the Eucharist.

Tigger45

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I visited a LCMS church today and suddenly realized the pastor receives the communion elements from elders/deacons, unlike what at least that I’ve noticed, any other sacramental church do. I’ve attended services of LCMC, ELCA & WELS but can’t recall if their pastors self administer the communion elements or not. I know RC priests self administer and I believe Anglican and Episcopal do also. Not sure about E.O. thinking this might be done behind the iconostasis? (Open to correction)

I’m thinking that at least in the case of LCMS it’s in accordance to Matthew 26:26 where it reads”…take and eat…”

Comments and clarifications would be appreciated.
 

hedrick

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PCUSA does the same. There is typically a chair behind the communion table. After handing trays with the elements to the elders who are serving, the pastor sits, and one of the elders serves the pastor. Then they go on to serve the congregation.

In informal settings such as camps, where it's often passed around a circle, each person serves the one next to them. Whoever is sitting next to the pastor, whether elder or not, is expected to serve the pastor.

Of course the whole passing trays around the congregation is a new-fangled, decadent approach. In earlier practice, there were tables at the front. Groups of the congregation came forward, sat at the table, and were served.

There would never be an occasion for the pastor to have to serve himself, since communion requires as a minimum one pastor and one elder. In our congregation, communion for shutins is often done by a pastor and a few of the youth, one of whom is an elder or deacon.
 
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chevyontheriver

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I visited a LCMS church today and suddenly realized the pastor receives the communion elements from elders/deacons, unlike what at least that I’ve noticed, any other sacramental church do. I’ve attended services of LCMC, ELCA & WELS but can’t recall if their pastors self administer the communion elements or not. I know RC priests self administer and I believe Anglican and Episcopal do also. Not sure about E.O. thinking this might be done behind the iconostasis? (Open to correction)

I’m thinking that at least in the case of LCMS it’s in accordance to Matthew 26:26 where it reads”…take and eat…”

Comments and clarifications would be appreciated.
Following. Curious to see where this goes. I saw a Catholic priest once receive the Eucharist last. An odd thing. I had never seen or heard of such a thing before or since.

One reason I have heard for the priest going first is that he puts himself up there, risking being struck dead for his sins. If God doesn't strike him dead, perhaps we too can dare to approach for communion. I only heard this one time. It's not like it's common teaching or anything.
 
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Paidiske

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The reason I was given for receiving first, is that you cannot give others what you have not received. I am not sure I found the argument convincing.

There's no explicit hard and fast rule for Anglicans, but in most situations the presiding priest would self administer.
 
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GreekOrthodox

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Good morning Tigger,
Priests and bishop self receive in the Orthodox liturgy at the altar. Even if there are multiple priests, they self-commune. If there is a deacon, he receives directly from the priest. Only after they commune does the rest of the congregation receive Communion. After the service, the remains are consumed by the priest or deacon so that there are no leftovers. FWIW, in a practical matter our chalices are fairly large and unwieldy so holding and drinking with minimal assistance is the best way to do it. I've included the portion for the Body, the Blood is similar.

The Priest prepares to receive Holy Communion.
Behold, I approach Christ, our immortal King and God. Unto me, (Name), the unworthy presbyter, is imparted the precious and all-holy Body of our Lord and God and Savior, Jesus Christ, for the remission of my sins and life eternal.

He communes of the Holy Bread with fear and with great care. Then he says to the Deacon: Deacon, approach.

And the Deacon approaches at the Priest’s right, extending his hands with his right palm crossed over his left, saying: Behold, I approach Christ, our immortal King and God. Impart, Master, to me, (Name), the unworthy deacon, the precious and all-holy Body of our Lord and God and Savior, Jesus Christ, for the remission of my sins and life eternal.

The Priest places a piece of the Holy Bread in the Deacon’s right palm, saying:
Unto you, (Name), the most devout deacon, is imparted the precious and all-holy Body of our Lord and God and Savior Jesus Christ for the remission of your sins and life eternal.
 
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Arcangl86

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In the Episcopal Church, while the rubrics direct the priest to self administer before the people, what seems to be the common practice is that the priest administer the Eucharist and then receives last from the deacon or lay assisting minister if there is one.
 
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MarkRohfrietsch

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I visited a LCMS church today and suddenly realized the pastor receives the communion elements from elders/deacons, unlike what at least that I’ve noticed, any other sacramental church do. I’ve attended services of LCMC, ELCA & WELS but can’t recall if their pastors self administer the communion elements or not. I know RC priests self administer and I believe Anglican and Episcopal do also. Not sure about E.O. thinking this might be done behind the iconostasis? (Open to correction)

I’m thinking that at least in the case of LCMS it’s in accordance to Matthew 26:26 where it reads”…take and eat…”

Comments and clarifications would be appreciated.
While this is a common practice, it is against the Rubrics in all of our Service Books (LCMS and LCC). The rubrics state that the Pastor Commune himself first, then those assisting, then the Congregation. The variation crept in in the 1960's. Took us until a few years ago to correct this in our Parish. Some of our parishoners protested about this, about genuflecting and about the Elevation, that these things are "too Catholic". They got over it.
 
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MarkRohfrietsch

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Following. Curious to see where this goes. I saw a Catholic priest once receive the Eucharist last. An odd thing. I had never seen or heard of such a thing before or since.

