Shouldn't Communion be distributed immediately?

[Love_the_Truth]

An extraordinary minister brought Communion up to the choir loft today but instead of immediately distributing Christ present in the Eucharist, the minister put the enclosed gold container (sorry, I don’t know the proper name) on the shelf behind us while we sang a complete four-verse song. I was horrified because I felt as if Communion should have been given out right away. This has happened in the past and it seems to me to be very disrespectful and irreverent. It really bothered me. Am I overreacting? If not, what should I do?

 

[Michelle_Arnold]

I do think it is possible that you did react a bit too strongly – horror is better reserved for situations in which our Lord is actually being abused, not just ignored – but I agree with you that the EMHC should have begun distributing Communion right away. At the time you could have simply stepped up to the EMHC and presented your tongue or your hands to receive. I doubt the EMHC would have told you to wait, but, if that happened, could have been politely told, “Communion must be distributed immediately.” Now, all I can recommend is that you talk with either the EMHC coordinator or the pastor, describing what happened, and explaining that distribution of Communion should take precedence over singing hymns and that the EMHCs should be trained to distribute Communion immediately.