Communion and Swine Flu

The Church of England, because of swine flu, had changed its method of communion and is not sharing the chalice. Some Catholic churches are doing the same. They now do the ceremony using 'intinction', which is dipping the bread into the chalice. The method was first used over 450 years ago because of the bubonic plague. There was even a law at the time, the 1547 Sacrament Act, which allowed this change.

Some believers only take the bread, the body of Christ, and not the wine. I first saw this about three years ago when I attended my first Catholic service. The parishioners went forward and were given the bread, and then some walked right past the cup. I asked my friends about it, and they said some skipped for health reasons. The wine in the Catholic and Episcopalian churches is traditionally served by each member sipping from the chalice. Even though the priest wiped the lip of the cup after each person, I would be concerned too.

I don't think it's a true communion, a fulfilling of the sacrament, doing only one element. I was a bit puzzled by it. Our church traditionally has deacons pass trays with individual cups, with the wafers at the center, up and down each pew. It's both efficient and allows for a moment of prayer after being served. People with disabilities and the very elderly are served easily. We also use intinction depending on the service. The bread and wine are taken to those unable to come forward.

If you're not a member of the Catholic church, you can't take Communion (I don't know about the Episcopalians). Our church allows anyone that accepts Christ as their Savior to partake.