At the beginning of the season of Lent, we changed the arrangement of chairs in our worship space. Nearly everyone has approved of the change because it gives us a more central focus and allows better access to chairs. But it has thrown us for a loop when it comes to taking Communion -- at least in the 10:00 Eucharist.
The confusion comes from figuring out how we go up to the altar rail and how we come back to our seat. With this new configuration, the flow of people to and from the altar rail has not been obvious.
Last Sunday we decided to ask the left side of the church (as seen from the congregation) to come up to the altar rail after the choir is finished, and to return by the middle aisle, or by the left side aisle if possible. This seemed to help a little. The problem is that there isn't enough room for people to go up and return in the same aisle at the same time.
Then we repeated the instructions for the two middle sections so that it was more clear to everyone. We asked them to come up the middle aisle. People from the left section move to the left, filling the altar rail starting at the window and wrapping around to the "Chi Rho" sign on the front of the altar. People from the right section move to the right, filling the altar rail starting at the "Chi Rho" and wrapping around to the window on the right. Everyone returns to their seats by the side aisles in a circular route.
I think it helped to take a little time to explain just how it works. Everybody wants to know what they're supposed to do so they don't feel embarrassed. This is perfectly natural. I'm sure that as time goes on, we'll feel completely comfortable with the new arrangement, and we'll think it's always been this way!
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