Think I'll sit down here for a bit... (3)

[LilLamb219]

Hey, Lambikins. You having fun in the general fellowship area again?
I was getting worried about Rad, wondering where he was, but I guess now we know he's still alive.

Fun?

 

[DaSeminarian]

Here, our pastor distributes the host and then the elder follows with the individual cups then the chalice.

Rev distributes the host, his elder follows with the indvidual cups and then Rev follows with the chalice upon completion of distributing the host. This makes more sense and far more people take the individual cups, which I don't understand, but I think it's a habit or some manner of preference, just like not receiving the host on your tongue.

In my field work church, the Pastor distributes the host, the elder then takes the tray of individual cups and follows the Pastor and finally I take the chalice and distribute to those who passed on the individual cups.

Each church has a method or order to how it is done. Some churches have gone to a continuous line where an elder gives the host to the person as they pass and then they walk over to either the Pastor who stands to one side or the Elder on the other and take an individual cup and then put it in a basket which is on a stool next to the Pastor or Elder. I don't like it that way because it is a very impersonal casual attitude for such a serious event.

At the Fort Wayne Seminary we have communion once a week. The sacristan and his helpers usher the students and teachers to to the altar and each person receive the host and the chalice (no individual cups) and then we go back to our seats. Once everyone has received the body and blood the Celebrant does the communion dismissal for all at the same time (This Body and Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ will strengthen and preserve you in body and soul to life eternal. Amen)

I am not sure how they do it at St. Louis. Maybe Rev can fill us in on what they did when he was there.

 

[DaRev]

Ok from reading some of this I have a question. In my church, it's nothing to have 600-800 there for a service. Our pastor gives communion, but also has elders give communion, so there can be multiple lines and it not take up almost all of the service. Are most of you saying that's wrong?

We're getting an assoc. pastor (actually he used to be in my original Bible Study when I started going, I'm kind of excited about that), and there are a couple of pastors in the congregation. So, when our pastor is out, there's no problem having a pastor take his place, and I think they all help out during communion on any Sunday. I think I remember only one Sunday where our Director of Worship Arts, who is a DCE, did the service, but there was no communion in that service.

The body of Christ should ONLY be distributed by the ordained pastor of that congregation or by another ordained pastor in his absence. The pastor alone is the one who is responsible to determine who is eligible to receive communion at that altar. Elders, seminary students, and even vicars should not be the ones to admit people to the Lord's table since they do not yet have that authority to do so.

 

[DaRev]

Rev's system allows for him to distribute both the host and the chalice while the elder distributes the individual cups. Being a traditionalist, it will mean a great deal to me to be able to receive both elements from an ordained man.

In between the winking.

 

[DaRev]

I am not sure how they do it at St. Louis. Maybe Rev can fill us in on what they did when he was there.

At St. Louis, communion is held at chapel every Wednesday. Distribution is done by half-table (you'd have to know how the chacel is set up there to know what I mean). The celebrant distributes the body of Christ. The assisting ministers (all ordained) distribute the common cup. No shot glasses! The dismissal blessing is given upon completion of each half-table by the assisting minister. There is a seminary student who stands at the altar and is responible for making sure the chalices are filled.

 

[C.F.W. Walther]

Hey, Lambikins. You having fun in the general fellowship area again?
I was getting worried about Rad, wondering where he was, but I guess now we know he's still alive.

*stir, stir, stir stir*

 

[ctay]

At St. Louis, communion is held at chapel every Wednesday. Distribution is done by half-table (you'd have to know how the chacel is set up there to know what I mean). The celebrant distributes the body of Christ. The assisting ministers (all ordained) distribute the common cup. No shot glasses! The dismissal blessing is given upon completion of each half-table by the assisting minister. There is a seminary student who stands at the altar and is responible for making sure the chalices are filled.

Shot glasses??? Someone I know calls them thimbles.

 

[Flipper]

The body of Christ should ONLY be distributed by the ordained pastor of that congregation or by another ordained pastor in his absence. The pastor alone is the one who is responsible to determine who is eligible to receive communion at that altar. Elders, seminary students, and even vicars should not be the ones to admit people to the Lord's table since they do not yet have that authority to do so.

No arguments here. Pastor ordination has to mean something, right?

However, how do you seriously suggest handling communion when there is one pastor distributing and 500+ people receiving?

 

[C.F.W. Walther]

Oh yea! I love Rad. He reminds me of my father in a lot of ways.

If your dad is opinionated, outspoken and generally a pain in the wazzoo then he's alright. My kind of guy. that's part of our "junior geezer" training.

 

[Flipper]

If your dad is opinionated, outspoken and generally a pain in the wazzoo then he's alright. My kind of guy. that's part of our "junior geezer" training.