One reason I have heard for the priest going first is that he puts himself up there, risking being struck dead for his sins. If God doesn't strike him dead, perhaps we too can dare to approach for communion. I only heard this one time. It's not like it's common teaching or anything.
Are your sure he received last, or was he just consuming the remaining elements. We consume the remaining elements at either the end of the distribution or after the service; even though the officiant communed himself first.
 
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Tigger45

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While this is a common practice, it is against the Rubrics in all of our Service Books (LCMS and LCC). The rubrics state that the Pastor Commune himself first, then those assisting, then the Congregation. The variation crept in in the 1960's. Took us until a few years ago to correct this in our Parish. Some of our parishoners protested about this, about genuflecting and about the Elevation, that these things are "too Catholic". They got over it.
Oh, that’s good to know. The circuit visitor of our area seems very ‘confessional’ otherwise but also receives the elements from those assisting.

Do you perhaps know the reasoning behind the celebrant self communing?
 
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MarkRohfrietsch

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Oh, that’s good to know. The circuit visitor of our area seems very ‘confessional’ otherwise but also receives the elements from those assisting.

Do you perhaps know the reasoning behind the celebrant self communing?
Just guessing, but Tradition would be my guest; a cary-over from the pre-reformation Liturgy.
 
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The Liturgist

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Just guessing, but Tradition would be my guest; a cary-over from the pre-reformation Liturgy.

Indeed, all ancient liturgical rites have the celebrant self-partake, without exception - there is no ancient rite where this is not the case. Given how far removed the, for example, Alexandrian or East Syriac rites are from the Lutheran reform of the Roman Rite (no explicit words of institution in the East Syriac Liturgy of Addai and Mari, for instance, and the Alexandrian Anaphora of St. Gregory Nazianzus is directed to Christ and not the Father, although it does have the words of institution), the fact that in both the celebrants self-commune, and after the liturgy perform the Ablutions (consume all unconsumed consecrated bread and wine), does validate the traditional Lutheran practice as described by @MarkRohfrietsch, and vice-versa (all ancient liturgical practices shared across Christendom self-validate each other as Apostolic kerygma, moreso when separated by great distance).
 
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chevyontheriver

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Are your sure he received last, or was he just consuming the remaining elements. We consume the remaining elements at either the end of the distribution or after the service; even though the officiant communed himself first.
In this ONE observed case he received last and not first. Maybe he thought he was being 'efficient' in that he was going to do the ablution anyway. Or he thought it was more appropriate to let everybody else go first. I donno. But that's just not how Catholics do it. I've never seen such a thing again. I was going to say 'and I probably won't', but never say never.
 
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MarkRohfrietsch

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In this ONE observed case he received last and not first. Maybe he thought he was being 'efficient' in that he was going to do the ablution anyway. Or he thought it was more appropriate to let everybody else go first. I donno. But that's just not how Catholics do it. I've never seen such a thing again. I was going to say 'and I probably won't', but never say never.
Not how Lutherans should do it.
 
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MarkRohfrietsch

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Is this adiaphora or is there a matter of theology at stake?
My opinion...
Practically speaking, by receiving first, the Pastor has received the grace and forgiveness promised by our Lord in the sacrament; very appropriate to do so before distributing it to others.
 
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J_B_

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My opinion...
Practically speaking, by receiving first, the Pastor has received the grace and forgiveness promised by our Lord in the sacrament; very appropriate to do so before distributing it to others.

I suppose stating your reply as an opinion answers my question. It's nice we agree at least on that; my opinion differs.
 
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J_B_

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And your reasoning?

There are many passages calling for order in the church, but 1 Corinthians 14:40 says it concisely. IMHO that is why the pastor distributes the Eucharist - for the sake of order. Of course the pastor needs to meet what is outlined in passages such as Titus 1:7-9 and it is something I have never been called to, so I would never presume to fill that role. However ...

There is no sense in which pastors are, generally speaking, more worthy than me. They're not more holy than me. It's not their position as a called and ordained servant of God that makes the Eucharist valid or invalid. The Sacraments are gifts of God, given by God, empowered by God. Being communed by someone else makes that much more evident.

Communing one's self too often sends the message that no one else is worthy. Such that if the time comes when the Sacrament is requested and no pastor is available, many people I know would decline to do it.
 
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MarkRohfrietsch

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There are many passages calling for order in the church, but 1 Corinthians 14:40 says it concisely. IMHO that is why the pastor distributes the Eucharist - for the sake of order. Of course the pastor needs to meet what is outlined in passages such as Titus 1:7-9 and it is something I have never been called to, so I would never presume to fill that role. However ...

There is no sense in which pastors are, generally speaking, more worthy than me. They're not more holy than me. It's not their position as a called and ordained servant of God that makes the Eucharist valid or invalid. The Sacraments are gifts of God, given by God, empowered by God. Being communed by someone else makes that much more evident.

Communing one's self too often sends the message that no one else is worthy. Such that if the time comes when the Sacrament is requested and no pastor is available, many people I know would decline to do it.
I assume by your reply that you are not Lutheran, or at lease a Confessional Lutheran.

It is the Pastor's unworthiness that is why he needs to receive first, rather than last; he is a poor, miserable sinner just like the rest of us. By partaking first, he is admittiing his sinfulness and showing us his need and desire for the Eucharist.
 
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