Episcopal Voices

Episcopal Voices :: General :: Inquirer's Class :: First Communion? Author Topic: First Communion? (Read 1,165 times) Anne Guest First Communion? « Thread Started on Jan 27, 2007, 11:57am » We are considering leaving the Catholic church for more reasons than I have time to list. I have been to an Episcopal church a few times when visiting family out of time. They attend but I don't know that they are the best people to ask questions of. Since our daughter has been preparing for her first communion I am wondering whether the Episcopal church has a first communion ritual like the RCs or is it completely different. Thank you. Link to Post - Back to Top   Logged angli_fan Presiding Moderator member is offline Back In The Fight... Joined: Nov 2003 Gender: Male Posts: 1,212 Location: Diocese of Lexington, KY, USA Re: First Communion? « Reply #1 on Jan 28, 2007, 11:42pm » The short answer to your question is: the Episcopal Church currently holds a view of Holy Eucharist that is significantly different from my understanding of Roman practice. There is currently no specific ceremony or ritual surrounding one's 1st Communion. When I was growing up (in the 70's), my first Communion immediately followed Confirmation(i.e. the laying on of hands by a bishop for the reception/strengthening/increase of the Holy Spirit), so there was a ceremony of sorts. Today, the role of Confirmation is in a process of re-evaluation, and the emphasis is placed on the efficacy of Baptism for full membership in the Church. In other words, while Confirmation is still encouraged, it is no longer the gateway to the Eucharist. In almost all Episcopal churches in the U.S., any baptized person, of any age, is welcome to recieve the Eucharist. Assuming that all the members of your family have been baptized (in water, in the name of the Father/Son/H.Spirit), there is no reason why you could not all recieve the Eucharist together on your first Sunday in an Episcopal Church. You didn't ask, but it may (or may not) be useful to you to know that the Episcopal Church holds to the "real presence" view of the Eucharist. That is, we believe that Christ is "really present" in the bread and wine (i.e. it is not merely a memorial, as some of our Protestant brothers hold), but we do not define exactly *how* He is present. A large minority of Episcopalians (particularly former RC's) probably hold to transubstantiation; others hold a variety of alternative views. Hope that helps. Folks here will be happy to attempt to answer any other questions you have about the Episcopal way of doing things. Pax; angli_fan P.S.- Sorry to take so long to respond to your question; I was waiting to see if someone else wanted to take a crack at it first. P.P.S.- Welcome to Episcopal Voices! « Last Edit: Jan 29, 2007, 12:00am by angli_fan » Link to Post - Back to Top   Logged God, grant me the Grace to accept with Serenity the people I cannot change, the Courage to change the one I can, and the Wisdom to know it’s me. Patricia Lay Reader member is offline Joined: Mar 2005 Gender: Female Posts: 86 Location: California Re: First Communion? « Reply #2 on Feb 2, 2007, 1:23am » Hi Anne, welcome! I left the Roman Catholic church 3 years ago. Our elder daughter had already gone through the 2 years of catechism and made her FHCommunion by then. Therefore, it was a bit of a shock to the system to find out that the Episcopal church has no such thing. Your daughter is more than ready to receive communion. Our priest explained to me that when a toddler is old enough to reach for food and bring it to his/her mouth, he/she is old enough for communion. It is the parents' responsibility to teach the child the meaning of communion. (I like that idea.) Also, the child wasn't to feel excluded from communion. (Having felt that myself as a child, I liked that idea even more!) It took me a few months to get used to the idea that little sister wasn't going to get to wear the white dress I sewed for big sister's FHC. We tied in her very first communion with her 4th birthday, which also happened to be Pentecost Sunday, making it all the more memorable. Link to Post - Back to Top   Logged Anne Guest Re: First Communion? « Reply #3 on Feb 5, 2007, 11:43am » Thanks for the responses. I did not know that Episcopal's also believe in Christ's actual presence in the Eucharist. I do not subscribe to the RC view of that. I must admit that the idea of my daughter not wearing the first communion dress that is hanging in the closet would sadden me. I feel so shallow about that but it is a ritual that I went through and always assumed my daughter would as well. I appreciate your help on that. I looked into it on other sites and found no info. Link to Post - Back to Top   Logged srigdon Eucharistic Assistant member is offline Joined: Feb 2006 Gender: Male Posts: 203 Location: San Diego, California Re: First Communion? « Reply #4 on Feb 5, 2007, 5:28pm » Hi Anne, Regarding the 'presence' of Christ in the Eucharist, you've hit on one of the things that some people are arguing about in the Episcopal Church at the moment. I'm not quite sure where this 'real presence' notion came from, and haven't figured out exactly what those words are supposed to mean. I don't see any reference to it in either of our two