Nigel Cliff - I Am denied Communion Wine

I Am denied Communion Wine

Sunday, 26. July 2009, 14:52:39

In all Church Of England churches this morning a letter was read out from the bishops of Canterbury and York basically bowing to the hysteria surrounding Swine Flue and stating that until further notice we could only take the bread and not the wine during Holy Communion.Now whilst I understand that some people may be concerned over the transmission of disease through the communal use of the calice surely an announcement that those who shared those concerns could just take the bread would be a common sense reaction.But no in these litigious days a blanket ban has been imposed denying those of us who do not share such concerns the right to take communion as we have for years,the real irritation in this is that the Priest still takes the bread and wine almost rubbing it in that the lay members of the church are lesser Christians who cannot be trusted to make a decision of their own.
I wonder if other churches have been as ludicrously paranoid

We Will Remember ThemSexting

Comments

John # 27. July 2009, 13:33

There are many, many things that baffle me about religious rituals and I may have got this all wrong, but surely if the wine is meant to be (rather than represent) the blood of Christ, then unless Christians believe their Lord has swine flu, the wine/blood should be absolutely kosher, shouldn't it?

Or am I getting the C of E beliefs mixed up with the RC crowd, as well as putting in inappropriate* Jewish references?

* or maybe not; he was Jewish, after all.

Larry # 28. July 2009, 01:01

I believe Fiendishgames is right. If this wine does in fact become the Blood of Christ, there is no way that it or the cup, could ever be tainted.

Steve # 28. July 2009, 18:49

Maybe if you each brought your own straw to drink with or would that not quite carry the right sense gravity.
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Nigel Cliff # 1. August 2009, 18:54

Although it is more the catholics who believe in transubstatiation where the bread and wine actually become the body and blood it did cross my mind that the Arcbishops have more fear of the Health and safety legal team than they do of faith in the risen Christ

Deke # 1. August 2009, 19:32

I thought it was a bit OTT myself. I know there are some splinter Churches who don't ever take the wine, but that was their choice, and I'm not one of them.

It's good of the clergy to offer to take the risks for me, but they don't have to, I think the wine is stronger than the swine.

I just thought of that, I'll probably regret it later.

studio41 # 4. August 2009, 06:04

I am accostomed to receiving the wine in a small, individual cup - whether one believes in transubstantiation or not, this would alleviate any responsibility of clergy in relation to legal issues/claims by others & would allow everyone to partake - or is there particular symbolism/meaning behind everyone taking the wine from one chalice?

Nigel Cliff # 4. August 2009, 16:23

Just the way its always been in the C Of E Studio as far as I am aware

Deke # 5. August 2009, 16:05

I did go to a Church somewhere when I was on holiday where the wine was in little individual cups, but I can't remember the venue or the denomination.

Good idea.

Paul Waters # 6. August 2009, 15:17

Or they could do what the Salvation Army does and drop the whole ceremony... presumably the Almighty God is able to communicate with his believers whenever he likes whether they drink the wine or not?

studio41 # 8. August 2009, 04:34

yes; however, in part, it is that believers partake to remember His great sacrifice "do this in remembrance of Me" we are told by Christ... this is why believers do this, following His voice...

1 Corinthians 11:23-28 explains more of the communion, if you are interested in learning more of it...

Paul Waters # 5. September 2009, 21:12

Yes, I know the theology - although it is possible to interpret those words differently. For example as meaning that we should remember Christ's sacrifice whenever we share a meal. But obviously I respect the fact that the communion rite is symbolically very meaningful for the vast majority of Christians. I just think some of the arguments about it are a bit silly (like the Norwegian priests who argued about the alcohol content of the wine, as if that has any spiritual significance...).

studio41 # 7. September 2009, 05:50

Colin Killpatrick # 9. October 2009, 00:51

Or, if you drank from the cup and got the swine flu, it would prove that the wine isn't the blood of Christ or worse...Man's church is as far from God as say, penguins. Best deny the masses their blood and keep the rituals safe. One has to ensure a full collection plate. No insult intended.

studio41 # 9. October 2009, 07:23

none taken, regardless of how 'perfect' a church is, we are exhorted to fellowship one with another and to worship God... it's important to find a Bible teaching church to attend...