Eucharist and the Coronavirus

Regarding the continued increase of COVID-19 cases in the United Kingdom, the Archbishops of Canterbury and York have written to clergy to update on this guidance:

It is now necessary to suspend the administration of the chalice as well as physical contact during the sharing of the peace, blessing or "laying on of hands".

We therefore advise that all priests should:

• Offer Communion in one kind only to all communicants i.e. the consecrated bread/wafer/host, with the priest alone taking the wine;

• suspend handshaking or other direct physical contact during the sharing of the peace;

• suspend direct physical contact as part of a blessing or ‘laying on of hands’.

There are a number of considerations at play here - and in not particular order of importance here they are to juggle with:

a. The issue of canonical obedience - The archbishops have spoken and the diocesan bishop have agreed and so we are told:

i. One kind only,

ii. No tinctures,

iii. No using shot glasses or other vessels (yes; there's always one barrack room lawyer who will try to be smart) to deliver individual measures. The Methodists and others do that because they don't do alcohol - but we have a 'one cup' policy. (more on this shortly):

So, if this is a question of obedience and not a conscience issue - then I guess it's something we should be doing. But, if from wherever you are approaching this issue from it is a 'die in the ditch' obedience versus conscience/belief thing, then could it be that perhaps you've set the bar far too low and need to get out a little more ???

b. We do have some interesting theological and liturgical considerations with the 'one kind' practice now embarked upon with the coronavirus epidemic. By which I refer to Article 30 (of the 39 Articles fame) with the heading: “Of both kinds” which states:

"THE Cup of the Lord is not to be denied to the Lay-people: for both the parts of the Lord's Sacrament, by Christ's ordinance and commandment, ought to be ministered to all Christian men alike."

BUT the above notwithstanding - and taking the line, "what does it profit us to offer the Communion such that people may be put at risk?"

Granted some will point to scripture and claim protection and tell us how, "No weapon formed against us... and the like," only opens us a new way whereby we need to start handing rattlers and other venomous reptiles because we are covered by the protection and Grace of God!!!

Folly and foolishness collide with the guidance about, "Not putting the Lord our God to test!"

So there is a common sense stance to be taken here (But what great headlines, "Local idiot Ceric kills congregation!").

c. Given that at the Eucharist in a cathedral I attended were most definitely using multiple chalices (five or six) then surely the matter (and principle) of 'multiple cups' vs the 'One Cup' has been paraded, engaged with brought down to nothing more than a question of scale. i.e. Six cups good, thirsty-six cups bad.

To quote an authoritative liturgical source MP (and Holy Grail): 

And the Lord spake, saying, "First shalt thou take out the Holy Cup. Then, shalt thou count to one. No more. No less. one shalt be the number thou shalt count, and the number of the counting shall be one. Two, three, four or even more shalt thou not count, but shalt count thou only the number One! Other numbers are right out."

The problem here is the congregation member on the Clapham omnibus can't tell the difference between 'more than one' and 'one each'! All they know is that they ain't getting communion!

d. A tome I read on the liturgy of the Eucharist and its origins speaks of the 'cup' as being nothing more than 'same original source or substance' (is this homovinous?) and states that the cup was the substance (that is the wine)and not the chalice. 

It goes on to say that the use of the once chalice denotes unity and equity - wood or lead for the pleas and silver or gold for the knobs and nobles (for I am led to believe that they are different).

But it is in the statement of unity that one cup is favoured. As I've stated elsewhere - if you don't do alcohol then you can do a common cup anyway - it's the liturgical form of Russian (orthodox) roulette!

e. I am enjoying the variations of the peace I have encountered thus far:

1. touching elbows,
2. signing the word in BSL
3. a hearty wave accompanied by the word 'namaste'
4. crossing one's arms across the chest (corpse-like) and looking the other way. 

     Feel free to add any that you've seen/used and I have missed.

Hope this scribble raises questions, helps address some and salves (or staves off) the niggles some are having. It's a bit of a raised eyebrow  mingled with some serious thinking and s bit of less serious stuff too. And now, having returned from the morning Eucharist and with the cup of tea (and the scribbles) now done and I'm off out to infect (and annoy) others (with my humour).

Pax

Happy Wednesday :-)

Journal: that 'works one day' arrives

Three Communions and a couple of baptisms were on the calendar for today. Started with a BCP Communion where I obviously got excited as they left later than usual. Who on earth puts Meribah, justification AND the Samaritan woman all in the same set of readings and expects a five minute homily? Second Communion was fun and the sermon, different from the first service, was a thing of passion and joy (for me anyway - can't speak for the hearts).

Arrived at the next place to find the congregation leaving in droves before they got boxed inby the baptism party. Sadly they never arrived which meant we (me and the Wardens) got to do some stuff instead before I headed home.

