Dear Friends,
A story that may be apocryphal is told of how President Reagan once took Communion at the National Cathedral. Being a Presbyterian, he wasn’t quite sure how to receive in an Episcopal church. When he confessed as much to his wife, Nancy, she replied, “Let me go first, then do what I do.” Kneeling at the Communion rail, Mrs. Reagan received the wafer of bread in the palm of her hand. It was her intention to intinct – to dip the edge of the bread into the wine, and partake of both elements together. Unfortunately, she lost her grip on the wafer and the whole thing fell into the chalice. Thinking quickly, she plucked the wafer out of the wine and ate it. When the chalice bearer moved along to the President, he, being a keen observer of his wife’s actions, tossed his wafer into the chalice, retrieved it, and ate it. My guess is that the President returned to his seat thinking that the Episcopalians have a strange way of going about their business.
Two Sundays ago we had a big crowd at the 11 am service due, in part, to four baptisms. When it came time to administer Communion at the altar rail, it was my turn to be a chalice bearer. Usually I administer the bread, so offering the wine afforded me a different perspective. It was quite clear that receiving Communion is hardly an intuitive thing. People did not know what to do. I could almost hear their questions. Do I fill in at the rail from the outside in, inside out, or just take a place anywhere? Do I kneel or stand? Must I eat the bread now, or may I take it with me? May I hold the chalice, or will you pour the wine into my mouth? If I am “dunking,” how much of the wafer should I submerge? How long may I stay at the rail after receiving? Will you dismiss me?
I don’t mean to be critical. If anything, the fault is ours for not providing sufficient instruction. The truth is, we live in what some are calling “a post-Christian society,” when many, if not most people did not grow up in a faith tradition. People are spiritually curious, even hungry. They want to participate and experience the presence of God. So it is up to us to offer guidance to those who wish it, and clear away as many unnecessary barriers as we can.
Beginning this week, at the Sunday Forum we will offer an Epiphany series that helps us understand the component parts of the Book of Common Prayer that shape the liturgy. How do we choose the Scripture readings? What’s happening during the Prayers of the People? What’s the difference between Rite One and Two and all the various Eucharistic Prayers? Finally, on the Sunday before Lent, we will offer a practical session on the do’s and don’ts of receiving Communion in bread and wine from the common cup.
Read below for more about this, and other opportunities to connect with God and others through our life in Christ.
See you in church,