Communion Update: Individual Wine Cups
Over the course of the last two years when I have lifted the chalice and spoken of sharing the cup of communion, when I would be the only one sharing it on your behalf, has been heartbreaking. It has felt like eating a cookie in front of a toddler who could not eat one. We are finally at a place where we can resume sharing the sacramental form of the wine, but we will be doing so in a new way (for us): individual cups.
Intincting (dipping) has always been more germy than drinking from a common cup. Intinction seem safer, and it may touch that dipping-cookies-in-milk part of our sentimentality, but the science is strong about it being more of a problem – and it is having all those fingers in the same vessel that is the culprit.
Therefore we are choosing to try individual pours into individual cups at the rail. There is no material difference in the sacrament between one common cup that is refilled and filling individual vessels. In many ways it is just the same as using individual wafers instead of sharing pieces of one loaf of bread. We won’t be filling up a whole tray to distribute, but instead keeping close to the interaction of one person offered the blood of Christ, the cup of salvation, at a time. It is the same union with Christ, and considerably safer.
Starting March 27th at both services:
- At the top of the chancel steps (the front of the stage) there will be a red bucket with lots of little glass cups. Persons who want to share the wine of communion will take one cup and go to the rail as we have been doing.
- You will receive the bread from Deacon Dennis (and you will consume it).
- Then I (Rev’d Jane) will pour a small taste of consecrated wine into your glass.
- You will consume that and then as you walk away from the altar there will be another red bucket (one in the chapel and one in the sacristy) and you will place your used cup in that bucket (which will have some water in it).
- If you do not want to receive the wine bodily (but only the bread), after you have received the bread, place your palms together (or clasp your hands) and I will say the words of reception for you.
- If the full communion of bread alone is enough for you, then you are free to move away when you have received before the wine comes to you.
- Persons who want to only receive a blessing will continue to cross their arms over their chest.
At the singing service if the juggle of mask and cup is hard for you, you may remove one loop or temporarily move your mask to your wrist until you have finished communion.
For the first week (or maybe two) we will be using not our usual port wine, but the wine that was a gift for the celebration of our new ministry together, sent last spring from my ordaining parish in Walla Walla, Washington. It has been a long journey, we have more shifts and returnings to make, but we encourage you to come, taste, and see.