Baptism the second did happen and I found myself engaged in conversations and the like such that I was still there ninety minutes after the start time. There were conversations about Jesus and His childhood, one of the children I'd talked too went and produced a drawing of Jesus doing stuff. Met a Viking and his family and remembered how much I liked the Swedish friends I used to have whilst studying.

Final Communion of the day was a slow march, but it still ticked all the boxes even though it lacked the dynamism of the am services. Some good conversations and a steady end to a full on day. In all the day took up almost twelve hours from beginning to end - brunchinner (realised as we sat down to eat dinner that I'd somehow missed Lund and breakfast) came just before 20:00 and yes, I did fall asleep in the settee for about ten minutes in front of the TV :-)

Lord, for the many conversations held today, may they have been a blessing to the other parties.
For the woman who came and talked about her situation, be God in her life.
For the child baptised, may she grow in the Christian faith and my her sponsors keep their end of the bargain.
And thank You for the privilege that being in ministry is.

Journal: What was that?

2am and I find myself hitting the sack after what has ended up being a seventeen and a bit hour day - so much for me telling the other half I was going to behave with my daily round! But that's what this ministry thing is all about; meeting needs and being there.

The interesting thing is that there were no aircraft crashes or other disasters - all that happened today was just life going on, in abundance, but nothing more.

And me? I was showing God's love and doing the stuff people take for granted. There was. O running into burning buildings or any heroics: and that is what being a Christian is all about: Being there for the silly things; for the tragic events: The, "I don't want to bother you, but . . . " things.

Lord,
for the mundane things I give you thanks, for in them we meet with the exceptionaL
for the small things that combine to create a gargantuan,
For the minefields other create and in which we seek to grow a garden of peace,
for the grace to forgive as we are forgiven.
for the tears of loss and the laughter of remembrance.
for all that today was and tomorrow will be,
I offer You my thanks, love and self.

Accept this as my Lenten sacrifice this day.

The fool has said . . .

. . . In his heart, "There is no God!"

Yet today in the encounters this was clearly untrue for God, like many other things, is to be found should one have the eyes to see Him.

Many years ago whilst walking with a friend in the country I realised that they we seeing so many things I wasn't - or to put it another way - I was not seeing what they saw. I asked them how It was that they saw so much when I saw so little and was told that I had never learnt to look!

Isn't this the problem with our 'post. hristian' world today? In days past, accepting the concept and presuming the reality of God, people would have eyes which saw Him and His works. Today we have become blind to the things around us, choosing not to see (or perhaps they are merely unable) what is around them.

Today began, as ever with the daily Office and after some forlorn shuffling of paper saw an early Communion service. How is it that some fail to get excited by the psalms such that we are slowly seeing them exit from our worship? The very first thing we say in our midweek service is the Psalm - and some days we gasp and other days we dance, but we are never left unmoved. The temptation to cry, "Hallelujah," is immense and compelling in the extreme.

The creation of tosh as an outworking of our own desires and attitudes is so great. Never is this statement so true than when it comes to matters of belief for here we find the logically doubtful rubbing shoulder with the awe-inspiringly glorious!

Do I do that?
Are there irrational assumptions made alongside the Christian speaking esoterica which confuses and counfounds?

Recalling the essay thrown back because it was 'too theological' and my protests that theology was what it was only to be met with a rebuff which led me to realise that for my theology to be real I needed it to be done in less theological tones such that it could be read by the non-theological. A fellow student protested that it was 'dumbing down' and yet, although the theological terms allow one word where many would be needed, they also, in that one word, alienate and confuse.

So Lord help me to be an apologist (sorry, I meant 'give an answer for the hope that I have in Jesus, the Christ') and to engage with those who are both near and far off. Help me to explain the deepest truths simple, and the simple truths deeply. To make the difficult things of God simple and the simple commonplace.

Help me to visit friends and minister that same Grace that sets me free and makes us one; to never see a client but a brother or sister; to never hide behind the answerphone or the email but to engage as Christ engaged, and engages still.

Funerals and the visits, the legwork, the paperwork, are to be found in abundance and the grim spectre of those not laid to rest before the Bethlehem bit arrives is before us. The chairs, empty around festive tables, will shout of loss. O death where is your sting: O grave, where is your victory?

Nativities and Christingle, carols and mulled wine are racing towards us. Not my busy time, just my more visible time. And who will they see? Those who tell me they are busy rarely are! Those who are never seen are rarely seen working! Which is the truth for me (for many I know can take care of their own attitudes and rarely welcome question or observation from others) and how do I make it Your truth?

Lord, for the encounters had today - may those around me have find the Christ in some measure.
For the decisions and suggestions made today, may Your wisdom and life have been present..
Create in me a pure heart and an honesty that speaks in the silence.

