Communion

[Mary of Bethany]

oh no that is not it, the Catholic Church allows members of some churches to recieve communion if they can not get to their church, I know this courtesy is extended to the orthodox and I think anglicans, I am not sure what churches are allowed by the Catholic Church to do this, and only when they can not make it to their own church
Mary
that is a good understanding, catholics also fast before reciving the eucharist, how long is it custamary for members of the EO to fast?

From midnight (or bedtime - whichever comes first). Or for rare evening Liturgies - from noon or so. Obviously, exceptions are made for children or for people with health concerns - it's between the person and his priest.

Mary

 

[MrJim]

I take a sacramental approach in the Baptist church where I receive~yeah sounds dumb, I know but it's where I'm at.

The plainer mennonite churches I know do practice closed communion~one of the reasons is that the elders/pastors believe they have some responsibility in the spiritual condition of their congregation, and would share in the sin of the participant if they were receiving unworthily...fwiw.

 

[Rhamiel]

I heard that the some Baptists consider it a mystery, and some consider it to only be a symbol

 

[MrJim]

I heard that the some Baptists consider it a mystery, and some consider it to only be a symbol

Yeah, traditionally the baptists and anabaptists take the symbolic route, but then I'm a bad baptist

 

[Rhamiel]

so how do you view the eucharist

 

[Rebekka]

From midnight (or bedtime - whichever comes first). Or for rare evening Liturgies - from noon or so. Obviously, exceptions are made for children or for people with health concerns - it's between the person and his priest.

Mary

How early/late in the morning is your mass?

I know I can fast from midnight to, say, 2 PM (tops), but there's no way I can fast from noon to evening, that would be too hard!

 

[MrJim]

so how do you view the eucharist

this is my body
this is my blood

Don't exactly understand all the ins & outs, but probably take a view somewhat like the Eastern Orthodox or Lutherans I guess...one opinion that would be a bit unconventional is that I consecrate the elements myself~thinking I don't need a priest to do it, since we are called a royal priesthood...

 

[Albion]

Most, but not all Anglican churches practice open communion, by which is meant that all adult, baptised Christians in good standing in whatever their denomination might be are allowed to commune. However, many parishes also tell the worshippers--from the pulpit, altar, or in the bulletin---that we believe in the Real Presence of Christ in the bread and wine. This might be considered open communion with instruction. Should any commune unworthily because they are in serious sin or come forward on a lark or as a curiosity, the scriptures testify that they are hurting themselves, but as others here have noted, it is not possible for any of us to know their hearts in advance.

 

[DailyBlessings]

this is my body
this is my blood

Don't exactly understand all the ins & outs, but probably take a view somewhat like the Eastern Orthodox or Lutherans I guess...one opinion that would be a bit unconventional is that I consecrate the elements myself~thinking I don't need a priest to do it, since we are called a royal priesthood...

I would suggest that it is the Lord who consecrates the elements, regardless of the man or woman holding up the cup. I would not object to a non-pastor consecrating the elements at time of need, since that role is one that itself is defined by vocation or necessity, not the decree of a candidacy committee. However, the roles of teaching and the distribution of communion are strongly linked in my mind, so I would tend to stand with tradition is this regard, when possible.

 

[Criada]

In our church no-one consecrates anything - we just share the bread and wine. A few members help to distribute it, and whoever id leading the meeting explains for the sake ofvisitors, and usually leads in prayer. We are non-liturgical - so this is rarely the same two weeks running.

 

[DailyBlessings]

In our church no-one consecrates anything - we just share the bread and wine. A few members help to distribute it, and whoever id leading the meeting explains for the sake ofvisitors, and usually leads in prayer. We are non-liturgical - so this is rarely the same two weeks running.

Do you mean that you don't believe that the communion meal is sacred at all?

 

[Criada]

No - it *is* sacred - but it is sacred because of Jesus, not because of any ceremony we carry out. He is in it, and that makes it a very sacred and serious thing. But joyful as well.

I love communion - and I love sharing it with my family and with my brothers and sisters in Christ. But we break bread together at home too - because Jesus said "Do this as often as you eat it...." And we eat bread pretty frequently!

 

[DailyBlessings]

Ah, that's what I thought.

 

[higgs2]

WHat I love about my church is that baptism is the only requirement for communion. Therefore, my children took communion as infants at their baptism -- a drop of wine from the priest's finger.

 

[Mary of Bethany]

How early/late in the morning is your mass?

I know I can fast from midnight to, say, 2 PM (tops), but there's no way I can fast from noon to evening, that would be too hard!

Liturgy at our parish begins at 9:30 and is over about 11:30, then we have a pot-luck meal together in the fellowship hall.

Mary

 

[Michie]

Liturgy at our parish begins at 9:30 and is over about 11:30, then we have a pot-luck meal together in the fellowship hall.

Mary

That sounds really nice.

 

[Mary of Bethany]

WHat I love about my church is that baptism is the only requirement for communion. Therefore, my children took communion as infants at their baptism -- a drop of wine from the priest's finger.

Yeah, that's one of the things I love best about Holy Communion - seeing the babies and little ones receive.

For those who don't know, the Orthodox Church uses leavened bread that is mixed with the wine in the chalice, and the priest spoons the wine and bread directly into the communicant's mouth, so babies can receive tiny amounts and they don't choke.

Mary

 

[meh]

I attend a conversative American Baptist church and we practice open communion to anyone who wishes to partake. It's not done casually, but it's offered to all.

Last Christmas, our interim preacher got up during the Christmas Eve service and said that if you hadn't accepted Christ, you must not take communion. His reasoning made sense, I guess, but I was so stunned frankly I didn't catch the passage he referred to. It's in Acts, perhaps? I know it was Paul, speaking about unbelievers who take communion drink from the chalice of abomination, and we would then drink from abomination for accepting it with them? I'm sure someone here will know what I'm referring to.

Anyway. That didn't go over well with the church members and it's never happened again. I prefer open. But I certainly don't feel offended or anything in other churches where they ask us not to partake.