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New Communion Practice
We Episcopalians are Eucharistically centered. That means that we take the sacrament of Holy Communion very seriously. Some denominations understand what happens during the celebration of communion more as a remembrance or memorial. But we believe that Jesus is truly present in the bread and wine that are made holy by the prayers we say together. While we do not try to define just how it is that Jesus is present, we do treat the bread and wine as sacred and are not casual about either our prayers or our practices around communion.
For the last few years, there has been a church-wide conversation going on around the Eucharist, a conversation that has included coming to grips with how to honor our belief around the centrality and sacredness of Holy Communion while sharing bread and wine in the midst of, and now in the wake of, a pandemic.
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That conversation has now yielded directives from our bishops about how to distribute communion in a way that honors our tradition (that we are one body because we share one bread and one cup) and at the same time recognizes that many people do not wish to drink from a common cup. It is important to note that back during the AIDS crisis, the CDC cited studies that affirm that the possibility of passing along any kind of infection through a common chalice of silver filled with fortified alcoholic wine is almost nil. However, many Episcopalians still prefer to dip their wafer into the cup, the practice known as intinction.
The issue with intinction, however, is that sometimes fingers/fingernails go into the wine and that’s where we become concerned about contamination. Health professionals continue to stress that drinking wine from the common cup is safe - but if some truly feel they need to intinct, then it needs to be done without fingers going into the cup.
The best way for fingers not to go into the cup is for the person bearing the chalice to be the one to carefully dip the wafer and then put it into the hand of the recipient, rather than having each parishioner dip his or her own wafer.
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Beginning this Sunday, we will begin a new practice. The way it will work is that one priest will distribute the wafers to each person at the altar rail.
When you receive your wafer, you have three choices. First, you can consume the wafer and skip the wine, because receiving communion in one kind is still a full and holy communion. Or 2, you can consume the wafer and then drink from the drinking chalice that will be administered by a Lay Eucharistic Minister who is following the priest with the bread. Or 3, you can hold up your wafer and wait for a second priest who is following that LEM with a second chalice for intinction. The second priest will take your wafer from your fingers, lightly dip the edge of it into the wine, and then hand it back to you to take with your fingers (on a non-wine spot) and then consume.
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That’s it. The way you come up for communion remains the same, and the way you leave the altar rail is the same. The only difference is that there will be two cups, one for drinking and one for intinction, and the priest with the intinction chalice will do the dipping for you. We know that changes sometimes make folks nervous, but we’ll all get the hang of this in no time. And we believe that this practice takes into account both our desire to honor our tradition and the use of safe practices at the altar rail. And remember that if you’d like a blessing or otherwise to pray with a priest, just make your way to the chapel to do that after you’ve received your communion.
Blessings,
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Sunday, October 8
REAL LIFE Cookout -1pm
Shelter 1 in Bryan Park (near the playground)
St. James's cookout with the women in the REAL LIFE program.
This is a wonderful opportunity to get to know our outreach partner REAL LIFE and
enjoy a cookout in the park. There will be food, lawn games, and fellowship.
All ages are welcome!
Tuesday, October 10
Tuesday Men's Bible Study - 7:30 am, Valentine Hall
A weekly hour of fellowship, discussion of the bible, and good food.
Contact: Patrick Strickler, jpstrickler@verizon.net
Stephen Spraker, stspraker@gmail.com
Wednesday, October 11
Living Faith Bible Study - 10 to 11:30 am
Currently on Zoom (in person gatherings TBD)
This opportunity for spiritual refreshment and enlightenment begins with fellowship, a prayer followed by study and discussions that help to make our Christian faith a “living faith” and apply the witness of the Scripture to our everyday lives.
Contact: Betsy Trow (804) 282- 4152 or betsytrow@gmail.com
Wednesday Noon Eucharist & Healing Service
held in the chapel located within the sanctuary
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Wednesday Night Dinner - 6 pm, Valentine Hall
It's Week 4 of our popular Wednesday Night Dinners, now at a new time -- 6 pm. We’re also not asking for RSVPs – just show up and enjoy the evening. The suggested donations are: Children, $5; Adults $10, Families, $25.
You can pay in cash, check or credit card.
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Thursday, October 12
Women in Fellowship - 7 pm
This group meets Second and Fourth Thursdays at the homes of members.
This Bible study follows the lectionary and readings, using them as a basis to
discuss the upcoming week’s Gospel.