May the Grace of God abound and the light of Christ be obvious in all that I do. Thank you for the meetings made, the Communion (and glow sticks) given and the good cups of tea received. Bring it on today and help me as I lay loved ones to rest I pray.

And may I touch the hearts of the foolish :-)

Dear diary: A stunning week closes . . .

Time for a bit of reflection:

Communion celebrated (I preside and we all, as the people of God, celebrate the Eucharist - just saying) in a variety of settings (church, home and care home). A privilege and joy and, not unsurprisingly, one of the areas that has lifted my head, made me buzz, filled me with hope (realised in Jesus, the Christ) and put an added spring in my step.

Funerals conducted in church and Crematorium this week (realised that with 56 on the clock so far this year that it's been a light year and wonder whether that's good or bad?). This week's have seen some me working amazing people who were unsung heroes with so many things to commend them. Interestingly the average age of the four this week was greater than my overall average of 87 - also different from the norm was the fact that the men outlived their wives - usually the other way around!

Started the week with a stunningly joyful, fun-filled and celebratory funeral and the theme continued until the final trip to the crem' on Friday - good to have smiles and laughter as well as tears and solemnity making their appearance.

Engagement with people was, as ever, a mixed bag, and the ability of people to screw things up is always amazing - but the ability to bring clarity and Christ into situations makes the role of pastor and priest a joy - it is no coincidence that I buzz most when engaged with people, don't think I'm ever going to be in love with proecedure and paperwork so I'll leave it to those who enjoy it and thank God for them whilst I head in the opposite direction.

Cherry on the cake this week was someone coming to Christ and beginning their journey into the world of faith. Can there be anything better than seeing someone 'born again' and reconciled to God theory the atoning actions of the Christ? Realised how frustrated I am that I do so little real evangelism and so much of the treadmill. If I were someone who did new year's resolutions (only ever done one - resolved not to do any and kept that one) I'd say 2017 will be a year of winning souls - instead I'll say it more and look to making that happen.

So impressed with Hope - so frustrated with clergy! Why is it that clergy wait for someone to hand them a weapon when they are facing the enemy and merely need to stoop down and pick one up from the ground? When the enemy is before us we take up whatever weapon is to hand and engage them robustly  and with overwhelming fire. But prayer is at a premium rather than commonplace and all around me I find people managing decline and reading from a spreadsheet when they should be populating heaven and reading the Bible!

So blessed to be part of the worshipping communities in Leyfields, Coton Green and Hopwas - Christmas Market, Ladies Craft, Friday Freiends, drop-In, Kid's Club and so much more have been a blessing this week. The school's work is just monster and the opportunities for engagement endless. Amazed I can find time to stop praIsing you Lord.


Sadness of the week has been the person who will never fail because they will never attempt anything  - seems that's the way to be well-regarded by so many - seems to me that this is the reason Church is struggling :-(

Lesson of the week has been the realisation that I as much as I love reading and praying and growing in my knowledge of the word this is something that I have come to regard as something I do when work is done rather than something that's part of the work I do - so another note for 2017 - study, prayer and developing my theological and ministerial skill sets are going to be part of the working week.

Joy of the week are many but topped by Phillip's baptism and the gift that he is to the people of God. To work with people who eagerly desire to know Christ and to celebrate His death and resurrection in the Eucharist is sublime - what a week: Bath and Bread in the spotlight.

So much to thank God for - my paucity, His immensity.

Hallelujah

The privileges of ministry

It's just after one in the morning and the day has come to a close - and as Wednesday makes its appearance I have to say that I can't express the joy and gratitude I have in my heart for an amazing week thus far.

Sunday rocked - an early communion with a bunch of faithful people saw us celebrate 'Christ the King'

The a change of venue and the amazing privilege of baptising someone and being part of the beginnings of their journey into the Christian faith (doing the START course with them being a joy indeed) and breaking bread with another wonderfully diverse bunch of people.

On to another service elsewhere before gathering in the town centre to do three performances of a  'Living Nativity' as part of the town's Christmas lights being switched on. The rain fell but the people stopped and in the midst of so much secular, Jesus was given space to remind people who the Christmas thing is all about - priceless opportunity or what?

And then another church and the final Communion of the day. 

Monday saw what must be one of the most joyful and complete funeral services I think I have conducted and to find yourself in a Crematorium with a bunch of happy, smiling people, in that setting, as final farewells are made and the word 'celebration' is made real in the light of the realised hope that is Jesus. That's something you cannot fail to smile at  and praise the God with whom I work for!

Today saw one of the most enjoyable, and energetic, school assemblies I have done for ages and as the buzz from that still echoed in my being I found the mood change and had the privilege of standing with one who has been bereaved and looked with them to the love of God and the hope that is made real in Jesus.

