Hi I have a question for any alcoholics who particpate in communion.
do you drink the wine?
but I went to church for the first time in years yesterday and it wasn't until after communion that it really occurred to me. I mean once I put it in my mouth I realised "oops alcohol".
But I am wanting to re-discover my old church roots (Anglican) and of course communion is such an important part of that.
So I was just wondering what others of your do about communion.
Also, I just have to say I felt such a relief after I took communion haven't done that in sooo long.
Idgie
Gidday Idgie
Can you just have the communion bread and bypass the wine or just lift the goblet and dont drink any? Have a yarn to the priest or minister about it.
Anytime i am back in church and feel obligated to go to communion i just take the bread and the last tme i done that was at mums funeral so im probably not very versed on the subject, and the priest if you yarn to them will probably put it into text real easy.
Light and love Zac
Can you just have the communion bread and bypass the wine or just lift the goblet and dont drink any? Have a yarn to the priest or minister about it.
Anytime i am back in church and feel obligated to go to communion i just take the bread and the last tme i done that was at mums funeral so im probably not very versed on the subject, and the priest if you yarn to them will probably put it into text real easy.
Light and love Zac
It's my experience that you can partake of the bread and "wave" the cup. I used to dip, but if you take the bread and cross your arms over your chest you will be passed. Of course, you could just tell the rector or priest that you wish to forgo the cup and see what he/she suggests.
My experience. Yours may differ.
My experience. Yours may differ.
I am a Catholic alcoholic, and in our Church, the bread is distributed by one person and the wine by another. I receive the bread, and just stop and bow as I pass the wine cup. I am sorry to be so ignorant of other Christian traditions that I can't offer you any specific advice as to what to do in the Angelican Church.
However, I think that Jesus loves you so much that He would never,ever want you to do anything to endanger or or interfer with your recovery, even drinking from the communion cup.
If you feel comfortable talking with your pastor, he could advise what is best for you. Church has helped me so much, and I know it wouldn't be as peaceful for me if I was concerned about any aspect of participation.
Keep close to Him!
HopefulOne
However, I think that Jesus loves you so much that He would never,ever want you to do anything to endanger or or interfer with your recovery, even drinking from the communion cup.
If you feel comfortable talking with your pastor, he could advise what is best for you. Church has helped me so much, and I know it wouldn't be as peaceful for me if I was concerned about any aspect of participation.
Keep close to Him!
HopefulOne
thanks for the feedback everyone.
Yes in our church the bread and cup are passed by different people also. Some people sip and some people dip.
I don't think I could "pretend" to sip that would seem kind of deceitful. I suppose you are getting only the tiniest bit of alcohol if you dip so that would be a better option.
I've never seen anyone bow and pass on the cup - ugghh that would seem so conspicuous. I will probably have to do as suggested and talk to the Father.
I do know one longtime sober AA member who does sip the communion wine and doesn't consider it a breach. I can ask around at a couple of meetings and see what people think. I guess in the end its a very personal choice.
But I was curious as to how others handled it. I'm sorry I don't know much about how catholics view communion, but as an Anglican because we don't do confession, communion is really your private confession where you're asking God's forgiveness for your sins.
peace all
Idgie
Yes in our church the bread and cup are passed by different people also. Some people sip and some people dip.
I don't think I could "pretend" to sip that would seem kind of deceitful. I suppose you are getting only the tiniest bit of alcohol if you dip so that would be a better option.
I've never seen anyone bow and pass on the cup - ugghh that would seem so conspicuous. I will probably have to do as suggested and talk to the Father.
I do know one longtime sober AA member who does sip the communion wine and doesn't consider it a breach. I can ask around at a couple of meetings and see what people think. I guess in the end its a very personal choice.
But I was curious as to how others handled it. I'm sorry I don't know much about how catholics view communion, but as an Anglican because we don't do confession, communion is really your private confession where you're asking God's forgiveness for your sins.
peace all
Idgie
HI Idgie - Sorry again that I don't know how things go in your church, but in my Church, tons of people actually bow and skip the wine for many reasons...in fact I used to do it sometimes even when I was drinking. Because we drink directly from the cup (no opportunity to simply dip the bread), our Bishop asks us NOT to drink if we are ill, even with a cold, so as not to spread germs, and also, for example, many elderly people and people with immune frailty choose not to receive from the cup so as not to become ill from possible germs. I go to Mass everyday, and I would say about half the congregagation at daily Mass skips the cup. I know not everyone there is sick, old, immune-deficient, or alcoholic, so there must be even more reasons for it - maybe people just don't like the taste of wine at 6:00 am! :) It is not obvious in our Church why anyone is skipping it. However, maybe it is in yours. Sorry if the suggestion seemed out of place with your tradition. Good luck talking to Father about it.
