The UCC I went to every Sunday of my childhood (Dad was the minister, so kinda had to go) would have a loaf of really good fresh bread. Some was cut up in cubes, to take neatly, or you could pull a hunk off the loaf if you liked. One side of the drinks tray had grape juice, the other had wine, again, your choice, although obviously when I was young, I didn't reach for the wine in front of my mom. Little tiny snack was the best part of church.
It's also just wild how different every church is. I've personally consumed the Styrofoam feeling circle wafers when my parents would drag me to church, and I've seen what you describe, even sometimes just straight up a whole slice of Rainbow, but also some kind of cracker or unleavened bread which seems more traditional I guess?
I don't get why it's bread tho. It's an analogue for his flesh right? Why isn't it a steak? It would pair better with the red wine. π€€
The reason it's bread and wine is straight from Jesus mouth I the new testament.
Luke 22:19β20
And he took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to them, saying, βThis is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.β And likewise the cup after they had eaten, saying, βThis cup that is poured out for you is lthe new covenant in my blood.
It's obviously a metaphor, so the churches that preach that communion is consuming the actual flesh and blood and really weird to me. Well it's all really weird to me now. I was very religious when I was a kid and learned the Bible pretty well, but when I went to university learned how to analyze things better and the religion kinda falls apart.