And as for today? Bed beckons and tomorrow (now today) will be another day of challenge, meeting new people, taking Communion into care homes and the homes of those who can no longer leave their own four walls, and much more besides I'm sure. There will be divine appointments and the opportunity to minister God's love made real in Jesus, the Christ, and His amazing sacrifice for us.

Ministry: A privilege and a joy - more than a job, it's a gift to those who do it and (I pray), a blessing to those on the receiving end of it.

Hallelujah or what?

Goodnight Lord, and thanks for an amazing day!

Taizé @ St Francis' Returns

This Sunday (12th July 2105) sees a welcome return to the 6:00pm evening services at St Francis', Leyfields.

The service will be a gentle and contemplative communion services using Taizé songs and reflection upon the Word.

All are welcome

St Francis' Church, Masefield Drive, Tamworth  B79 8JB

Bread and Wine: Why do we do it so poorly at times?

When it comes to the Eucharist I have to say that, aside from the old joke which asks who in their right mind would go out to a place that takes over thirty minutes to stick bread and wine on the table, it seems when it comes to the Eucharist there is often little to laugh about. The reason for this is that a fair number of the churches I have visited over the years appear to have failed when it comes to taking the issue of the elements seriously and this is not right. After all, if we really think this is something important then surely we would do our best to make sure it is done both properly and well.

Let me explain:

The Bread
One of the things I like to do is break the bread, if wafers are in use, as I use the words, 'The body of Christ broken for you...' the emphasis being on the 'broken' BUT I have visited a number of churches where the wafer is something soggy which curls as you try to break it. Disaster: 'The body of Christ curled up and rolled into a tube for you,' just doesn't do it for me!!!

It gets worse when the 'priest's' wafer is soggy because with that resounding 'snap' missing as 'we break this bread to share in the body' I'm left trying to tear the wretched elasticised circular abomination whilst still trying to look like it's not a three ring circus.

Then there's the wonderful wafers that have been dried to the extent that when you break them they go off like a gunshot and fragment. I nearly took someone's eye out a few weeks back with one of these as they knelt at the rail (I kid you not)! 

But as if that wasn't bad enough, the blessed soggy things, when consumed, stick to the roof of your mouth and needed copious amounts of wine (honestly officer - I've just been doing a service (hic)! ) to shift the thing so you could do the post communion prayer. Meanwhile the rest of the congregation, who weren't so fortunate,  struggled on (I watched a couple of the old loves present remove their top set of dentures) to try and remedy the problem!!

Mind you, it's not all about wafers this bread problem. A recent service was going swimmingly and as I picked up the bread roll (or 'bun' as they call them here) I was getting into my stride. 'Take, eat, this is my body broken for you...' (bread is now broken to reveal lumps of chocolate) - yes, really!

It's good idea to ensure that the bread you use is of the finest flour and the best you can get, but the communion I did with sunflower seeds in the bread saw more dentures under attack than that seen in the making of 'The `Revenge of the Curly Communion Wafer'! 

The Wine
Personally I like to use a good tawny regimental port (19% proof) because it tastes good and it doesn't stain the linen. When we add water to it (which we do because we're not out to get drunk, it's nothing to do with blood and water and Jesus' side) it still retains its taste and continues to have an antiseptic property (and remember, the using the purificator is a relatively modern practice - but it does apparently remove up to 90% of germs). 

The problem is that somewhere I went to recently used a cheap and nasty pale sherry which once watered down looked like cat's pee and tasted like (and I'm no expert here) something worse still. When asked there response was that it, 'Saved money!' Bah, humbug is what I say!! I'm all for being a good steward but this isn't the place to be skimping, If you want to 'save money' then cut down on all the wasteful printing and buy cost effective candles and stuff like that but make the Eucharist something special.

Next we have the problem of:

Storage
Try drinking the remnants of a highly dyed and nasty port that's been left in a bottle for a week with the top off and served from a silver container which someone joyfully attacks with some sort of silver polish each week to add that little extra flavour - it isn't a joyful or pleasurable experience at all!

One church I visited last year had the practice of leaving whatever hadn't been consecrated in their lovely silver flagon and that was why the thing leaked around the seams - the acid was eating the treasure away!

So here's a little plea:

Use the best bread you can and if you are a church that uses wafers, keep them dry (you can buy biscuit tins with some sort of hydroscopic cell in them to take away the moisture and keep them fresh) and if they become soggy - BIN THEM!  Do not inflict them on the communicants (or the clergy either - because more often than not the 'priest's wafers are the ones to really suffer) because it distracts from, and diminishes, somethingquite spectacularly important/    

If you use bread rather than wafers - either get a member of the congregation to bake the loaf or roll to ensure it's the right stuff and if that can't be done and it's shop bought - READ THE LABEL!