most recent catechisms (1928 and 1979). The 1801 articles of faith explicitly dismiss 'transubstantiation'. (If I have missed an important reference, somebody will probably point it out.) Here are some things to read if you are interested. Go to http://justus.anglican.org/resources/bcp/formatted_1979.htm This page supplies online version of the so-called Book of Common Prayer for the Episcopal Church. Various editions have been published (most recently in 1928 and 1979). In the 1979 book, given on this page, you can look at the "Catechism" on p. 845 and the 1801 "Articles of Religion" starting on p. 867. Eucharist is discussed on p. 859 and p. 873. The assertions in the 'catechism' are not as broad and firm as they used to be, and some people in the Episcopal Church are not happy about that. You can poke through earlier prayer books on this web page as well. If you want it to be a special day for you daughter, I don't see why you can't make it one. While the church allows any baptized person to receive, it also doesn't force children to receive if their parents would prefer to wait until they are a little older. I remember my first communion back in the 80s - my father just said one day, well, why don't you join us today. So if you want to dress your daughter up that day, I don't think anybody is going to look askance at you. Sidney Link to Post - Back to Top   Logged You shall not lend upon interest to your brother, interest on money, interest on victuals, interest on anything that is lent for interest. - Deuteronomy 23:19 Patricia Lay Reader member is offline Joined: Mar 2005 Gender: Female Posts: 86 Location: California Re: First Communion? « Reply #5 on Feb 11, 2007, 5:09pm » Quote: So if you want to dress your daughter up that day, I don't think anybody is going to look askance at you. Oh goodness, no, of course no one would. Li'l Sis was only 4 when she received Communion, and so couldn't wear Big Sis' dress sized for a 7 or 8yo. But if she could have fit, you betcha she would have worn it for the big day! I had even gotten the priest's permission beforehand (he knows I'm a scrapbooker) to quickly step back from the rail to take a picture of her receiving the host. The note I asked him to jot down later now sits next to that precious photo in her scrapbook. So yes, you can make the day as much of a celebration as you'd like. Enjoy! « Last Edit: Feb 11, 2007, 5:14pm by Patricia » Link to Post - Back to Top   Logged Bill Guest Re: First Communion? « Reply #6 on Mar 13, 2009, 4:53pm » Good Points __________________________ mmorpg Link to Post - Back to Top   Logged Shelley Guest Re: First Communion? « Reply #7 on Jun 1, 2009, 10:18am » The Episcopal Church we attend (like others) invites all baptised Christians, regardless of age, to participate in the Eucharist. They also offer a Communion class to all 2nd graders in which they study various aspects of the Eucharist so that the children can appreciate and understand the relevance of the various aspects of the Eucharist. The class takes place on Sundays Feb thru May. On Pentecost Sunday the class sits together in the front pew and are invited to be the first to take Communion, as a class. They enter in pairs behind the choir and each child was presented with a cross on a necklace. Link to Post - Back to Top   Logged Rebecca Guest Re: First Communion? « Reply #8 on Aug 25, 2009, 6:35pm » I have grown up an Episcopalian and in fact my father is an Episcopal priest. My husband is RC, but we have attended an Episcopal church for many years, though just recently moved and are at a new church, as of 8 months ago. My son is 2 and our new priest has been encouraging us to allow him to take communion when he shows interest. We feel he has actually been a bit pushy about it. We have explained that we did not realize the Episcopal church no longer did First Communion as a special event for a child - of say 5 or 6 years old. I had First Communion as a child in the early 80's. My Dad explained that the practice changed in the late 70's, but when I had mine, I guess things were still in the progression. Anyway, my husband and I are conflicted on what to do. As the other gal mentioned, it seems un-important, but it is sad to us that this is no longer a class and then a special Sunday service. I really prefer to attend the Episcopal church and am happy my husband enjoys our church, as well. Neither of us want to convert to the other's faith, though. I have too many issues with the RC's and my husband would never officially leave the RC church. However, this has been a difficult situation for us and have wondered whether we should have our son have FC at the RC church. He is actually baptised an RC, because my husband really wanted it and being an Episcopalian, it was easier for me to let that go than it was for him! My goodness, the marriage of two religions sure makes life hard sometimes! Any advise? Link to Post - Back to Top   Logged Canadian Phil Saint member is offline Joined: Nov 2003 Gender: Male Posts: 721 Location: Toronto, ON Re: First Communion? « Reply #9 on Aug 26, 2009, 2:31pm » Hi Rebecca; Welcome to EV! I can only offer my own opinion and my experience as a father of a nearly three year old. My wife are both Anglicans (so, members of the Anglican Church