I suspected this was coming. Even though churches are holding online services, it would look pretty silly – elitist even – to have an online display of a priest receiving communion alone. I hope ANiC doesn’t do the same but I fear it will.
What I would like to see is an online Eucharist where each household watching has bread and wine or juice that is consecrated liturgically as usual – except the elements are not all local to the priest. An extraordinary solution to fit the extraordinary times.
From here:
Therefore, the bishops of our province have agreed together that our virtual worship through Holy Week and the season of Easter, or until such time that we can gather in community together, will not include the liturgy of the Eucharist. Sacramental celebrations are the work of the whole People of God and require a gathering of people who can be physically present to one another. That is impossible for most of us at this time. The Great Three Days of Easter, and through the 50 days of the season, we will be fasting from the Eucharist but feasting on the Word. We believe that the Risen One, the Word, by the power of the Holy Spirit, is present and active with us as we hear and receive him in the word of the scriptures, in that word interpreted and proclaimed in preaching, and in the word inwardly digested, by faith, in each person.
Sorry David. I have to disagree. It could never “look silly” for anyone to give or receive the Eucharist. Nor is only one or two doing it because of health reasons “elitist.” Bishops are also wrong that Eucharist “require a gathering of people who can be physically present.” What is source for this?
That there can be no Eucharist without laity present was the position the Protestant Reformers took in opposition to the Roman Communion’s practice of sine populo “private masses”. It is not spelled out in the Thirty Nine Articles of Religion, unlike the fact that the Eucharist has to be offered in both kinds which is Article 30. The rubric in the Book of Common Prayer states “There shall be no Celebration of the Lord’s Supper, except there be at least one person present to communicate with the Priest”. That is the Canadian edition. The Church of England’s edition requires “a convenient number to communicate with the Priest” specifying that if the Parish has no more than twenty persons, there need to be “four (or three at the least)” to communicate with the Priest.
Does not seem to be an issue on the other side of the Tiber.
This dictate is ridiculous. First off, telling priests that they cannot celebrate the Eucharist?! And on Easter to boot? Celebrating the Eucharist – offering the “sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving” – is core to the identity of a priest. Without the Eucharist, a priest doesn’t make sense.
Secondly, the Eucharist is the greatest prayer the church can offer, for it is Jesus Christ himself who left it to us. In it we offer to him ourselves – our needs, our concerns, “ourselves, our souls and bodies” – and in return he gives us himself. It seems to me that at this time of crisis we ought to be having more celebrations of the Eucharist and not fewer. The Eucharist has value in and of itself – whether anyone is present or receives. I should think it would be a comfort for people to know that our priests were offering the Eucharist each day in their parish church for their needs and the needs of the world.
Thirdly, why does the Eucharist require “a gathering of people.” It never has. What constitutes “a gathering” anyway? Our tradition says there should be at least one other person besides the priest. Hardly a “gathering.” Besides, doesn’t the preface say that at every Eucharist we join with “angels, archangels, and all the company of heaven?”
Bad theology from the bishops of Ontario. Then again, they haven’t exactly set a precedent of excellence lately.
If we cannot baptize people online, how can we celebrate the Lord’s Supper online? Jesus lives in all believers and we can continue to grow spiritually during this global pandemic.
Please correct me if I am wrong, but it is my understanding that back in the early 60’s the Worship Service of Holy Communion was only once a month with the usual service being Morning Prayer.
I get the concern, especially with the Common Cup. Many of our secular society will never understand the importance of this. But as true believers and followers of Christ we should not change how we do Holy Communion. The frequency yes, but not how.
Jesus has said that those that genuinely love Him will keep His Commandments. For that includes drinking from His Cup.
“Then shall the Priest, facing the people, rehearse the TEN COMMANDMENTS or else the Two Great Commandments of the Law. The Ten Commandments shall always be read at least once in each month on a Sunday at the chief Service of the day. ” (BCP, Canada)
Again, I don’t expect mentally challenged infant MDivs who think God just wants them to use their pre-existing notions of LOVE to understand LOGIC, but the clear logical implication of this is that the Holy Communion must be held at least once a month, and the ten commandments read once a month, and that the Chief Service once a month must be a BCP Holy Communion Service.
To fail to perform this office is breach of trust, the BCP clearly explains a trust reposed on the Clergy of the Church, and to fail to perform a trust is breach of trust in which the secular courts may intercede.
In BC, for example, the secular authority has limited attendance to less thna 50 persons, which might be a reasonable requirement, or it might be ultra vires on grounds of freedom of religion.
People are free to choose their own healthcare, holy communion is as valid and effectual as any other, Christ was called ‘the healer.’ Anglican Churches are technically Army Hospitals, essential services. This bullshit is going to destroy the very fabric of the communion, suspension of services is illegal and unholy. IMO people should hold them on the church steps.
They have no legal authority to suspend services, it is a breach of trust. Even if the civil authority orders suspension of services and closing of buildings, we are enjoined by superior authority to continue administering the sacraments and to keep the church going. Closing churches is illegal and a breach of trust. The Rubric of the book of common prayer requires that:
“It is the duty of every confirmed person, after due preparation, to partake of the holy Communion frequently, and particularly on the greater Holy-days, of which Easter is the chief.
It is the duty of every parishioner to contribute regularly of his substance, as God shall prosper him, to the maintenance of the worship of God and the spread of the Gospel.
In Cathedral and Collegiate Churches, and Colleges, where there are many Priests and Deacons, they shall all receive the Communion with the Priest every Sunday at the least, except they have a reasonable cause to the contrary. ”
I don’t trust ordained clergy to read well enough to be able to do basic logic and determine the implication hereof, but the clear implication is that services must be held for easter, and that communion must be held in every Cathedral Church on every Sunday. Further, it is not that laity are required to be present, it is that the priest cannot merely communicate himself. Where 2 or 3, laity or clergy, are gathered in My Name, I am present. That is the bare coram, the issue is that 1 is not a coram for transaction of business of the assembly.
This is basic corporate trust law, these blind guides are ruining everything because of their addiction to “love.”
These parishes and dioceses and provinces and synods have been entrusted millions of dollars for the purpose of propagating the gospel and of baptizing and of administering holy communion to baptized persons. This is a grotesque breach of trust beyond all measure—gay marriage is a tiny footnote by comparison, as marriage is not a sacrament. This suspension of the sacraments, their lack of faith in God, it is clear they are just mentally challenged persons who have been made into priests, indoctus minus, who are appropriating God’s property for their own uses, and hey, I suspect the minority of subscribers still left are basically meat puppets who will continue to write cheques even if suspended because they think God cares about tithing $$$ and cumin, not about continued administration of the church as it was left to us by our ancestors.
It’s a maxim in English Law, NIL TENERE NOVANDUM: DO NOT HOLD INNOVATIONS.
If people refuse to practise aggressive physical distancing and self-isolation, we will be celebrating the Lord’s Supper in heaven sooner than later. Christians are not in spiritual isolation because they are one in Jesus Christ. By the way, there will be no need to celebrate the Lord’s Supper in the new heavens and the new earth. We shall cast all our crowns before the Lamb, “lost in wonder, love, and praise”.