[Magdalen] physically distanced communion

[Ginga Wilder]

Hi Roger,
As I said, I have not asked why lay persons - all of whom are licensed and
trained properly - are no longer asked to serve as Eucharistic visitors.
We were always 'sent out' from the altar to proceed directly to the
person.  Perhaps I jumped to a conclusion, one of my favorite exercises!
I've not asked, and it could be that because we are a small community, he
wants to visit any homebound or sick parishioners.  I'm not upset by that,
but it was certainly an immediate change when he arrived.

Ginga

On Wed, Dec 23, 2020 at 5:42 PM Roger Stokes via Magdalen <
magdalen at herberthouse.org> wrote:

> Ginga,
>
> That surprises me. Given that our RC brothers and sisters have the
> practice of laypeople taking communion to those unable to be in church,
> and being officially sent out to perform that ministry towards the end
> of the mass, the idea of duly authorised laypeople taking the elements
> to the shut-in members of the congregation should not be anathema to
> him. In this diocese the requirement is that those exercising this
> ministry should be specifically authorised by the bishop to do so. It
> may be that your new Priest in Charge was concerned that this ministry
> was not being carried out with proper respect for the consecrated
> elements. We may no longer expect that a vested server precede the
> priest bearing the Blesses Sacrament but the Eucharistic Prayer does
> include the suffrage that the elements may for us be the Body and Blood
> of Christ and, as such, it needs to be treated with respect. In the
> current situation this is more challenging than it was when I was in
> parish ministry but I am glad that your proest is reaching out to you at
> this time.
>
> Roger
>
> On 23/12/2020 19:17, Ginga Wilder wrote:
> > My priest called this afternoon to ask if I would like him to bring
> > communion to me tomorrow between services.  Yes!  I have so missed
> > receiving.
> >
> > He quietly ended lay Eucharistic visitors when he became
> priest-in-charge.
> > I've never asked why, because I know it has to do with is
> 'Anglo-Catholic'
> > centering...he served for nearly 20 years at Holy Communion, Charleston -
> > the High Church in the Lowcountry - before coming to Good Shepherd.
> >
> > Anyway, I am grateful that I will have Christmas communion.
>