Music Matters

February 2009
Musicians and Communion / Lord's Supper

Some of the most awkward moments I have experienced as a church musician have involved the Lord’s Supper. It shouldn’t be that way, but somehow that service—generally one of the more formal in liturgy—seems to create situations that are uncomfortable for both those who serve the elements and those who provide the ministry of music.

These situations generally center around when musicians should be served—and how—and the role of silence in the sacrament.

We tend not to “do silence” well, often feeling that something is wrong or someone has missed a cue if music of some type is not being offered. Yet the sacrament of the Lord’s Supper is a perfect opportunity for moments of silence to allow for introspective meditation.

So…when and how should musicians be served?

Vocal musicians (soloists or choir members) and instrumental soloists should not be served while they are singing. They should either be served before they offer their gift of music, or after their music is finished.

Organists and pianists, however, provide some different challenges! They generally provide continuous music from the start to the end of the serving of communion. The method of including them in the sacrament will vary according to the traditions of each congregation and the specific situation.

One question is when the organist/pianist should start playing. Should they begin the music immediately following the prayer of blessing? Wait in silence until after the ministers are served? Begin playing when the congregation begins being served? That decision will affect the challenge of how the keyboardist should be served.

If the congregation is comfortable with a time of silence while the ministers are being served, the musician may also be served during this period. That is the easiest solution for all concerned.

However, if the expectation is for meditative music to begin immediately following the prayer, or if the physical setup of the keyboard instrument in the worship space does not allow for convenient serving of the musician when the ministers are served, then another solution must be found. This requires good communication ahead of time between the presider and the keyboardist regarding the logistics of serving Communion so that it can be a comfortable and worshipful experience for everyone.

Some musicians are comfortable with the elements (bread and cup of juice) quietly being placed on the keyboard for the organist/pianist to take when their hands are free. Others, however, feel ignored as a person by this practice, and would rather take the bread and cup from the tray themselves. The presider, servers, and musicians should discuss this in advance.

If the decision is to serve the keyboard person while s/he is playing, the server should be aware of a few issues:

• S/he may need to stand quietly by the instrument for a minute or two until the keyboardist has a hand free.
• It is especially helpful, when serving the juice, to lift a cup out of the tray to have available to place in the keyboardist’s hand, so they can more easily continue to play with the other hand.
• It is also helpful to take the empty cup from the keyboardist’s hand, rather than asking them to find an empty space in the tray while continuing to play.

Regardless of the way in which musicians are served, the main point should be to make sure that they are intentionally served and done so in a way that fulfills the premise of the Lord’s Supper as an opportunity of spiritual renewal.

—Pam Robison

If you have suggestions or ideas for future columns, please contact:
Jan Kraybill
Principal Organist and Director of Music
Community of Christ Headquarters
Independence, MO, USA

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