Yep, that's him. The only difference is he doesn't like motorcycles, or computers, and he's an agnostic. Your political and social views are very similar, though.

Junior Geezer?

 

[DaRev]

No arguments here. Pastor ordination has to mean something, right?

However, how do you seriously suggest handling communion when there is one pastor distributing and 500+ people receiving?

Call an assistant pastor, or have more than one Sunday service, or simply allow for the time necessary for the one who is called and ordained to do that particular function to do his job.

 

[porterross]

In between the winking.

Only before and after being at the communion rail.
At the altar, it's just me and Jesus, Honey!

 

[DaRev]

As it should be.

 

[DaSeminarian]

The body of Christ should ONLY be distributed by the ordained pastor of that congregation or by another ordained pastor in his absence. The pastor alone is the one who is responsible to determine who is eligible to receive communion at that altar. Elders, seminary students, and even vicars should not be the ones to admit people to the Lord's table since they do not yet have that authority to do so.

I agree with your stand completely, but I have seen the opposite way too often in the church I was raised as well as a few others. The Pastor in many of the cases has switched with the Elder and gives the cup rather than the host. They seem to have a more moderate to liberal understanding of who takes communion and for that I am sad.

I won't say anything to them anymore because when I have offered my opinion I am told it is not wanted.

 

[Flipper]

Call an assistant pastor, or have more than one Sunday service, or simply allow for the time necessary for the one who is called and ordained to do that particular function to do his job.

I should have said 500+ per service - there are 3 services already. There's been talk about going to 4 services, but a lot of the congregation is against it for whatever reason. While I don't mind a 2 hour service, most of the congregants do. Frankly I love communion. That's when the best music is prayed, which for me makes it easier to meditate and pray. Like I said, we are getting an associate pastor, which should help.

Our church is trying to split off a sister church on the Illinois side, but Synod is giving us a hard time about it. We are starting a youth only church on the grounds that's going to have their own Sunday services. Being the median age in my congregation is 35, that will help.

 

[Flipper]

I agree with your stand completely, but I have seen the opposite way too often in the church I was raised as well as a few others. The Pastor in many of the cases has switched with the Elder and gives the cup rather than the host. They seem to have a more moderate to liberal understanding of who takes communion and for that I am sad.

I won't say anything to them anymore because when I have offered my opinion I am told it is not wanted.

I think at my church it's a matter of communion not taking an hour alone because of the number of people. When our congregation was smaller, only the Pastor would distribute communion and we would gather in a half circle and kneel. As the church got bigger, how communion had to be done had to change. My church likes to spend its money on outreach, so I don't think it can support the salaries for more pastors, or at least that's how I'm seeing it, except I believe they will be hiring a youth pastor for the youth church that's being built.

It's sad that practicality has to take precedence. At the same time, Praise God for that many people being in church on a Sunday.

 

[Flipper]

I've gotten a couple of PM's asking what church I go to. One of them felt more like an interrogation than an inquiry. Sheesh!

Does no one check profiles? It's there. I checked the site address (because I think they are changing it) and it still works. Just click my profile and scroll down.

To answer one that didn't feel like an interrogation (because I got an e-mail, but it's not showing up on my PM list), I don't go to Peace, though I do live closer to it than the one I go to, and I've thought about checking it out. I believe member count at my church is closer to 3000, but I am not for sure. I remember hearing 2000 when I first started going 10 years ago, and it's grown a lot since then. 500 a service is just a guess - actually I think the numbers are less in the earlier service and more in the later ones.

Why do any of you care?

 

[C.F.W. Walther]

My goodness- I went to wedding there about 15 years ago and it was this small mission church. At least that's what I remember.

Except for St.Johns Ellisville I didn't know there was any Lutheran churches that big. I was just amazed when I saw the congregation count.

Hope it wasn't me that grilled you. If I did I apologize.

 

[Jim47]

Here, our pastor distributes the host and then the elder follows with the individual cups then the chalice.

Rev distributes the host, his elder follows with the indvidual cups and then Rev follows with the chalice upon completion of distributing the host. This makes more sense and far more people take the individual cups, which I don't understand, but I think it's a habit or some manner of preference, just like not receiving the host on your tongue.

I'm not picking on you Porter, just using your post as a starting place. I just don't like the terminology if calling our Lord's body and blood host and other terms like that. Is it just me or does anyone else feel that way?

 

[LilLamb219]

I'm not picking on you Porter, just using your post as a starting place. I just don't like the terminology if calling our Lord's body and blood host and other terms like that. Is it just me or does anyone else feel that way?

I don't have a problem with it. I guess it's because I've seen different terms used in my readings on the subject so I might be a little immuned to it. I dunno.