I really enjoyed Jesus with added chocolate but it wasn't in the right place  and was not how (or what) we should have been doing! The sunflower and sesame seed Jesus I encountered whilst covering an interregnum was nice, but it would have been improved by toasting the bread (or the person who brought it if that was not acceptable) and the addition of just a little butter.

The Eucharist is an important - no, it is THE MOST important - of the things we do together in Church - make it look and feel like that by taking the elements seriously when buying them, storing them and sharing them - Is this too much to ask I wonder?

Soap box away - it's safe to come out from your hiding places now!!

This could be going just a little too far perhaps!
And as the bags not one of resealable types...

Some days it's a Struggle . . .

You know what it is like when Sunday comes around - you're faced with those difficult choices:

Sundays

How do you do yours?

Surrexit Christus hodie. Alleluia!

Surrexit Christus hodie. Alleluia!

Humano pro solamine. Alleluia!

In hoc Paschali gaudio. Alleluia!

Benedicamus Domino. Alleluia!

Mortem qui passus pridie. Alleuia!

Miserrimo pro homine. Alleuia!

Laudetur sancta Trinitas. Alleluia!

Deo dicamus gratias. Alleluia!

Christ is risen today Alleluia!
For the comfort of all people. Alleluia!

Rejoice in this Easter Day. Alleluia!

Let us give thanks to God. Alleluia!

He suffered death the day before. Alleluia!

He suffered for us all. Alleluia!

Praise the Holy Trinity. Alleluia!

Give thanks to God. Alleluia!

JESUS CHRIST IS RISEN TODAY

Made me Laugh: The 'musical' congregation

One of the best bits of being ordained is that you get invited to provide cover for churches when their clergy are on holiday and when they are interregnum (haven't got a cleric) and because wherever possible the answer is 'Yes' this means I have managed to do services in some lovely (and unusual settings using the familiar and the weird.

Some time back I was asked to visit a church to provide cover for an early communion service, and they meant early because it was before eight am. The congregation was totally made up of older folk and the setting was 1662 so what could go wrong?

Here's my account of the tale:

Having done the bulk of the service and delivered a short homily (even stood in the right places according to the directions as found in the BCP) everything was humming nicely as we got to the distribution of the bread and wine. Having given the people along the rail the wafers I began to revisit the line with the wine.

Being good Anglicans who had been taught well as I reached the third person along the rail the first stood up to make their way back to their place in the pews, emitting a note from their nether regions as they struggled to get up; something that made me smile a little to myself! Moving on to the next person I heard another note coming from person in position two and the 'performance' continued until I had managed to communicate everyone with everyone playing their piece in the score that was set for the communion service.

As I progressed along the line I found myself struggling to keep it solemn and focussed and yet I did (see I can be grown-up). As we neared the conclusion the image of the organ from the Snow White film popped into my mind and all was very nearly lost but we reached the safe haven of the blessing with all happy and my reputation intact!

The best bit came a few weeks later when a colleague mentioned that they'd been to cover the same place and had developed a fit of the giggles during the musical part of the otherwise 'said' service.

Something no one had prepared me for whilst at college or in curacy;

Always something out there to try and test us isn't there?

Always something out there to make us laugh :-)

Happy Tuesday

Raising the cost of communion

I noticed yesterday that the bread I use at communion, having been freshly baked, being above the ambient temperature at Birmingham airport meant that I had to stop the service and ask those intending to take communion to add another twenty percent of their offering to the plate before we continued!

Had we decided to use the 'flying saucer' bread wafers we would have been in the clear as these are exempt regardless of the their temperature as the box proudly proclaims that 'no yeast was harmed in the making of these wafers'!

I have also realised that our Good Friday tradition of offering 'hot' Cross Buns will also mean that we have to charge a twenty percent levy. I have formed a sub-committee to assess whether we could get around this situation by providing 'Cold Cross Buns' instead but I'm sure the traditionalists will not be happy.

This is, as ever, merely the tip of the iceberg in that the government spokesperson who outlined the efficacy of the 'hot bread products'  taxation class took great pains to point out that where a 'service' is offered, additional tax applies. The little treasure(r) will soon be having a field day as this probably means that we will also have to raise the level of giving by twenty percent across the board regardless of whether you take communion or not (and then add another if you make the 'expensive' choive for communion).

All destined to cause yet more problems somewhere I'm sure, after all - as one of the congregation mentioned last week - it's hardly good service to have been in the place for forty minutes before you get round to serving the bread and wine!

