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From: mangoe@umcp-cs.UUCP (Charley Wingate)
Newsgroups: net.religion
Subject: Re: Customs surrounding the Eucharist ...
Message-ID: <757@umcp-cs.UUCP>
Date: Mon, 5-Nov-84 18:59:36 EST
Article-I.D.: umcp-cs.757
Posted: Mon Nov  5 18:59:36 1984
Date-Received: Thu, 8-Nov-84 19:41:58 EST
References: <1196@hou4b.UUCP>
Reply-To: mangoe@maryland.UUCP (Charley Wingate)
Organization: U of Maryland, Computer Science Dept., College Park, MD
Lines: 34
Summary: Describes Presbyterian and Episcopal practices

[What! A discussion assuming the validity of Christianity?!?]

Being currently an Episcopalian, and formerly a Presbyterian, I will
attempt to describe practices in these churches.  I suspect that Anglican
practice is in general like Episcopal practice.

In the Episcopal Eucharist, the preist is normally vested in the same
manner as his Roman counterpart (alb, stole, chasible).  He normally
distributes the bread, which can be either wafers or bread (not necessarily
unleavened); "lay readers" or members of the congregation adminster the cup,
which contains wine.  Yes, all you sanitation people, we all drink out of the
same cup.  The congregation always takes communion in both kinds, unless
they refuse one kind or the other; any baptized christian (of any
denomination) is allowed to partake in most parishes; Lutherans are
specifically authorized to take communion regardless of diocesian practice.
Confirmation is not required, and quite small children regularly take
communion.  It is unlawful for a priest to celebrate communion without at
least 2 other communicants.

In the Presbyterian church, grape juice is normally used, put in little
shot glasses, with little unleavened biscuits.  The vestments are the
usual genere-protestant robes.  The elders of the congregations distribute
communion; only communicants (equivalent to having been confirmed in the
episcopal denominations) partake.  While forms similar to the Episcopal/
Lutheran/Roman services are available, the one I've seen is quite different,
and like most Presbyterian services, has little or no congregational
response.  Presbyterian churches normally have communion only 5 times a year,
once each quarter and on Maundy Thursday; sometimes there is communion on
other occaisions.

I apologize if I have the Presbyterians wrong; it's been a while, and my
sample isn't especially large.

Charley Wingate    umcp-cs!mangoe