Gabe1
Ivory Tower Squabble EST 2011. WINDMILL SURVIVOR
Ah...ours was more formal. We had to go to the alter with a group of like 8 people, bow and kneel on the little beam and place our hands over the rail in a cup position, keeping head bowed. Then the pastor or one of the alter men would place a host in your hands while the pastor recited the words of intsitution. Then when everyone had had their host, they would bring along a tray of the little thimble glasses and you took one and drank and put it in one of the little holes in back of the railing to be collected after the service. Then everyone got up together, bowed, and returned to their seats as the next group took position. I never liked the idea of the communal cup either...not sanitary. But I saw churches that just took a loaf of bread and a church member held it and people came by and tore off a small chunk, dipped it in the chalice of wine, and ate it..that way no one has handled your bread and you don't have to drink from the same cup.
Yeah, I get the symbolism, it is the entire practice that just makes me flinch.