Thank you
You're welcome!
Just trying to know how the different pieces (IC,XC,NI,KA) are treated to understand if there is any difference in their meaning. I figured if the IC was divided equally like in zekarja's church then the IC is significant. If the IC and NI,KA were placed in the chalices interchangably then there is no significant difference in their meaning.
Over-emphasizing meaning to one part or another misses the point, IMO. Just as we say in our prayer of fraction that the Body of Christ is, "broken but not divided," the IC that is placed in the chalice first is uniting the whole of the Body with the whole of the Blood (with the words, "Blessed is the union of Your Holy Gifts, always, now and ever..."). There are traditions in some of the Churches, though, that emphasize that the clergy only commune from the XC, and the people only commune from the IC. This is a tradition foreign to the "Greek" (Greek, Antiochian, Alexandrian, Jerusalemite, and Cypriot) traditions, IME.
I guess there is no consensus because in my parish the current priest dips the NI into the first chalice and then transfers it to the second. The previous priest did it like you do Father George.
Actually, our Deacon does dip the NI and KA into the first chalice before transferring them to the second and third chalices. I was only making a statement of final destination. I've been to Churches, however, where the NI and KA are placed in their respective chalices without being dipped in the first - but in those churches they also spoon or pour some of the Precious Blood into those other chalices.
I guess you don't appreciate these subtle things until a new priest comes and does things differently without explaining why.
This is one of the things that makes transitions more difficult than they should be - different practices & local variance aren't always bad, but not being open with the people about what you're doing and why you're doing it is.