Preaching Goes Viral

Liturgical Adjustments Due to COVID-19

Communion, when COVID-adapted

[OLD] Accept or reject public health guidelines

Preservation of human health and life, as a priority

Studies by the CDC and other medical authorities have concluded that “the risk for infectious disease transmission by a common communion cup is very low, and appropriate safeguards – that is, wiping the interior and exterior rim between communicants, use of care to rotate the cloth during use, and use of a clean cloth for each service – would further diminish this risk.” At the Cathedral, we will incorporate those safeguards. Those who nonetheless chose not to receive from the common cup can trust that Jesus’ offering of himself is complete in the Bread. The practice of intinction, that is, dipping the consecrated Bread into the Wine, runs the risk of inserting fingers into the Wine. We will not allow intinction during the current health crisis. Similarly, ministers will not distribute Communion on the tongue because of the risk of contaminating the fingers of the minister.

2022-12-16

h1647

The Cathedral Church of Saint John the Divine