No Eucharist

Daniel9v9

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Last Sunday, our Lutheran Church stopped administering the Eucharist as a precautionary measure against the Coronavirus. Beyond that, we've also stopped handshaking, extending peace, and tea after the service etc.

Given that I live in Japan, I can certainly appreciate the seriousness of the virus outbreak, but personally I'd rather keep the Eucharist. I feel like stopping it is a bit radical and it sends a message that it's not that valuable.

Once a month I also participate in an Anglican Eucharist service - it's a small international group and the service is in English - and as of yet, they still keep going. I may hold off going to those services, or at least stop bringing my 1 year old daughter, as the church is in the heart of bustling Osaka. But that means no Eucharist for quite some time.

I just saw on Instagram today that one of the bigger non-denominational churches in Osaka has opted for online services - that makes sense when bearing in mind their theological framework. So the churches over here are responding to the outbreak very differently.

How's your church doing? What's your view on the Eucharist (and Baptism for that matter) in relation to the Coronavirus?
 
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Carl Emerson

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Last Sunday, our Lutheran Church stopped administering the Eucharist as a precautionary measure against the Coronavirus. Beyond that, we've also stopped handshaking, extending peace, and tea after the service etc.

Given that I live in Japan, I can certainly appreciate the seriousness of the virus outbreak, but personally I'd rather keep the Eucharist. I feel like stopping it is a bit radical and it sends a message that it's not that valuable.

Once a month I also participate in an Anglican Eucharist service - it's a small international group and the service is in English - and as of yet, they still keep going. I may hold off going to those services, or at least stop bringing my 1 year old daughter, as the church is in the heart of bustling Osaka. But that means no Eucharist for quite some time.

I just saw on Instagram today that one of the bigger non-denominational churches in Osaka has opted for online services - that makes sense when bearing in mind their theological framework. So the churches over here are responding to the outbreak very differently.

How's your church doing? What's your view on the Eucharist (and Baptism for that matter) in relation to the Coronavirus?

Would taking a simple eucharist at home be an option?

We take bread and wine, bless it as Jesus did and partake.

Early churches were home based.

Whoops I just realised I was in the Lutheran section - sorry.
 
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Daniel9v9

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Would taking a simple eucharist at home be an option?

We take bread and wine, bless it as Jesus did and partake.

Early churches were home based.

Whoops I just realised I was in the Lutheran section - sorry.

No problem, hey :)

I'm of the view that Baptism and the Eucharist should ordinarily be administered by the pastor, but if there is no pastor around, or in extraordinary circumstances, any Christian is qualified to do this. That is, Lutherans do not understand the Sacraments to be a right that the pastor or anyone possesses, but rather, that for good order and so that the Gospel may be proclaimed clearly and in all its fullness, it's reserved for the pastoral office. So while we're not super liberal about it, I think your suggestion is good and fair!
 
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Yeshua HaDerekh

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Would taking a simple eucharist at home be an option?

We take bread and wine, bless it as Jesus did and partake.

Early churches were home based.

Whoops I just realised I was in the Lutheran section - sorry.

keep Shabbat :)
 
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Kalevalatar

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Our Church, the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland, follows the policy that the "show must go on" under all circumstances; church services and pastoral care must be provided even in extraordinary circumstances and especiallly in crisis. In our society, the Church has an important task of promoting social peace.

This requires good hygiene, good cleaning, good Eucharistic hygiene, of course, as always, no handshakes, no common cup, no sneezing or coughing, hold by the stem and no touching the rim and so forth. We have sick day laws and they apply to the church employees as well, and we have clear instructions how to carry out a non-Eucharist Service of the Word without an ordained pastor. No hand-to-hand collection bags. Projecting hymns or bring-your-own hymnals. Virtual Church Service and weekly radio & televised services are already popular especially among the elderly unable to participate regularly.

The Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland is the oldest institution in Finland, older than the state and any other forms of administration, and has weathered so many famines, plaques and wars far worse than this and is well-resourced to be there for the people. I do sympathise with smaller churches and parishes with limited resources. It's heartbreaking that in a time when people do need the Church most, the Church has to shut down services and perhaps even close because it's still run by mere humans vulnerable to viruses.
 
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tampasteve

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We (ELCA) are still offering the Eucharist every Sunday as well as the normal Lentan and Sunday services and classes. However, they have stopped the common cup (very few people were using this option anyways) and are not shaking hands at the passing of peace. I feel stopping the Eucharist entirely is a bit radical and is a precaution that is just not necessary based on the pathogen as we know it right now.
 
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Lutheran Church Canada dealt with this once before during SARS, last week our National Bishop, Rev. Timothy Teuscher published this: Public Worship and the Coronavirus (COVID-19): A statement from LCC's president - The Canadian Lutheran

It's worh a read.

