I don't think I mentioned last week that Squiffany has learned left and right. She was taught it at her nursery school. I am quite impressed. I know an awful lot of school-age children who don't know that. She knows that my left or right is diagonally opposite hers, too.
I was extremely surprised by a letter I received this morning from the Bishop. He says I can administer Holy Communion, and I hadn't even asked to. I can't do the consecrating of course, but I can dish out the bread and wine. Thing is, I don't want to. I would feel most uncomfortable. Also, what if one dropped the chalice? So embarrassing. I'm going to have to try and dodge that particular bullet for the next three years.
Mike has decided that the car he'd been considering for me won't do, so now he's considering another one. I've told him what does matter to me and what doesn't and I'll leave it to him and the Sage. If I don't have one here and insured by Tuesday morning, I've the dismal prospect of getting to Norwich by 9.30 on the bus, though I'd be able to come home with Ro. Things take a lot longer out in the sticks by public transport - I'd have to leave home an hour earlier than if I go by car.
Actually, that was mentioned at a meeting at the high school yesterday. There are several school buses and one of them takes 50 minutes to go all round the villages, dropping the final passengers off only about 8 miles away. The school gets the grumbles, but school buses are booked and paid for by the county council. It's assumed that only the old, the young (school age) and the poor use buses in the country and as they matter least, the level of service isn't important.
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Ooh, well I think it'd be lovely. "The body of Christ, keep you in eternal life". Magic words, z, magic words.
Personally, I find receiving the Communion to be fraught with anxiety, and I hadn't considered that it might be so on the other side of the altar as well.
Very interesting.
I think what is tricky, is that when one person is standing up, and the other person is kneeling down, it's actually quite hard to get the right angle to feed and be fed wine from a cup. The feeder doesn't accidentally want to pour it all down the person, and the feedee doesn't want to grab and tilt the chalice like a greeedy person. The whole thing has a huge potential for awkwardness and disaster, to my mind.
I'm very grateful by the way for the opportunity to talk about this. I've never mentioned it to anyone ever before. Thank you.
What an honor, i can understand why you'll be nervous.
I've found lay people who have assisted me have said it's a wonderful experience - even a spiritual one. Certainly it is for me.
I do agree with what Dandy says about the chalice though - I found that one of the things I didn't enjoy when I was employed by the C of E. We use individual glasses in Methodism.
Most of our ministers and assistants here give the chalice, so you take it, drink and hand it back, which is a bit less of a danger.
Oh Z, don't dodge it, please pray about it.
Although I have experienced the tricky situation Dandy mentions, I agree with Dave, it can be a very spiritual experience.
I also believe, ministering to each other (in conjunction with and respect for ordained folk) is nearer to Jesus' teaching and brings us closer to that abundant life we are all promised.
Oh crumbs. Maybe I should rethink. Thank you all.
I shouldn't worry about dropping the Chalice, dear lady. The Dean once dropped the host down the front of a rather large lady member of the congregation. And then proceeded to try and fish it out. The sound of her hand on his face resounded like a rifle shot. We were all highly impressed.
Indeed. I think at least one of them should have been defrocked on the spot.
My experience is tiny thimble sized glasses like miniature votive holders, that fit inside little holes in wooden holders, that are passed around the congregation. Everyone tosses them back at the same time, followed by some form of wafer or bread. I like the more personal approach as you described.
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