of Canada), so there is no conflict there, although my wife is half-Mennonite. That has raised an issue around infant baptism and our compromise was to have a Thanksgiving for the Gift of a Child ceremony (there are rubrics for this) when he was six or so months old. So, he isn't baptised yet. Our plan is to baptize him when he's a bit older (say over five or six) and when he can articulate that he wants to. I know that that scenario doesn't help you in your dilemma, but I will say that, in your special circumstances, I wouldn't let myself feel rushed to make any decision right now about how to handle a First Communion. To that end, I would consider speaking to your priest, explaining what your difficulties are and involving him in coming up with a solution that your husband and you can live with. It may, also, get him to back off a bit when making recommendions about taking communion (personally, I think two is a bit young, but that might just be me). As for the issue about First Communion, there are multiple options. The first is that, on the day that the three of you decide for a first communion at your church, you could look for ways to make the day special for yourselves. That doesn't involve the community as much as it should, I know, but it is one reaction. A second is to do the First Communion at the RC church. It is still valid in the eyes of the Episcopalian Church and he was baptized there. What is missing here is also the community involvement. There may also be some expectations from the RC church about prep courses and they may not take it kindly that you don't intend to attend an RC church after this. Again, best to up front here with the priests you deal with to see what their comfort level is. I hope this helps. Peace, Phil Link to Post - Back to Top   Logged si Deus pro nobis quis contra nos srigdon Eucharistic Assistant member is offline Joined: Feb 2006 Gender: Male Posts: 203 Location: San Diego, California Re: First Communion? « Reply #10 on Aug 26, 2009, 2:35pm » Why don't you be a little pushy right back and ask for a special public first communion blessing? The rector at my parish did just such a special thing for such a child recently. We're blessing lots of things in the Episcopal Church these days - why not children at their first communion? Tell him this is the church which accommodates people for who they are, doesn't try to tell them what to do, and grants a lot of local leeway to local needs. Use a phrase like 'local pastoral discretion.' Just because the church General Convention didn't authorize a blessing for First Communion doesn't mean he can't do it - this sort of thing goes on all the time. Don't take no for an answer, and let us know how it goes. I also agree with Phil that 2 is a little young. Sidney « Last Edit: Aug 26, 2009, 2:37pm by srigdon » Link to Post - Back to Top   Logged You shall not lend upon interest to your brother, interest on money, interest on victuals, interest on anything that is lent for interest. - Deuteronomy 23:19 gworley Acolyte member is offline Joined: Sept 2009 Gender: Male Posts: 1 Re: First Communion? « Reply #11 on Sept 7, 2009, 11:51pm » Life without first communion by comparison to the time of the Church is been a very short one. However, I am glad that we do not do first communion as a official rite as I believe the table should be open to everyone who is baptized regardless of age. I personally would welcome anyone at the table. In my Episcopal Church, there are just about as many beliefs about the bread and wine as there are people. We have those who believe in Transubstantiation (That the bread and wine become the body and blood of Jesus Christ) We have those who believe in Consubstantiation (That body and blood of Jesus Christ are present in the bread and wine) We have those who believe that the elements are only bread and wine and what we do is in remembrance of what Jesus Christ did at the last supper. We have those that believe that the elements are just bread and wine until they are consumed by a "believer" then they become the body and blood of Jesus Christ. If a none believer partook of the bread and wine, all they would be getting as bread and wine. To me these things are a mystery and I will not say that any one of them is wrong. I believe that both the bread and wine are present with the body and blood of Jesus Christ. George Link to Post - Back to Top   Logged Forum Jump--------------------» Home--------------------» General--------------------- Inquirer's Class- General Episcopal Discussion- Episcopal Voices Archive

GoStats stats counter

DISCLAIMER: Episcopal Voices is a public forum and, as such, all messages are the responsibility of the individual authors. Opinions expressed do not necessarily represent the opinions of the forum manager, Proboards, Topcities, the ECUSA, the Anglican Communion, or Christians in general. Any original material posted belongs to the author, and permission should be sought from the author before publishing it elsewhere. Posters should exercise caution when using previously published material; forum manager is not responsible for copyright violations made by individual posters. Please be sure you have permission to use material not in the public domain.

	Web episcopalvoices.proboards.com