7 Helpful Hints For Opening Communion Cups
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For churches, like HPC, the health concerns raised by the COVID-19 pandemic required changes in the way Communion was served during worship. Intinction (dipping bread into a common cup) was clearly no longer an option and passing trays presented a different set of challenges.
Many churches responded by switching to Communion Cups. These individual communion wafer and juice sets promised “a new chapter in the history of the communion experience” (wording from the Communion Cup packaging). Communion Cups require no refrigeration and a shelf life that works for both Pre-Milennials and Post-Milennials. Cups are sized for standard communion trays, packaged and sealed for purity, a great way to slow the spread of germs, and a fantastic way to learn to practice patience. Cups are also nearly impossible to open. |
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As HPC anticipates celebrating the Lord’s Supper this Sunday the following steps may help you prepare for opening your cup.
Step One: As you enter the Sanctuary take one cup for each member of your family and three additional cups to replace the ones you either are unable to open or spill all over yourself and whoever is sitting next to you (hint: wearing dark colors on Communion Sunday is always a good idea).
Step Two: During the Call to Worship begin attempting to peel back the air tight seal protecting the unleavened wafer. Average time to successfully peel back the seal is 42 minutes (hint: unused unleavened wafers make excellent packing material and unused packing material is an acceptable substitute for unleavened wafers).
Step Three: As the sermon begins discard the cup you have been unsuccessful in opening and begin again with the replacement cup (hint: try not to shout “Hallelujah” when you are finally able to peel back the air tight seal - unless a “Hallelujah” would encourage the preacher).
Step Four: Carefully balance the wafer on your knee until instructed to break it in half (hint: the 5 second rule applies to wafers dropped during the service).
Step Five: When instructed, break the wafer in half and attempt to consume (hint: help your kids practice before the service by consuming styrofoam - caution: unbroken wafers present a chocking hazard for small children).
Step Six: When instructed, push up and peel back the second seal in order to spill the juice from the cup. Pretend to drink from the now empty cup while remembering the elements are “signs” not “means” of grace and you are still forgiven even from an empty cup (hint: club soda is excellent for removing juice stains).
Step Seven: After the service take your empty Communion Cup to the Breezeway and exchange it for a cup of Blue Star Coffee. Engage in a conversation about how much you miss intinction.
Step One: As you enter the Sanctuary take one cup for each member of your family and three additional cups to replace the ones you either are unable to open or spill all over yourself and whoever is sitting next to you (hint: wearing dark colors on Communion Sunday is always a good idea).
Step Two: During the Call to Worship begin attempting to peel back the air tight seal protecting the unleavened wafer. Average time to successfully peel back the seal is 42 minutes (hint: unused unleavened wafers make excellent packing material and unused packing material is an acceptable substitute for unleavened wafers).
Step Three: As the sermon begins discard the cup you have been unsuccessful in opening and begin again with the replacement cup (hint: try not to shout “Hallelujah” when you are finally able to peel back the air tight seal - unless a “Hallelujah” would encourage the preacher).
Step Four: Carefully balance the wafer on your knee until instructed to break it in half (hint: the 5 second rule applies to wafers dropped during the service).
Step Five: When instructed, break the wafer in half and attempt to consume (hint: help your kids practice before the service by consuming styrofoam - caution: unbroken wafers present a chocking hazard for small children).
Step Six: When instructed, push up and peel back the second seal in order to spill the juice from the cup. Pretend to drink from the now empty cup while remembering the elements are “signs” not “means” of grace and you are still forgiven even from an empty cup (hint: club soda is excellent for removing juice stains).
Step Seven: After the service take your empty Communion Cup to the Breezeway and exchange it for a cup of Blue Star Coffee. Engage in a conversation about how much you miss intinction.