04 March 2009

A question from my Mum

What would you do if you SAW the elderly minister spit copiously all over the bread and wine just before the communion was served?

I need an answer.

The bread & wine is coming. It's your turn next.

16 comments:

♥ Boomer ♥ said...

I take it that it was his spittle as he talked?

Not that it makes it any easier...

Focusing is always difficult, but most especially in that circumstance!

Jen said...

Yuck. I am sorry but I would not partake.

Femina said...

I would sit down again. Actually I'd probably dash off to the toilet for a bit so it wasn't so obvious why I was leaving the communion rail, but for sure I wouldn't take it. I won't even use a common cup; I think they're disgusting. We have a choice of wine in the common cup or grape juice in individual cups, which you can take from a table on your way to the communion rail/distribution point. I like that system!

Heather said...

I'm with Femina; I'd invent some sort of bathroom emergency or start fake-coughing strenuously enough that I needed to excuse myself from the sanctuary asap and not come back 'til my row was safely back in their seats.

We had two methods of Communion at my last church - half the time it was the little, bitty individual cups, and the other half was the dipping into the communal cup. I cannot tell you how many times folks would drop their bread into the communal cup and then go fishing around in the cup to pull it out again, like three or four fingers just mixing it all about. And we're Methodists so this was grape juice, not wine - no chance of any alcohol to help combat the fingery germs.

Ew.

Anonymous said...

lol please tell me that question wasnt the result of an actual experience?!?!?!!? lol :)

Sassy Britches said...

I'd claim a compromised immune system due to a cold or something, and remain in the pew. That is revolting!

Swift Jan said...

I like the toilet idea....

Though it is communion.... I am not sure I could do it though...

Thank goodness for the system at our church, it remains covered until ready to serve!

CynthiaK said...

Nope. Couldn't do it. Although, it is easier for me to say this since I don't have to deal with communion...

Hippomanic Jen said...

I think I'd let it go past, risking the pastoral visit later in the week to talk about why I wasn't 'good' enough this week to take it.

But I'm not certain I could just let everyone else (who might not have seen the slagin' dragon incident from the back) just take it without knowing.

But at the same time, I don't think I could interrupt communion either.

Maybe I'd fake the coughing OVER the elements, then everyone else would be sickened by me, and it wouldn't matter if they'd seen the minister spit or not.

Givinya De Elba said...

Taking one for the team. Wow Jen.

Long dark hair, blue eyes said...

I don't know about the "should do" but I know what I would do - take the bread and wine because I wouldn't be able to work out another option in time. Then I will feel a little bit sick in my stomach after eating it.

Joy said...

I would have to excuse myself that round. I know God would understand.

Joy

tinsenpup said...

Convert to another religion. Buddhism might be nice, although not technically a religion. Maybe just a different denomination. Episcopalian? Mennonite?

GreenJello said...

Announce suddenly that I'm a recovered alcoholic, and that I'm gluten-sensitive. Therefore, I can no longer eat the bread or drink the wine.

stefanie said...

Hmmm.

Once, when I used to work in a jewelry store, I was helping a customer and at the exact moment when my tongue felt a need to lick my lips, his felt a need to fling a bit of spittle my way. His spittle hit my lip a split second before my tongue hit the same place.

I survived.

And felt oddly connected to him.

I'm just saying.

Allegro ma non troppo said...

I have a BETTER question. What if you were one of the disciples and you saw JESUS spit all over the bread and wine before he said "Take and eat"?

Perhaps that's the real reason Judas left...