Survey Participants

These churches have provided information about "the Green Season" in the church year.

Christ Lutheran, Clinton WI

Faith Lutheran, Germantown WI

Hope Lutheran, Milwaukee WI

St. John Lutheran, Glendale, WI

St. John Lutheran, Mayville WI

St. Paul Lutheran, Stevens Point WI

Sion Lutheran, Chatham, MI

Trinity Lutheran, Racine WI

  and one Lutheran church that was

  not identified by name

Thanks to these guild members - 

and pastors - who responded!

And yes, Sion Lutheran is in Michigan, part of the North District.

How do you handle the "long green season" of the church year?  For example, do you have more than one set of paraments? Do any banners used have green backgrounds, or are they strictly topical?  

Do you use any other practices during this time of the church year? 

Do you use both common and individual cups?  If individual, are they plastic, glass, or another material? How do you handle clean-up of individual cups?  

Do you dispose of unused wine?  If so, how?

Only two churches had more than one set of green paraments. Of those, one church splits the season equally between each set.  

One of the newer sets came from Gaspards, Inc - source of one of our presentations this November.  We look forward to hearing their story!

Three of the churches specified that they also have side banners along the side walls in addition to a larger banner in front. These also are green.

While on the topic of banners, members who create them were praised and appreciated.  That goes for all the efforts made, doesn't it?

Three churches no longer use the common cup.  One specifically mentioned the covid virus as the catalyst for this loss.

All of the churches offer individual cups.  Most use plastic, but two churches use glass.  The term 'ablution' is used in regard to all communion materials placed on the altar, meaning that the act of cleaning these materials is carefully followed.  Two churches included their unused plastic cups (that had held wine) in the ablutions.

Several churches pour unused wine into a separate bottle to be used first at the next communing. Two specified that they do not keep consecrated wine for another time. 

One church refrigerates unused non-alcohol wine in the trays already poured.  These are used first at the next communing.

Five churches rinse the discarded plastic cups before disposing of them.  

One church combines unused flagon wine with any left in the chalice, and the pastor drinks it as the closing to communion.

All of the churches show reverence for consecrated wine.  It is discarded on the ground near plantings, regardless of season.  Two of the churches have special sinks that go into the ground;  others carry it out and pour it on the ground.

This survey is intended as food for thought.  It may generate a spark of interest in why we follow the practices we follow.  We hope it will be helpful in generating ideas, too.

In all cases, we hope that the reverence each of these churches showed, is the high point of all of our activities in serving our congregation, and is part of our devotion to the LORD.