Indeed!
When the black plague broke out in Wittenberg, Martin Luther wrote an open letter entitled “Whether One May Flee from a Deadly Plague” (Luther’s Works, Vol. 43, pp. 115-138). It is a biblical, practical, and timely reflection on the proper response of Christians to death and suffering. In his letter, Luther speaks about: being fervent in prayer; the duties we have toward our neighbour while at the same time preserving our own life as a gift of God; doing everything possible to counteract death and the plague by using medicines, avoiding places and persons infected, and the like; and the responsibilities that those in certain offices or vocations such as pastors, government officials, and health care providers have toward the sick and suffering and toward the well-being of society as a whole.
 
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TKA_TN

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We are still relatively low on cases (7 in our state) and our pastor hasn’t put any restrictions out just yet.

The RCC Bishop of the diocese here has stopped the common cup, communion on the tongue, and the sign of the peace is now just a nod, however. Much larger Catholic population here, though.
 
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Resha Caner

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So far my LCMS church is still offering the Eucharist. If people are that concerned, they have the option to abstain. There is no requirement to take it. In fact, if people are feeling pressured to take it - as if it's a requirement - then some discussion is probably warranted.

With respect to sharing peace, it was the same thing. Last Sunday our pastor announced that if some wanted to abstain, it was fine not to shake hands and others needed to understand the concern and not be offended by those who chose to abstain.
 
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Here in Finland, most Masses have been now cancelled and replaced with the non-Eucharistic Service of the Word. Today is the 80th anniversary of the end of the Winter War and all church services commemorating the event were officially cancelled yesterday, sadly. Veterans are old and in real risk of serious infection. Church bells will toll, but that's all. Baptisms and funerals will be held, weddings may be postponed, however. All other church activities, concerts, choirs, lectures, Bible groups, daycare clubs, have been cancelled or postponed. Good news is that those diaconal, youth and other parish workers who find their work calendars suddenly empty, have been adviced to substitute, for example, in the Church's "at your service" on-call phone service, which will surely be hugely in demand.

We have 155 confirmed cases, no deaths, yet. Basically, we are shutting down the entire country to protect the vulnerable and ensure that health care can cope with those in need.

Stay safe. Protect yourself to protect your vulnerable neighbours too!
 
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Daniel9v9

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Here in Finland, most Masses have been now cancelled and replaced with the non-Eucharistic Service of the Word. Today is the 80th anniversary of the end of the Winter War and all church services commemorating the event were officially cancelled yesterday, sadly. Veterans are old and in real risk of serious infection. Church bells will toll, but that's all. Baptisms and funerals will be held, weddings may be postponed, however. All other church activities, concerts, choirs, lectures, Bible groups, daycare clubs, have been cancelled or postponed. Good news is that those diaconal, youth and other parish workers who find their work calendars suddenly empty, have been adviced to substitute, for example, in the Church's "at your service" on-call phone service, which will surely be hugely in demand.

We have 155 confirmed cases, no deaths, yet. Basically, we are shutting down the entire country to protect the vulnerable and ensure that health care can cope with those in need.

Stay safe. Protect yourself to protect your vulnerable neighbours too!

Sorry to hear that! That’s very sad. I just learned that the Church of Norway (where I’m originally from) announced they’ll be shutting their doors and do online services. Lord have mercy :praying:
 
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Kalevalatar

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Sorry to hear that! That’s very sad. I just learned that the Church of Norway (where I’m originally from) announced they’ll be shutting their doors and do online services. Lord have mercy :praying:

Yes, they call it digital fellowship. You know, this may very well be one of the silver linings of the pandemia. Churches like ours have struggled with how to reach the younger generations particular when traditional ways of doing things -- old skool Bible study groups and such -- no longer resonates with them. Because it's not that the younger generations aren't spiritual, but more like that the Church as an institution doesn't speak their language.The pandemia can force us to find new ways for fellowship and especially the digital forms and innovative uses of social media could be the key to reach out.
 
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tampasteve

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This past Friday our Bishop sent a email to all the synod recommending we stop all physical gatherings, including Sunday worship until at least March 29th. As far as I am aware, every church followed through and did not have in person services this week. Many (including mine) had a service of the word streamed online through Youtube or Facebook. My church does not normally do this, so their setup was less than optimal, but it was adequate. Hopefully they can do a better job next week since they have a lot more time to prepare.

We are living in unprecedented times, hopefully this passes quickly.
 
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We were the only Liturgical Church open in our city. While our own member attendance was a bit lower, we had a good turn out of people we did not know from other Churches. We know them now. They all praised us for doing what the Church does; ministering to the people of God in times of hardship as well as times of plenty. What an opportunity to witness!! We have canceled non service events, but our regular services and Lenten services continue as planned (with a few extra precautions).
 
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renniks

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We are still relatively low on cases (7 in our state) and our pastor hasn’t put any restrictions out just yet.

The RCC Bishop of the diocese here has stopped the common cup, communion on the tongue, and the sign of the peace is now just a nod, however. Much larger Catholic population here, though.
What is Communion on the tongue? Sounds kind of risky in any flu season.
 
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TKA_TN

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What is Communion on the tongue? Sounds kind of risky in any flu season.

The Priest lays the bread on the person’s tongue. Some Catholics practice it because they feel like specs of the bread may get left on the hand, then in turn get dropped on the ground and then stepped on. They do it because they don’t want the Lord stepped on.
 
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