Sharing the Peace (Coronavirus)

At Mass this morning we still had people shaking hands at the Sign of Peace, and Holy Communion under both kinds, bread and wine.
However I see that our Diocese has today issued instructions against this, also for emptying the Holy Water fonts.
The annual pilgrimage to Lourdes at Easter has been cancelled.

I would stick to receiving the host, and hope as a Catholic that anyone receiving the body of Christ had washed their hands well before coming to Mass.

Trust in God, but use common sense too. Corona is spread by droplets. If something could potentially be contaminated by droplets, don't touch it..I can share love, compassion and joy without touching corona virus.

We were given the same request to avoid intinction for the reasons listed above. There has never been a proven case of any disease passing through the communion cup, a study was done a while ago on this.

www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2005-jan-01-me-beliefs1-story.html

Church goers risk catching others bugs simply by gathering together, as in a cinema, theatre or supermarket. A sensible precaution would be to wash your hands well after the service, but at present there is no Covid-19 in the community, and unless and until it becomes widespread I will be happy to shake hands, hug friends, and behave as I normally would, just washing hands more often and more thoroughly than normal.

It is sad how much fear is being whipped up by the press. As of today there are 36 people infected out of a population of 70 million, and they are under observation and isolation.

If a friend of mine is having a tough time and in need of a hug they will get one!

The Diocese of London info looks much stricter than anything I have read. Our clergy have certainly not announced that intinction should not be carried out. I started doing it when it was the last health crisis, not sure if that was swine flu, bird flu, whatever. If the concerns about coronavirus worsen, I shall probably just eat the wafer.

At Quaker Meeting for Worship we shake hands at the end to signify the close of worship. The lady next to me busied herself with her drink of water and smiled at me. Unusual. I also noticed someone sneeze into her sleeve rather than her hand. This virus is changing our behaviour.

From the Diocese of London

Do not intinct. Because hands can be as much a source of pathogens as lips, intinction is no safer than drinking and can introduce germs into the cup. Intinction (dipping the bread into the wine) can also threaten those with certain immune or allergic conditions. For instance, those with gluten intolerance for whom traces of gluten can be hazardous are at greater risk when other communicants have dipped their communion wafer into the wine.

You are right Calendargirl, it does not forbid intinction, but it is a stern admonition. Certainly in our church clergy announce that it must not be done!
Diocese does not have any advice about the Peace. ?

We never share the Peace anyway. We never adopted it - the older members of the congregation at the time were horrified at the idea. We're just a small community who all greet each other and care for each other, so we see it as unnecessary. It wastes an awful lot of time with bigger congregations where people wander about shaking hands or - shock, horror!!! - hugging each other. There are better and more practical ways of showing Christian charity.

As for the chalice - the 'common cup' - we may have to stop that for a while and intinction isn't recommended. The reasons others have given are good ones for not doing that. I always understood that the chalice is normally made of silver because that does not harbour germs. I'm not sure that it would resist the coronavirus. However, the proximity to others, both in the pews and at the altar rail may be more dangerous!

We mostly have Prayer Book services, not Common Worship so the Peace doesn’t occur. There are worshippers who at a CW service do not ever shake hands, just nod their head.

I dipped my wafer this morning (just the very tip so my fingers were nowhere near the wine in the chalice). Normally I never do this and afterwards berated myself for doing this so soon. I recall doing so during the Swine Fever epidemic.

Several of our congregation are gluten intolerant, there are gluten-free wafers and a separate chalice for them.

Brings back memories of the 80’s , the fear of AIDS, there were calls for Gays not to take the Sacrament.

At our service today we did no handshaking during the peace , just nodding and speaking to each other. For the first time also only the bread was taken no wine given. It’s never happened before in all the years I’ve taken communion, it felt very odd

As for gluten, valid point, but never been brought up before to my knowledge.

Purpledaffodil

Yes, I know what ‘intinction’ is, I thought others might not. In the guidance from the Church of England re the corona virus, it says that intinction is ‘not recommended’. Nowhere does it say it is totally forbidden, at least in anything I’ve read. Cannot speak for others, but am always careful that my fingers do not touch the wine, just my own wafer. I still think there is less chance of picking anything up than lips on the chalice.

Calendar girl that is totally forbidden. It’s proper name is intincting and it is said that a portion of germy finger touching the wine would be far worse than a sip. There is also the problem of gluten entering the chalice for those with allergies.
Hand gel for servers and clergy also obligatory. ?

I ‘dipped’ my wafer which is what I always do anyhow, but it barely touched the wine. Most did it the usual way. I’m never very keen on sharing the chalice, which sounds very unchristian I know.

However peace carried on as usual.

And what about the chalice? This morning about half congregation only took the wafer which is perfectly acceptable according to London Diocese. I was bolder(more foolhardy?) but I think if I had underlying health problems I wouldn’t.

It was the same at our Church this morning, and it did feel strange.
Folk were offering their hand, then almost snatching it back.
(I must admit to kissing my lovely friend, on the cheek, as I normally do)
The touch on the shoulder seems a perfect solution.

Wear gloves. I don't go anywhere without them. Especially handling money ( loose change with their germ traps )

I think it was across denominations too.

The "no handshake" suggestion came from senior clergy. I read it in my news feed earlier this week.

The touch on the shoulder seems perfect as it is also a gesture of comfort.