Have you every had the Joy of giving communion out at church?

[hrmjustin]

I have this opportunity every once and awhile in church and I have to say it is a joyous experience. I only give out the wine because in my parish our clergy give out the bread. I have to say when I do this I see Jesus in the face of others. You see the fellowship around the table that has been going on for 2,000 years.

I wonder if any of you would share if you had a similar story? Does not have to be communion, it can be anything in the service that is a moment for you. Any religion.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

1. I don't do church and I don't consider myself religious.

However, it's very satisfying to do any kind of work that benefits others. You don't need "god" to do good.

[hrmjustin]

2. No you don't need God to do good.

Many of the volunteers at my church's outreach programs are atheists.

[Bluenorthwest]

3. When I was a freshman in a religious high school my study group got in very hot water for

holding communion on our own, with unleavened bread we had made, after a passover meal. Like in the Bible. You'd have thought we shot smack on the alter they way they acted.

[Vinnie From Indy]

4. I have never had the chance to hand out the body of Christ, but

as a youngster I was an altar boy. Once when I was serving with a kid we called "Munchy" I got him so flustered that he jammed this round bronze plate at the end of a stick into some old ladies throat because he wasn't paying attention and laughing at my antics. We used the plate on a stick to keep the Body of Christ from ever hitting the floor. You just never knew when a person was going to flinch or sneeze or whatever while receiving communion. It was our mission to never let that round piece of rice cake hit the floor. Many years ago, you couldn't put your grubby paws on the communion wafer. You had to stand and put your tongue out and the priest would lay the wafer on your tongue. This is when we sprang into action! We would shadow the priest off of his right shoulder and as he laid the wafer on a tongue we would follow the trajectory from below with the round plate. The plate was about 6 inches in diameter. I remember making Munchy laugh as he was moving the plate forward probably a bit too fast right into the throat of an older woman who was moving forward. She went down on her fanny clutching her throat.

I could also get Munchy to ring the bell at the wrong time during the service which greatly upset the priest. One time I did that he slapped me around a bit after Mass walking home.

Cheers!

[goldent]

10. The plate is called a paten

and I think they were also meant to catch "crumbs" as the priest would sort of "dust" them off into a chalice after communion. I was an alter server for quite a bit, but never had the opportunity to catch a host (that I remember). I got to admit I often thought of the idea of giving someone a chop to the throat but never had any desire to do so.

I have not seen patens used in a very long time - they were mostly symbolic (IMO) and since most people receive communion in their hand, their usage really doesn't make much sense.

As alter boys we weren't always on our best behavior when getting ready for mass, but we (nearly) always managed to straighten up when it was time to go on. It was a great experience, learning about participating in public ceremony, and I have a lot of pleasant memories of those days.

[southernyankeebelle]

5. Yes, I got the serve communion at mass. I worked for a catholic priest at a military base.

My husband was a chaplain's assistant. I took it very seriously. I think that for me that is the only important part of the mass. I do have to say I don't like the hand shaking thing with people you don't know. When I serve communion I think of it as the body and blood of christ. But sadly I don't go to organized religious services anymore. I feel spiritual in my heart and that is all that matters now.

[bigendian]

6. Outside of church

I find that the Eucharist means so much to the parishioners in a nursing home or assisted living. They look for us each week and if we don't make it they are disappointed.

[No Vested Interest]

9. Bringing the Eucharist to those unable to attend

is a wonderful ministry.
And you're correct re disappointment when they don't arrive.

My spouse, in a nursing home, was disinterested in most activities but looked forward to a communion service on Sundays, and an occasional Mass when the priest could make it.
And was visibly down when the Communion distributors didn't come

[Freddie]

7. Yes I'm a pretty regular communion server

At my Lutheran church and it's my favorite part of helping with the service (I also read scriptures and set up the altar). Especially on Easter Sunday which I usually help serve. We do intinction; Pastor gives the wafer and the person dips it into the chalice of wine (me) or grape juice (the young acolyte).

[kwassa]

8. Only the joy of receiving it.

My wife has been a chalicist on many occasions.