Reusing the Elements

[doulos_tou_kuriou]

So I have been thinking about this issue and wanted to hear your opinion on this:
Is it ok to re-use the elements from communion the following week? And if so, what protocol would you follow? I knew of a Lutheran Church that would keep that wine seperated based on "blessed" and "unblessed" wine. The blessed wine would be off to the side until after the speaking of the words of institution and then brought over with the "newly blessed" wine. Is this for example the right way to do this, or is this it wrong to isolate the elements from the verba at the time they are actually distributed?

Pax

 

[Protoevangel]

I know of a lot of Lutheran churches, that consider themselves as "Confessional" that separate the elements as you describe, saving them for the following week.

Luther himself recommended that all of the Body and Blood should be entirely consumed before the "entire action" of the Supper should be considered complete.

 

[JoeCatch]

In my congregation, we do re-use unconsumed elements from one week to the next. We have a tabernacle (a small, plush-lined wooden box) in the sacristy, and any unused wine left in the ewer that has been consecrated is poured into a corked glass vessel (probably has a name, but it escapes me at the moment) and kept in the tabernacle. Any unconsumed wine from the chalices is taken outside and poured directly into the ground. As for the bread, leftover crumbs go out with the leftover chalice wine, while whole pieces are bagged up again and placed back into the refrigerator. (I'm guessing that, aside from getting stale/moldy, the reason the unused bread is kept in the refrigerator is that a piece of bread can't really be mixed with unconsecrated bread in the same way that consecrated and unconsecrated wine can be mingled.)

I've never heard of a church keeping previously consecrated elements off to the side; I can see the reasoning behind doing so, though--no need to re-consecrate what's already been consecrated. I prefer the practice of reciting the verba over the elements again, though, since we don't really understand the how or the when of Christ's real presence. I'd say it's better to re-recite the verba for the sake of assurance (and for the sake of consciences).

 

[MarkRohfrietsch]

In our Church, before the veil is placed back over the sacred vessels, the Pastor consumes the remaining bread and the wine that remains in the chalice. After the service one of the elders empties the wine from the individual cups into the chalice and consumes it.

 

[Protoevangel]

In our Church, before the veil is placed back over the sacred vessels, the Pastor consumes the remaining bread and the wine that remains in the chalice. After the service one of the elders empties the wine from the individual cups into the chalice and consumes it.

Just out of curiosity, do you use the plastic disposable cups, or glass reusable cups?

 

[MarkRohfrietsch]

Just out of curiosity, do you use the plastic disposable cups, or glass reusable cups?

My personal preference would be not to use individual cups at all, the common cup was just fine for almost 2000 years; however the congregation uses Reusable Glass.

Mark.

 

[Protoevangel]

My personal preference would be not to use individual cups at all, the common cup was just fine for almost 2000 years; however the congregation uses Reusable Glass.

Mark.

I understand and completely agree with your position. But at least they aren't just "tossing" the cups into the garbage though, huh?

 

[Archaenfel]

I understand the love of ceremony regarding the common cup, but when I'm recovering from a cold I feel better about individual cups.

We use plastic cups, and I really don't mind it. The cup is a temporary vessel and nothing more. It is the Communion itself that is important.

 

[Kranke Krokodil]

We have communion once a month. I'd hate to think of that bread and grape juice sitting around for a whole month.

 

[MarkRohfrietsch]

I understand and completely agree with your position. But at least they aren't just "tossing" the cups into the garbage though, huh?

Indeed, but in my opinion, well, you know.

I understand the love of ceremony regarding the common cup, but when I'm recovering from a cold I feel better about individual cups.

We use plastic cups, and I really don't mind it. The cup is a temporary vessel and nothing more. It is the Communion itself that is important.

Yes, I too have on two occasions used the individual cups when I have had the flue, out of consideration for others, but it is the exception rather than the rule for me.

While Scripture is silent on using "disposable" vessels, and while it may not be wrong; I hold the "pious opinion" that it seems just not quite right.

 

[MarkRohfrietsch]

We have communion once a month. I'd hate to think of that bread and grape juice sitting around for a whole month.

The unconsecrated wine, particularly the high alcohol content types most commonly used, will keep almost indefinitely; as do the unleavened wafers. The discussion here is regarding the "consecrated elements" in light of our belief in the "real presense" (Sacramental Union) of Christ's body and blood in, with and under the bread and the wine. That is, we view this in a somewhat similar way to our Orthodox, RC, and Anglican friends.

