The Link is published monthly at 40p (Senior Citizens 35p), and we deliver free within the parish and post copies (at the reader's expense) to those who request it. Please contact us if you would like a free copy for a trial period.
January 2002, Page 8 (top).
Index of articles.
Questions:
index,
God after 11.9,
Healing,
Special needs,
Choruses,
Common cup,
Evangelical.
In this issue:
(January 2002)
Vicar's Letter,
On the web,
Jelleys,
Electoral Roll,
Question,
Question.
In our "Questions to the clergy" slot, John will try to answer any query you throw at him, without hesitation, deviation or repetition...
Hygeine and the common cup
Q. Why do we still have a cup shared at communion when this is against food health and safety regulations?
A. Jesus lived in the days before modern hygeine, and the Last Supper followed the Passover Meal traditions in which a common cup was passed around those present. (His words over the wine were new, but passing the wine round was an ancient tradition.) Nowadays the Church thinks it is important to follow what Jesus did unless there are significant reasons not to.
When AIDS first came out, there was some study of the risks of sharing a common cup, and we were advised that the risk of cross-contamination was low provided we made sure the cup was (a) cold metal, (b) a shiny surface, (c) thoroughly wiped between each use by a previously unused part of the purificator, (d) any floating crumbs etc. were immediately removed or (e) if a contaminant became dispersed in the wine then that cup should immediately stop being used. It was also thought the alcohol in the wine reduced the risk.
Nothing is absolutely risk-free in life, but I feel the risk is sufficiently small to avoid worry.
John Hartley