Pax

A 'Whoops Eucharist' moment

Recently, whilst presiding at a communion I had to communicate someone in a motorised wheelchair (AKA scooter). Having reached the person I proceeded to communicate them and having done so stepped back to allow the person with the wine access. As they leant forward to take the wine the control that makes the scooter move was somehow caught and the server was left sr=tanding, mouth wide open, as (beeping) the would-be communicant left the service!

Oh how we laughed and having caught and returned the lost sheep to the fold we finished the service with just a little excitement remaining.

So another lesson and a modified announcement at the beginning, "Please turn off your mobiles and put your scooters in neutral!'

I guess we could go a step (wheelbase) further and modify the sending out:
Go in peace to love and serve the Lord.
In the name of Christ. Amen.
Start your engines.

Pax

ps. Talking among ourselves recently, one of the dogcollars asked what sort of churches we were in. One remarked that they had a young congregation and had a worship band. The next said they had a band and sang modern songs. The last said that they were organ and choir and an ageing congregation. More hip-op than hip hop apparently :-)

Communion - how do you do yours?

BCP - penitential, eyes downcast, you and God. sinner and absolving Creator.

CW - how do you like it?
Family meal which speaks of belonging, or
Proclamation of the now, the was and the 'is to be'?

Is it KJVspeak or modern language?

Does it have to be done every Sunday or once a month?

Flying Saucer paper (without the sherbet) or proper bread (White, brown or wholegrain)?

Sherry, port (we use a nice regimental tawny port) or non-alcoholic?

How do you like yours, and why (is there a theological reason or us it just because it is)?

Who do you do yours for?

Pax

Communication and Alcohol

I had one of 'those' conversations a while back with a recovering alcoholic. They had come to faith and life was beginning to make sense and take a new shape thanks to their relationship with God and a growing realisation that they were forgiven, loved and accepted. What they longed for was to be able to take communion, but this was not possible.

A bit shocked I asked what stopped them. Was it because they had to be confirmed? No, it transpired that they had been confirmed, but the couldn't take the wine because of their past drinking habits. Asking the minister if there was a way in which non-alcoholic wine could be provided, they were told that this wasn't possible and that unless they choose to take the wine, communion just was not available.

I contacted the minister and during the conversation asked whether he'd ever used gluten free wafers, a question which was answered in the affirmative. So I asked why he couldn't use two chalices, one with wine and one with non-alcoholic wine. the response was that it had to be from the same cup and so this was impossible. Not only that, but it distinctly says that it has to be wine in the Bible and that it has to be one cup! Apparently, it doesn't matter what 'bread' is used as it just says 'bread' and so meeting medical needs with gluten free was permitted.

Having asked about Christmas, Easter and other 'peak' times, I pointed out that he used two chalices during the communion services one a number of occasions. He accepted this but pointed out that the source of the wine was the same vessel at the beginning and so he was maintaining the requirements from Scripture.

When I have been faced with this situation in the past I have merely, without really thinking about it, provided a second 'non alcoholic' chalice and would use gluten free wafers for people who would find the bread or (flying saucer paper) wafers a problem.

Why on earth do we struggle to be so very right when in doing so we become so very wrong such that the cup of fellowship become a source of separation or even condemnation. I use the term 'condemnation' because in one situation where the alcohol was an issue, the minister told the members of the PCC that 'n' couldn't take communion because "He was an alcoholic!' (what wallies some clergy are)!

So, just something that has been playing on my mind this morning for others to consider and advise me perhaps, but also for us all to consider how in our haste to be 'right' we deny everything that jesus came to do, say and be.

Pax

Suddenly he realised, 
here were no gluten free wafers!

Amazing Grace

Not the song (or my God Daughter) but Grace, that gift from God, which is truly amazing.
    
With the question a couple of entries back still aforethought I have to say that there is an incredible difference between the baptism of an infant and communicating an elderly person and yet there is also none. The 'none' being that element which is 'Grace'. The mechanisms are different and yet both are an invitation to 'be with'. Baptism being the entrance (or the recognition of having entered in the case of those who come themselves and also for those who stand for the child) and communion being the means by which we continue.
     
Another common link here is the fact that both (infant baptism and elderly communion) are initiated, commissioned and supported by an adult who is in possession of their faculties, which leads me onto . .
     
One of those people I both dialogue with and respect asked what the thinking would be on people who were impaired and restricted by dementia.  How do people in this situation ask for forgiveness, especially if they have no concept of wrong and resort to primal urges and living. Are they to be regarded in the same way as children who have yet to reach the age of cognisance?
     
My answer was that I seek seek out places where those with Alzheimers/dementia are to be found as often the communion services bring people back, or at least unlocks previously stored memories, and this is a source of blessing and sustaining release for them. They seem to surface for a brief moment and then are gone again but there is something touched by the service that defies psych explanations. The mind has gone but the soul continues to function.
    
