Communion Set-Up Instructions

The Communion tray is found in the top drawer inside a burgundy cloth. Onto the tray is placed a cloth, usually a thin see-through cloth or a Purificator, both found in the 2^nd drawer.

Also on this picture:  Ciborium (upper left) for the hosts, Flagon (upper right) for the wine, Chalice (bottom center) with plastic lid over the top, then a Purificator cloth, then the Paten (plate on top). Two additional Purificators are placed to the left of the Chalice, and then a slotted spoon (to remove impurities from the Chalice). Over the entire tray is placed a veil (also found in the 2^nd drawer). Please note that, even though shown in the picture, no additional roll of hosts is needed on the tray.

In addition, 2 trays of Individual Cups are to be set up and covered with the wooden tray top (on top of the cabinets in the Sacristy). The Individual Cups and Trays are found in the 3^rd and 4^th drawers.

Other General Information

-          The Fair Linen, which covers the Altar, should be changed every three months or as soon as possible after spilling.  We have 2 Fair Linen cloths; currently the backup is hanging in the Sacristy closet. Please contact Lisa Post whenever the Fair Linen needs to be cleaned. We generally dry clean the cloth, as linen tends to shrink if washed.

-          If there is a shortage of Purificators in the drawer, please contact Lisa Post or Lois Seijo (Communion Ware Cleanup).

-     No wine is to be poured into the Individual Cups, Chalice, or Flagon. This is the responsibility of the Elders.

Terms

Chalice:  A Middle English word from the Latin calix, meaning "cup," the chalice is the cup used to distribute the Blood of Christ in the Sacrament of the Altar. Also known as the “Common Cup.”

Ciborium:  Medieval Latin word meaning “drinking cup.” Similar in shape to a chalice and covered with a lid, the ciborium contains the consecrated hosts used in Holy Communion.

Fair Linen: Long white cloth which covers the altar over the "superfrontal" (the cloth which carries the color of the day).  It usually has five flat crosses embroidered on it to remind the worshiper of the five wounds that Christ received for us.  The fair linen symbolizes the burial cloth of Jesus.  This altar cloth is always rolled after laundering rather than folded.

Flagon:  From a Latin word meaning "bottle" or "flask." A flagon is a large pouring vessel that contains

wine for use during distribution of the Lord’s Supper. The Blood of Christ is poured from the flagon into a chalice.

Paten:  Latin for "dish." A paten is a round plate from which the Body of Christ is distributed. At Trinity, we keep the consecrated hosts in the Ciborium during distribution.

Purificator:  Napkin used to clean the Chalice during the Lord’s Supper. It is between 11-13 inches long, square, and made of linen soft enough to be absorbent for that purpose.