Ship of Fools: Celebration of the Word with holy Communion

Thread: Celebration of the Word with holy Communion Board: Oblivion / Ship of Fools.

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Posted by fullgospel (# 18233) on :

The priest just didnt show today.

And so without further ado, a 'leading' layperson simply told us this, and then led a Celebration of the word with holy Communion.

It was really uplifting and good, and a real blessing , even though the eucharist was nt celebrated as such, 'officially'. It felt similar.

It is wonderful how things work / the spirit works.

We said the Gloria as a thanksgiving after Communion, and this felt very familiar from boyhood Communions under the care of Arhbishop Cranmer ! [Angel]

Hope this ok as my first thread here

[ 26. November 2014, 13:51: Message edited by: fullgospel ]

Posted by Oblatus (# 6278) on :

quote:
Originally posted by fullgospel:
The priest just didnt show today.

And so without further ado, a 'leading' layperson simply told us this, and then led a Celebration of the word with holy Communion.

Communion from the reserved Sacrament, right?

[ 26. November 2014, 13:54: Message edited by: Oblatus ]

Posted by Lamb Chopped (# 5528) on :

Hope your priest is all right. Not showing is rather unusual.

Posted by Bishops Finger (# 5430) on :

Perhaps the 'leading' layperson (Reader? Churchwarden?) did know the reason, but was being discreet!

Brownie points to the leader, though, for obviously doing it well.

Ian J.

Posted by Baptist Trainfan (# 15128) on :

Well, although it wasn't Communion, I once went down with the flu at 8 pm on Christmas Eve - a lay-preacher from our church had to read the service I had prepared on the Day itself. Fortunately I write a full script, not just notes.

I had led a service on Christmas Eve afternoon with no problem: the illness hit me hard and fast!

[ 26. November 2014, 17:30: Message edited by: Baptist Trainfan ]

Posted by Forthview (# 12376) on :

If this was,as I suppose, an RC church,then the person would be designated as a 'Minister of the Eucharist' He or she would have been authorised by the parish priest and the local bishop to distribute Communion as an 'Extraordinary Minister' and possibly to lead a' Service of the Word and Communion in the absence of a priest'.

This is now a fairly common occurrence during the week and sometimes also on Sundays in the RC church.

Posted by Lamb Chopped (# 5528) on :

Mr. Lamb (and the rest of our family) went down with the flu HARD two weeks ago and we basically had to cancel church, not having anybody at all qualified and willing to lead.

I've done it in the past but I was out too.

Posted by Basilica (# 16965) on :

quote:
Originally posted by Forthview:
If this was,as I suppose, an RC church,then the person would be designated as a 'Minister of the Eucharist' He or she would have been authorised by the parish priest and the local bishop to distribute Communion as an 'Extraordinary Minister' and possibly to lead a' Service of the Word and Communion in the absence of a priest'.

This is now a fairly common occurrence during the week and sometimes also on Sundays in the RC church.

Indeed, but then the act of receiving communion in the Roman Catholic tradition has always been separable from the celebration of the mass to some extent. They have come together in the last fifty years, but historically they are not bound tightly together.

In the Anglican understanding, they are much more tightly bound together. You don't take communion to the sick in the BCP: you celebrate communion with the sick. It's an important difference, and it's one that's carefully guarded even to some extent in Common Worship. So there is a form for "Public Worship with Communion by Extension", but it is tightly regulated as to how it's used. Technically, you need the bishop's permission on every occasion, though I'm sure you could ask for it retroactively in situations like the OP's and receive a sympathetic response.

Some parishes make a regular feature of it, but they shouldn't.

Posted by Garasu (# 17152) on :

So you're really saying that you can gather together but are unable to worship?

Posted by John Holding (# 158) on :

There are all sorts of ways to worship. One of them involves celebrating the eucharist. Only that one involves having a priest around.

John

Posted by Bishops Finger (# 5430) on :

The OPer's reference to Cranmer led me to assume that s/he is an Anglican, as this kind of service is now becoming more common in the C of E. I've led one or two such myself on occasions when a Eucharist has been scheduled, but the priest has been unavailable at short notice.

Ian J.

Posted by Lamb Chopped (# 5528) on :

quote:
Originally posted by Garasu:
So you're really saying that you can gather together but are unable to worship?

Depends very much on your congregation (people AND size) but ours is very small and has deathly shy people. As in, scared to stand up front and read out of book, let alone anything else. Which is why I had to lead worship once, in spite of my denomination policies.

We're working on it.

Posted by Uncle Pete (# 10422) on :

quote:
Originally posted by Bishops Finger:
The OPer's reference to Cranmer led me to assume that s/he is an Anglican, as this kind of service is now becoming more common in the C of E. I've led one or two such myself on occasions when a Eucharist has been scheduled, but the priest has been unavailable at short notice.

Ian J.

If you read the prayer thread you will notice that he has very recently swum the Tiber (Laus Deo). The reference is to a RC Service of the Word with Communion, which is commoner these days than you would think, especially in the mission field.

Posted by Bishops Finger (# 5430) on :

Thanks, Uncle Pete. Not quite sure what to make of your Laus Deo remark, though..... [Roll Eyes]

Ian J.

Posted by Forthview (# 12376) on :

Perhaps he is glad that the OPer did not drown on the way over(Laus Deo semper)

Posted by Bishops Finger (# 5430) on :

Possibly - but as I am in A Foul Mood today, I might also remark that the cross-Tiber lot could do with all the help they can get.......

......so before the Hosts get to me, I'll get me coat!

Ian J.

Posted by Saint Hedrin the Lesser-Known (# 11399) on :

Now, now....

It is more unusual, I submit, for a priest of any sort to find that he only has consecrated bread in the tabernacle/aumbry and has failed to procure unconsecrated bread beforehand. This may happen in rural areas where stations and the faithful are few and far between.

But that's another oddity.

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