Hertingfordbury Parish News: April 2003
Questions I have been asked (3)
Why do you wait for the server to return before you put the candle you are holding into the candlestick? The candles on the Altar represent the Epistle and the Gospel Readings. The Epistle candle should always be lit before the Gospel candle. Our candles are lit at the back of the Church and are carried as part of the Offertory Procession. When they are presented, the Server is usually placing the monetary offering behind the altar, so I wait until she returns and we place them in the candlesticks together. The Gospel candle should never stand alone; at the end of the Service the Gospel light is extinguished first for this same reason. What do you say when you pour the water into the chalice and when you go to the side of the Sanctuary? When pouring the water into the Chalice I say: "May this water mingled with this wine grant unto us the Divinity of Christ" meaning, may we drink this and be renewed with the gift of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Before using the Eucharistic Prayer my hands are washed in order that I may touch the Host which is 'The Body of Christ', with fingers that are not tarnished. I say: "Wash me from my iniquity save me from all my sins". Why do you and those who administer the Bread and the Wine eat and drink what is left? Once the Wafers and the Wine has been Consecrated they have to be kept separated. We do not have an Aumbrey or a Tabernacle (a special place for the Consecrated Sacrament elements to be reserved for the sick at home or in hospital). So they must be consumed at the end of each Service of Holy Communion. If the number of Communicants has been over estimated the Priest and Server consume the remaining Wafers; any wine left in the Chalices is (in our church) consumed by those who have administered. (The office of administration is conferred by The Bishop) The Chalices are rinsed with fresh water which I drink and the Chalices are wiped dry, the Patten on which the Priest's Host (Wafer) has been placed and the Cibhorrium, in which the People's Wafers have been housed are wiped clean of any crumbs; then they are taken through to the vestry at the end of the Service, washed and put away. Rev'd RosemaryPlease note: Although the Hertingfordbury Parish News is produced by St. Mary's PCC, the opinions expressed by contributors are not necessarily those of the PCC.