The direction of the action matters!

This week I am switching gears and moving away from the discussion we have been having on Holy Communion. At present I don’t have a series in mind, but I would like this week to say something about the name we early on chose for our congregation.

In recent weeks I have been discussing with you the change in how Holy Communion has been administered in many of our churches. Whereas until the late nineteenth century Communion Wine was extended in the Common Cup, a new practice has caught on of using individual cups. And this happened, as has been discussed, for practical or perceived hygienic considerations.

With this week’s address I sincerely hope I don’t freak out anybody about receiving Holy Communion, but it is important to consider some reasons why it may not be safer to receive wine in individual cups rather than from a common cup. Let me hasten to say, even though it is arguably less safe hygienically to drink from individual cups, nonetheless, there is no public or medical indication that viral epidemics are occurring from any method used for Holy Communion.