The answer, as I see it, is that they don't need to physically (i.e. outwardly) 'ask' because God sees and knows what we cannot see and they cannot say and, being a God of compassion, I believe that for them God's grace far outweighs the legalism and conditions we set and pardons those so afflicted (and many others who are in the same boat for different reasons).
     
A thought - repentance is not only the initiator of relationship but also the response to it and sometimes even when understanding and repentance are hard to come by the love and relationship do not become diminished. God's grace is unchanging and constant - so I see them as continuing in a state of grace.
     
Pax

Pausing for a dip!

I return to the thought that baptism is for 'us and our children', something that means that since the very earliest days of the Church, we have baptised children (which includes infants). Acts 2 is perhaps a little helpful here:

“Brothers, what shall we do?” Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off--for all whom the Lord our God will call.” 

Now, some cry when they hear this, " Aha! This means adult children!" The subtext of course being that I'm wrong to baptise sprogs and they're correct in only doing adult (or believer's baptism). Of course the Didache and other sources would show this to be incorrect. What infant baptism has done for us is to see us continue to offer the same product to a very different consumer. Confused? (then my work is done . . )  Let me (try to) explain.

Whole households were baptised and later when more children were born into a Christian household, they were also baptised. What we were seeing was an addition to the family, temporal and spiritual. The parents were believers and the children, being part of an ethnic group called 'Christian' were also going to be Christian too! Look at any of the 'ethnic' groups and you'll see in them what we were and also see in them the route towards becoming what we are. I met some interesting people this weekend, one was born Islamic and lives his faith pretty much according to it. Another was born Islamic but has become secular. He calls himself Islamic but eschews dietary and alcohol prohibiting laws and lives in the same way as those who call themselves 'Christian' yet live as if they are not.

We have lost the 'ethnic' status of being Christian. It is regarded as being what we choose to do rather than what we actually are and this has a bearing for us in relation to communion too!

If we believe that baptism actually does something, regardless of age, in that it is an imposition, a 'gifting' of God's grace upon a person then why would we kick up and complain that we were blessing  anyone. After all, if it were a life-saving innoculation (which is surely what it is supposed to be, the life being eternal in this case) would we stay our hand. Now I have to be honest, I have problems here because I don't want to refuse God's grace but I am troubled by the 'folk religion' and the mumblers who bring their sprogs for a 'nice day'. If the parents aren't ethnic Christians then does the baptism still have worth? Well actually, I think it does because me, God and sprog are still doing the business and I think God can bless despite the unknowingness of the parents and sponsors. (but that's for another day).

The same is true for communion. If I am bringing something that will bless and heal who would complain that I am administering it. for those who don't understand, but did?  It is the administration of grace to a flawed and broken brother or sister, not much different from when I receive it (except that in having understanding I am in perhaps a less favourable position). 

     

Do they have to understand still for Christ to die for them? I don't think so. Mind you, I still try to sort out whether or not they were communicant members before their faculty loss just to avoid crossing the line and communicating where they have declined through decision and choice - partnership and family not imposition of the other kind!

The loss of a Christian ethnicity makes both baptism and communion a little more difficult - but at the end of the day we're administering grace and if Christ died for all, I am sure that He can cope with administrative errors and the reality is that both baptism and communion are something vibrant, valid and real and so I continue, knowing He is love, grace and compassion.

HTH (more later - rushing out)

V

What about those who don't understand?

An interesting question has been posed: "Is there a fundamental difference between giving the sacrament of baptism to an unknowing infant on the say-so of a parent, and giving the sacrament of communion to an unknowing elderly person on the say-so of a care home nurse?"
     
This is a really challenging question, two sacraments applied to (unknowing) people at the opposite end of life. One before the age of cognisance and the other having reached and passed it (I'm assuming those under consideration had no perception problems during their life). Both are examples of grace and this is where the discussion really begins.
    
I have my ideas and thoughts, but I will save them for a little later . . . . 
     
The floor is all yours . . . . .
     
tootallburd contributes this to the discussion:
     
"Oh this could be interesting. I was christened and baptised by immersion! But God didn't seem to mind, and I and the congregation benefited from it. However the man in my life who is Lutheran/Episcopalian thinks I could be bound for hell. 
I read David Wrights book "What has Infant Baptism done to Baptism?" which gives a good balanced argument for both adult and Infant baptism. I am looking forward to hearing your views."
     
UKViewer  adds:
     
"An interesting question to pose. I understand that Infant Baptism became a custom from the Early Church, which is now difficult to discard. 
     
I was always taught that in an emergency, anyone can carry out a Baptism in "The Name of the Father, The Son and the Holy Spirit". Particularly if life is in danger. But the intention of the Parents for their child have to be considered. If they are not practicing Christians, how do you cut across their beliefs (or lack of them), to satisfy the need to have an infant freed from Original Sin.
     
