Flexibility in the LCMS communion distribution

[The Liturgist]

The LCMS churches in our area are so strick with who receives communion I'm surprised they don't call out "THE DOORS, THE DOORS" before distributing the elements.

The Mozarabic Rite is even more severe than the Byzantine Rite when it comes to dismissing catechumens. The deacon announces “The catechumens will depart!” Also the East Syriac Rite features a hymn “Let he who has not been baptized depart...Let he who is in penance depart...”

 

[The Liturgist]

When we were at the end of our catechumate, we did stand in the narthex, but they kept the doors open so we could watch the remainder of the service. More symbolic than anything else.

Most Orthodox churches I have been in are not strict about keeping non-Orthodox in the narthex. One exception is St. Anthony’s Monastery in Florence, AZ.

 

[The Liturgist]

During our presanctified liturgy on Lenten Wednesdays, we still have this:

Deacon: All Catechumens, depart. The Catechumens, depart. All who are admitted for Illumination, depart. Pray, all you who preparing for Illumination. Let us pray to the Lord.

Cantor: Lord, have mercy.

Deacon: Catechumens, depart. Let none of the Catechumens remain.

Deacon: All we faithful once again in peace let us pray to the Lord.

Cantor: Lord, have mercy.

And in Holy Week there is also a separate blessing and dismissal for Energumens, those who are about to receive baptism, during the Presanctified Liturgies (and I would assume the Vesperal Liturgy of St. Basil on Maundy Thursday, but I have never been to that service for various reasons of timing).