Contact: Kendal Sibley, KSibley@hunton.com
or Laura Strickler, laurastrickler@gmail.com
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The parish office
will be closed Monday, October 9
For pastoral emergencies,
please call our clergy members’ cell phone numbers:
The Rev. Penny Nash, (404) 313-3412
The Rev. Amelia Arthur, (504) 330-3089
The Rev. Dr. Doug Wigner, (804) 269-2946
The parish office hours are:
Monday - Friday: 9 am-5 pm
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Peek at the Week is now on the website (doers.org) too. So if you need to check in on what’s going on this coming week, click on the Peek at the Week banner (The Week's Events) on the home page: doers.org
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This week's eChimes features | |
- Parish Retreat - Last Minute Openings
- Get your tickets to THE CELEBRATION
- We need a few Celebration volunteers
- Come to REALLife Cookout this Sunday - new location
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- We're expanded our Wednesday Noon Eucharist
- Oct. Young Family Social next Saturday
- Exciting Oct. Youth Event next Sunday
- Fall dates to remember
- Prayers of The People
- Diocese of Virginia
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LAST MINUTE OPENINGS at the PARISH RETREAT
The Parish Retreat has had some last minute cancellations. So if you missed out in securing a spot earlier, there’s still a chance to go. Reach out to Katie Ricard, our Director of Youth Ministries, at youth@doers.org by this Sunday evening to inquire about the openings.
The Parish Retreat is from Friday, October 20 through Sunday the 22nd, at Shrine Mont.
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Tickets
are now available.
The Celebration: A feast of goodwill and connection is one of the most cherished and anticipated events of the year at St. James’s. There will be an elegant dinner, open bar, wonderful company, and (shhh!) a big musical surprise.
If you want to be a part of this very special night, you can RSVP and make your donation by going here. A suggested donation of $40 person is requested.
You can also mail a check to: St. James's Episcopal Church, 1205 W. Franklin St., Richmond, VA, 23220 (with Celebration on the memo line).
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A Few Volunteers are
Still Needed.
You can’t throw a big party without a lot of help. Many folks have already volunteered to help with the Celebration but we still need help with the set up.
If you want to lend a hand with moving and setting up the tables and chairs,
click here to sign up.
And thanks in advance.
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This Sunday’s REAL Life Cookout has a new location.
This Sunday, October 8th, the weather is looking perfect for St. James's cookout with the women in the REAL LIFE program. This is a wonderful opportunity to get to know our outreach partner REAL LIFE and enjoy a cookout in the park. All ages are welcome!
The cookout (Shelter 1 in Bryan Park (near the playground) begins at 1pm (setup to begin at 12:30). There will be food, lawn games, and fellowship.
In addition to coming to the cookout, we encourage you to volunteer - we still need help setting up, grilling, and cleaning up, but feel free to just signup to attend! Click here to signup.
Please contact Yvonne Gibney (yvonnegibney@gmail.com), Judy Philpott (philpott3@yahoo.com), or Ashlee Ligon (childrensministry@doers.org) with any questions.
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We’ve expanded
our Wednesday Noon service.
Our Wednesday Noontime service is back, and we’ve added healing prayer and a recognition of the daily saint to this short Eucharistic service.
This is a wonderful opportunity to take a midweek break in the quiet of the Chapel and hear – and feel – the word of God.
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Next Saturday...
family fun and fellowship.
The next Young Family Social is just around the corner. On Saturday, October 14, from 4 to 6 pm we'll be gathering at the home of:
Mary Beth and Chris Abplanalp
8346 West Weyburn Road, 23235
St. James’s will provide snacks, water, and juice. Parents are welcome to bring a favorite adult beverage if you wish. These socials are for any St. James's family with children living at home. The parents have as much fun as the children at our Young Family Socials.
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Let’s gather ‘round the CAMPFIRE Next Sunday, October 15.
Mark your calendars for a campfire on Sunday, October 15 from 6 to 7:30 pm! We’ll have pizza, s’mores, and other activities.
High schoolers (SYF) will meet at the Strickler home (1238 Rothesay Circle)
Middle schoolers (JYF) will meet at the Arthur home (3918 Hanover Avenue)
Please join us for some fun!
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…then tee it up at TOPGOLF
two weeks later
We’re going to Top Golf on Sunday, October 29 from 6:30-8:00 pm. Come play some rounds with us, no experience – or clubs – needed!
To sign up, click here.
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Fall Dates to Remember
Here's an easy way to see much of what we have going on at St. James's this Fall. You can put events on your calendar now or put up the list on fridge or bulletin board. We have lots of exciting things happening at St. James's this Fall.
Click here to see some of our Fall highlights.
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St. James’s Episcopal Church | DOERS.ORG | (804) 355-1779
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