The Catholic doctrine of Limbo springs to mind as one real issue that I had with them - the idea that a loving and merciful God would condemn an unbaptised baby, to remain in Limbo and never to see the face of God, is so cruel, that I could accept it then, let alone now. So, my idea is that God will suffer them to come to him anyway, baptised or unbaptised.
     
I am aware that the Bible says that the children of 'Believers' are God's children, and I suspect that on that basis, I would feel free to baptise if was understood that the Parents were believers and would have wished for baptism. I would think that Baptism of someone elderly, who has lost the functional ability of being able to think rationally or to communicate their intentions, must be much more problematic?
    
If they had stated an intention to be baptised or a wish to come to Jesus prior to losing their faculties, than it could be done in good conscience and faith - but if they had never stated that wish when able, can the word of a family member or nurse be relied on to carry out that action?
    
My mind would be set on Baptism if asked in those circumstances as whether Infant or Elderly, they remain God's Children."


ps. I would like to extend this a little further, but I will wait until we have developed stuff here in case I queer the pitch.

Communion - more considerations and thought

Helegant posted these three 'broad positions' on her blog regarding the receiving of communion:
     
1. Anyone who wants to take part may receive communion at the Lord's Table "This is not my table but the Lord's". I've seen this more at the evangelical/free church denominational boundary, and it is also where the purpose and value of confirmation is least understood/accepted.
     
2. All who communicate must be confirmed members of that denomination/church and occasionally a person who is not may be specifically invited for pastoral reasons to partake (as a gift) "This is the community of the faithful and we celebrate our shared beliefs and values". I've come across this at the Anglo/Roman Catholic boundary.
     
3. Confirmed members of the Anglican Church plus those communicant members of other churches that are in good standing with their own church-the current Anglican position.
     
Depending on which of these flags you stand closest to, the practice of other churches can seem to trivialise or to exclusivise Communion.
     
Which leads us to two questions?
     
What does Communion mean? Is it a memorial of things past, a celebration of the present (and presence), or a foretaste of the heavenly banquet? Or some combination of the above? We each have our own answers and I like Vic's tardis analogy.
     
Second, what does it mean to take communion with, to be in 'koinonia' with those around you-physically in that place at that time, and representationally with all those around the world, past, present and future?
     
Yes, it is a tardis-like honour to preside at the Table.
     
So far I have not refused communion to anyone, and can't imagine doing except in extremis.  Despite what I have been told by some people about their faith or understanding or lifestyle I try not to judge, but to love and pray for each person when I communicate them.  Beyond that though, I do ask myself how I can help individuals and groups to grow in that faith and understanding so that they can each exercise their own judgement with integrity, within the limits of their ability (children, alzheimers, disabled etc).
     
Just as belief can follow belonging, so I have seen that learning comes 'after' doing, "Act 'as if' and it will become so" is sometimes a good maxim to follow. If I recall my scriptures correctly, there are precendents... 5 'goody points' to those who can quote their favourite examples. 


Thank you helen - articulate and challenging in one.

Communion - reaches the parts other . .

Meals cannot!

Last year I was privileged to be present at the end of a wonderful Christian lady's life. She had battled gamely against cancer but it had, as is too often the case, beaten her. I had agreed that I would come and communicate the whole family with her at her bedside.

I arrived at the side ward to find the family chatting normally around the bed, our heroine having slipped out of consciousness. Having been told that the family still wished to take communion I set out my stall and went through the communion service. Having communicated the family I took a small piece of wafer and dipped it in to the wine. As it touched her lips, the woman opened her eyes, smiled and said, "Thank You Vic," opened her mouth and was communicated and the slipped back from consciousness.

This was startling, for I had never done this before and didn't know what to expect other than the elements, being placed in her mouth, would dissolve and she would be communicated with her husband and family. This was thought-provoking, for in the very elements that represent to us the body and blood, she had 'come back' responded, rejoiced, been blessed and blessed. What had happened and why?

Obviously I haven't been able to run a controlled experiment on this one, with a control group receiving bread and Ribena or macd's and Coke so I can only assume that there was either something present in the elements of that communion or that she'd been conning us all and wanted to play a trick. A nurse who came in minutes after we'd finished to take her ob's commented to me (outside) that the lady was on the last stretch and probably wouldn't regain consciousness now. She didn't, apart from that one moment of recognition, lucidity and reception and the smile on her face was beatific!

Now, tell me communion is merely a memorial - not sure where this leaves some of us with our theology (do I hear 'real presence' people cheering out there?) but my experience was real, shocking, blessing and was surely an encounter of the real kind!

Pax