Gluten intolerant?
If you are gluten intolerant, please know that we have gluten free (less than 0.01%) wafers. Just let an usher or Eucharistic minister know of your need.
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Liturgical Practices
At the "passing the peace" we generally shake hands and say "God's peace be with you," "“May the peace of the Lord be with you," or something similar. But, passing the peace need not involve physical contact. You can always simply greet people with a nod, make the sign of the peace with your hands, or bow.
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RECEIVING HOLY COMMUNION can be “in both kind” – that is by receiving the bread and wine – or by receiving only one. Medical experts agree that the danger of transmitting communicable diseases by sharing the chalice is negligible. All Episcopal churches use real wine; many, including St. James, use port. The high alcoholic content kills off almost all the germs, virus and microbes.
If you still felt uncomfortable using a common cup, either drinking from it or in by intinction (dipping the bread in the cup), don’t worry. Episcopalians believe Christ is equally present in both the consecrated bread and in the wine; “receiving one, the other, or both, get you no more (or less) in Christ’s presence.” If you prefer not to receive wine, simply cross your arms across your chest as the chalice bearer comes by.
HAND SANITIZERS are available at the back of the church and on the table in the hallway leading to the Parish Hall. Please feel free to use them. The Center for Disease Control recommends frequent hand washing with soap and warm/hot water as the best way to fight germs. Hand sanitizers are the next best alternative. In case you are wondering, there is a container of hand sanitizer at the altar which our Priests and Lay Eucharistic Ministers use, as appropriate, before handling Communion items. As one parish member commented, “Purell is the new Lavabo.” Don’t know what a Lavabo is? Ask one of the “old timers.” HINT: Lavabo "I shall wash"
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