OT,(or not) Communion

I know we have discussed the taking of communion before, and I guess I've never really thought about it much, never had a problem with it before, but this morning it occured to me that the format of communion may make a huge difference.  And it only occured to because my church all of a sudden changed formats.  I've been in many, many different churches over my years and have seen many different formats.  I grew up in mostly Baptist which passes around broken crackers and little tiny shots of grape juice...first the crackers, then you are supposed to hold the cracker until the pastor gives the order after reading some verse, then we all ate it together.  Then the juice...same deal.  I was in a church in England (not church OF England) where they passed around a loaf of real bread and you were to break off a piece and pass the loaf, then a single goblet of grape juice came next.  Today, my church had everyone get up, come forward, take a cracker, then dip it in a big bowl of grape juice, then eat, then return to seat.  I know in the Catholic church you go forward and receive a wafer.  Some churches serve real wine, some no wine, some grape juice.  I've never seen anything different from that. So what is my point?  Nothing really, but all of a sudden I'm curious as to what different churches do.  Maybe you would like to share your churches traditions.  You don't have to state the name of your church, but perhaps the denomination.  My present church is Evangelical.  They forbid wine.  Someone told me that when you have to share the same goblet, wine is actually healthier.  I think for those who have real bread it can be a real problem for some of us.  I can handle anything, so it's not an issue.  But if a church can all of a sudden change formats... I guess I'm rambling...reflecting out loud.  Wine chats with Paul...

I go to The Church of the Open Door. We typically stand in line at anyone of the persons giving communion. We are handed a cracker, a prayer is said, we go to the person with the goblet of juice is, a prayer is said, and we dip the cracker. Everyone there does something differant afterwards. Some eat the cracker on the way back to their seat. Some wait till they get to their seat, eat it, and continue singing worship music (we sing worship music throughout the entire communion). And some sit down, holding the cracker in their hand, bow their head and pray, then eat the cracker. It's pretty much up to the person. That's why I LOVE my church. I have done all of the three. It depends where my mood is at that day.  Hugs, Lori

I'm Lutheran and all of the Lutheran churches I've been to use wafers and wine.  First you're given the wafer, then another person hands you a tiny glass of wine.  The wafer pretty much dissolves right away and the little shot of wine washes it down.

Baptist here, it's always been as you describe....broken crackers passed in plates. Silent prayer with soft music playing until the plates have been passed. Then the Pastor reads a verse, prays and everyone eats. Same process for grape juice in the tiny cups, no wine. Communion is for those who've accepted Jesus Christ as their Savior, it's a time to reflect on the flesh and blood sacrifice of God's only Son for our sins. The bread and the cup are a symbolic way to honor and remember that sacrifice.

Thank you Paul for the interesting post!  I go to an evangelical free church where we get real bread and grape juice. However, when I was 2-1/2 months out, I was up north at my parents'.  Our home church i****heran-Missouri Synod, and they also have real bread and have always used Mogan David wine or optional grape juice.  Didn't think one little vial of wine would affect me, but did it ever hit me!  Broke into a wet sweat, got terribly dizzy and nautious.  Had to go back to the rest room for fear of heaving, which did not happen.  So, that has been the only time since surgery that I've had wine, and subsequently stuck with the grape juice at either church.  Ooops, here I'm rambling.....thanks again for the wine chat'  Thanks Paul, this is interesting.  Hugs galore, Patti

I go to an Evangelical church.  They have bread cut into tiny pieces and the little shots of grape juice.  The bread is so small and I usually go for a crust piece, so I've not had any issues with communion (can't do bread otherwise).  Both are passed separately and it's up to the individual if they wish to participate or not. Have a great day, Debi

I go to an LCMC Lutheran Church and we have had a variety of things over the years.  We have had the purchased wafers (that were talked about in an earlier post), we have had real bread and we currently are using a Swedish flatbread (cracker-like) and wine.  We have the option of grape juice if someone preferrs - this was implemented because we had, at one point, several people that are recovering alchoholics that didn't want the wine to mess things up for them.  We go up to the communian rail and kneel and the pastor and assistant bring the bread around, followed by the wine in small cups, followed by someone with an empty tray to put the cups in.  For the first couple of months after surgery I didn't eat the bread or drink the wine, but that is going fine for me now.  Of course, if they switch to "real" bread, I am going to have to pass on it.  I did have problems with the wine at first, so I still don't drink the entire cup of wine (which is really just a sip anyway) but basically wet my lips and lick that off. Now I'm rambling....must be all the talk of wine that is causing us to ramble on. Good question - very interesting to read the different traditions here.

I'm ELCA.  We used to have the wafers, but in the past year have transitioned to tiny little cubes of some kind of bread - they're smaller than a dice, and have a distinct cinnamon flavor.  (I kinda like it - hope it's not sacreligious to say so!)  And we use the tiny little communion cups of wine or grapejuice - probably a teaspoon of wine or juice per cup.  I had communion while on my LD, and was momentarily mortified when I realized I had taken the bread!  But I figured God would make things right with that.  I never stopped taking communion, and I've never had any physical issues with either the tiny little cube of bread or the wine.  The amount is negligible, really.  I am pretty surprised to hear that it would have a negative effect on anyone!  I mean, even if they were using Wonder bread, which would turn to clay in my pouch, the size of the piece wouldn't even bother me.  We used to do the kneel-at-the-rail thing, but have pretty much moved to the line method.  Interesting topic, Paul - what's up for next week's wine chat?  Is White Zin really good, or really not?