It is my understanding that the Baptist denominations do not hold this doctrine that the bread and wine become for us Christ's very body and blood during the speaking of the Verba.

May I ask what your denomination does with, or how it deals with the remaining elements?

Mark.

 

[RadMan]

I understand the love of ceremony regarding the common cup, but when I'm recovering from a cold I feel better about individual cups.

We use plastic cups, and I really don't mind it. The cup is a temporary vessel and nothing more. It is the Communion itself that is important.

Actually the common chalice has made sense for centuries since the silver in the cup has antibacterial properties.



.

 

[MarkRohfrietsch]

Actually the common chalice has made sense for centuries since the silver in the cup has antibacterial properties.



.

Hi Rad!

...as does the gold lining which most are constructed with... and the alcohol and the sugar content of the wines most commonly used.

 

[RadMan]

Hi Rad!

...as does the gold lining which most are constructed with... and the alcohol and the sugar content of the wines most commonly used.

Wuzzup Mark

 

[Aibrean]

We use the communion wafer and wine, not a cube of bread and "juice". I would think they both would keep indefinitely.

 

[doulos_tou_kuriou]

Actually the common chalice has made sense for centuries since the silver in the cup has antibacterial properties.



.

Although recent trends have moved away from the silver cups for reasons of
1) The churches have less money to spend on vessels
2) The churches fearing the vessels being stolen
3) The church's changing view on how the church should spend money.
4) The need for more "authenticity" in the vessels, i.e. stonewear and clay cups seem much more like what Jesus would have used. After all, anyone who has seen Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade know that Jesus used a cup like that (please note my sarcastic tone). But the feeling nevertheless exists that people would prefer a cup that somehow by appearance seems more "authentic".

For these reasons I have seen in many churches across the country (and across denominations/synods) a trend towards non-silver cups. When that happens health once more becomes an issue.

And on the topic of silver cups, can I just mention that I wish churches that did that would not use white wine. It can be a light red (since I realize the altar guild's complaint of how red stains and dark red is more obvious) but when the wine matches the color of the inside of the cup, if someone else is holding the vessel for you while you drink it can be very difficult to see where the wine is and I always seems to choke on a slurped up mouthful or to spill it down my cheaks and shirt. And wine in my beard leaves an awkward tickling feeling.

And if you are among the Lutherans who still use white because the Catholics use red (yes that has been a reason in the past), I think it is ok to use red, really. No one will think you're more Catholic or are being ecumenical (Oh My!) by doing so.

Anyways, back on topic.
Pax

 

[Aibrean]

I've only seen white used to inform the communicants of it not being alcoholic.

 

[lux et lex]

I've never seen white wine either...

 

[Kranke Krokodil]

The unconsecrated wine, particularly the high alcohol content types most commonly used, will keep almost indefinitely; as do the unleavened wafers.

We always use grape juice and (most usually) broken-up crackers.

The discussion here is regarding the "consecrated elements" in light of our belief in the "real presense" (Sacramental Union) of Christ's body and blood in, with and under the bread and the wine. That is, we view this in a somewhat similar way to our Orthodox, RC, and Anglican friends.

Actually, I believe the Lutherans are the only ones to hold that view, are you not. The RC view, as I understand it, is that the bread and wine literally become, are changed into, the body and blood of Christ.

It is my understanding that the Baptist denominations do not hold this doctrine that the bread and wine become for us Christ's very body and blood during the speaking of the Verba.

That's true. They see communion as just a symbolic way to remember what Jesus did for us. They hold that the bread and wine (or juice) remain but bread and wine (or juice).

May I ask what your denomination does with, or how it deals with the remaining elements?

Mark.

Well, Mark, I don't really feel like I can answer that question when it comes to the denomination, as it may be that not every church in it does the same. As to what my own church does with remaining elements, generally anyone who wants to just eats the bread and drinks the juice after the service.

 

[Kranke Krokodil]

For these reasons I have seen in many churches across the country (and across denominations/synods) a trend towards non-silver cups. When that happens health once more becomes an issue.

At our Baptist church we use little individual glasses passed around in gold-coloured serving trays.

The worst I've ever seen are the little individual plastic "glasses" used at the United Church of Canada I used to attend. Tacky tacky tacky.