Coming to the Lord's Table - #14

Part Three of Service at the Table of the Lord considers the ministries in the communion rite. (The shape of the communion rite is the following. It begins with the communal praying of the Lord's Prayer. It then continues with exchanging the kiss/greeting of peace, the breaking of the bread and the preparation of the cups, the procession [accompanied by the assembly's singing of short, simple singable refrains] to the Lord's Table, reception of the eucharistic bread and wine, and a period of reflective silence. It concludes with the presider praying the prayer after communion.) "The assembly, presider, music, ministers, readers, ministers of the Eucharist, and altar servers all play important roles in our worship on the Lord's Day. (p 13)."

The role of the assembly, i.e., the entire body of the baptized, "is not that of a silent and passive spectator but rather of a fully engaged, involved participant. The assembly gives thanks to God and offers the sacrifice `not only through the hands of the priest but also together with him and learns to offer themselves.' They therefore are to shun any appearance of individualism or division...(p 13)."

At communion the assembly share together at the Lord's Table. All are equally brothers and sisters. Unity is expressed bodily, in our ritual postures. Unity is fostered when there is uniformity in our actions - in standing, sitting, or kneeling

Our theology and our rubrics are clear. The assembly receives the bread and the cup by processing and standing before the ministers of the bread and cup. The communicant need only extend one's hand reverently to receive the bread and to take the cup to one's lips. Genuflecting, kneeling, folding one's hands, and making the sign of the cross after receiving each communion element are gestures that belong to individual piety. They are not part of our rubrics. They are not required. They may, in fact, take away from the communal nature of the communion procession and action.

The distribution of communion requires a sufficient number of ministers. Priests, deacons, and lay ministers of communion play an important part. They come forth from the assembly to serve others. They not only provide a practical function, i.e., helping to facilitate a smooth reception of the bread and the cup. They also call forth faith in ministering each element and convey the hospitality of the Lord to their sisters and brothers. If any minister of communion cannot be present for the assigned liturgy, she or he should get someone else to cover.

The choir assists in the communion rite. Care should be taken that they are part of the communion procession. It is unfitting for choir members to receive after the liturgy. Nor are they to perform for the assembly during the communion procession. This makes the assembly silent and passive body of Christ. Altar servers and cantors minister close to the Lord's table. They too receive by coming in procession.

We seek communion with Christ, the choir master. We are sopranos, bases, altos, and tenors. Individually we sing God's grandeur. Together we make beautiful melody before God. We are the symphony that sings the splendor of God. And the sound enchants the soul of the universe.