Liturgy Lesson for the Second Sunday after Christmas: Taking Communion Worthily
January 2, 2010
In orthodox Anglican practice, unconfirmed members need to be confirmed before receiving Holy Communion, although they are welcome at the rail for a blessing at the hands of the celebrant in any Holy Communion service. That being said, since our confirmations only take place once a year, our supervising bishop has granted permission for the rector to admit baptized members to Communion. This may take place for anyone who has been baptized, but not confirmed, after a simple interview to make sure the baptized person understands the gravity of the Sacrament—with the understanding they are to be trained and confirmed as soon as possible. This is so important that we deliver the Exhortation, taken from our Book of Common Prayer, to all our members three times a year—after the Prayer for the Whole State of Christ’s Church, in the Holy Communion service. It includes these words: “For as the benefit is great, if with a true penitent heart and lively faith we receive that holy Sacrament; so is the danger great [emphasis mine], if we receive the same unworthily. In the case of children, our job is to make sure they are taught and can fully grasp what the Holy Communion (and all our Christian practice) is about. Our duty as a parish (family), is to protect and teach the children, raising them up—as Scripture teaches—in the “way they should go,” to establish Godly patterns for their adult life, while protecting them from making unhealthy choices—of all kinds!
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