Episcopal Church

[donnA]

Does anyone know anything about the Episcopal church? I heard some strange stuff today that came straight from people who have been there.
Lets, see, the woman priest when asked what the difference between the Episcopal church and RCC is replied, it's the Catholic church without the guilt.
At their dinners they have the usual food table, and then an alcohol table. With assorted alcoholic beverages, including beer. Many were drunk. The wife of the couple who told us this was at a baby shower earlier this year that was held by the church and they even served alcohol there, plain or mixed the iced tea. She said these women were drunk. ( as were many at the dinner(those not drunk were drinking), 2 of which were state policemen in uniform).
At the worship service they had communion(the couple refused to participate), everyone went up got there bread and wine, and when done the priest is expected to consume the rest. So there she stands cramming these wafers in her mouth and drinking down wine, and followed that by the leftover holy water, pouring it on her hands and licking it off so as not to waste anything holy.
At this point I was ready to cry, they took the communion(Lord's supper) and turned it into something horrid and ugly, and it is to have meaning, and demeaned it. I just can't dwell on this.
So anyway, we wanted to know if this is the usual, if this what they believe through out their church or if this some local oddity?

 

[LeBuick]

What the problem is??? </Martin Lawrence>

I know a little and yes, consumtion of alcohol as long as you don't get drunk is acceptable.

The communion, the bread is symbolic of the body of Christ. It is broken for many then consumed by all so that each of us partake a part of his body. The theory is what is left over is also his body and is part of the body. I've never seen this angle of trying to consume the rest but it is in their ideology to not leave parts of the body unconsummed. I believed it was done by only breaking enough for everyone there but I guess I was wrong.

 

[donnA]

They get drunk on a regular bases, after all they are "catholic without the guilt", and to stand there and act like she did with that bread and wine, even pouring more wine, with bread crumbs stuck to her face, and licking her hand and fingers, disgusts me to no end, these people know nothing about Christ, if they did they would not stand for degrading of Him and His sacrifice.

 

[Chemnitz]

I do not doubt that the Episcopal church has all sorts of problems, but I am sensing an exageration of what happened. Of course, you lasted longer than I would. I would have seen the lady get up there and left. Quite frankly your first clue that things were not right at that church was the fact there was a woman acting like a pastor.

It is the practice of many church bodies to consume all of the remaining elements as a sign of respect because they do not want to throw into the garbage that which has been set aside by God for his use.

 

[donnA]

Chemnitz, I was not the one there, my son and his wife were. And no, the drunkness was not an exageration, believe me my son knows the difference as a recovering alcholic. When people are slurring the speech, and staggering, they are drunk. Isn't everything in the church set apart for God's use? thats why it's there. This woman licked her fingers and hand, poured more wine, not just what was in the cup already.
There is no respect in this act, but a complete disrespect. I was sickened hearing about it, and it's even worse then what I can retell here.

 

[LeBuick]

When people are slurring the speech, and staggering, they are drunk..

You sure they just wasn't full of the spirit or speaking in tongues?


Seriously, wasn't the Episcapal Church the one that allowed the Gay Pastor?

 

[tragic_pizza]

So... your accusations are based on second- and thirdhand accounts?

OK.

:BangHead:

You got your explanation from LeBiuck.

 

[Chemnitz]

I'm with tragic pizza on this, please refrain from such complaining. If you weren't there then you cannot complain and expect us to take you seriously. To be honest it is no better than gossiping.

 

[Jim1999]

Having grown up in the Church of England, I assure this is not the practice of the church. There are always oddballs in any group, including some Baptists.

The wine does not have to be consumed if there is excess left over. There is a procedure to bless the wine, seal the bottle and store it away.

The Anglican Church has its share of oddities in this day and age, but drunkenness is not one of them.

Cheers,

Jim

 

[donnA]

Gossiping, complaining, I asked if anyone knew anything about them and if this was the usual, or just this church. I guess whenever people ask questions here they are gossiping. I will not make the mistake of trusting the baptist board again. You have called me a liar, you have called my son and daughter in law a liar. I do not appreciate it.

 

[Jim1999]

Donna, you are taking some remarks far too personal. I don't think anyone is calling you a liar...I know that all I said was this was not the norm of the church, anymore that the Bishop who denies the deity of Christ. Yes what you said prolly did happen, but again, it is not the norm, or teaching of the Church of England.

Cheers,

Jim

 

[LeBuick]

Did she really drink the holy water? Isn't that where everyone washed their hands? She sounds like a nut!

 

[FriendofSpurgeon]

Sounds like an aberration to me.

I've often heard Episcopalians joking refer to themselves as "Catholic Light." It is meant as a joke.

Episcopalians, like many other Christian denominations, use real wine in communion rather than grape juice.

Episcopalians have never taken up the cause of temperance. Its members are free to drink alcohol within moderation. Thus, it would not surprise me for alcohol to be served in the fellowship hall, though it would surprise me for someone to get drunk.

Just like all denominations, there are "good" Episcopal churches and then there are others.

 

[Debby in Philly]

I have heard of a method of disposal of sacraments and blessed water that involves something like a sink, usually quite decorative, that simply empties out directly under ground. Like "burying" the leftovers out of respect rather than flushing it into the sewage system. or garbage. I forget what it's called, however. Maybe Jim knows.

 

[ZeroTX]

I would have seen the lady get up there and left. Quite frankly your first clue that things were not right at that church was the fact there was a woman acting like a pastor.

Ditto.

As for the other things, I agree that there is likely substantial exaggeration, especially claiming that uniformed police officers were drunk. However, as far as actually consuming alcohol, it is not sinful, though drunkenness can and often is sinful.

As for how she was treating the Eucharist, I cannot comment. As a Catholic, we do consider the Blessed Sacrament to be the ACTUAL Body and Blood of Christ, therefore none is wasted or thrown away. However, the Body (the Consecrated Hosts or "wafers" to be crude) are normally stored in a special holy vessel called the Tabernacle, which is kept in the sanctuary of the church. It is then used at the next mass or communion service. The wine (which is the Precious Blood of Christ), however, MUST be consumed, so if the priest overestimated the wine, then it must be consumed on the spot. This is the teaching and tradition of the Church which evidently is still believed by the Protestant Episcopals as well. However, I've never, ever heard of the Body (Consecrated Hosts) having to be completely consumed at mass, but I'm not Anglican/Episcopal and much of the tradition of the Church has been lost or desecrated by the Anglicans (e.g. female clergy).

God bless,

Michael

 

[Chemnitz]

I have heard of a method of disposal of sacraments and blessed water that involves something like a sink, usually quite decorative, that simply empties out directly under ground. Like "burying" the leftovers out of respect rather than flushing it into the sewage system. or garbage. I forget what it's called, however. Maybe Jim knows.

We are not Episcopalian but we have one in our sacristy, can't think of the name :BangHead: but yes it does drain right into the ground. I don't think we any idea of a burial rather attempting to treat the elements with respect. Now we only do this with the left over wine in the chalice; we reuse anything that was left in the flagen.

DonnA, I wouldn't have cared if you simply asked about disposal practices or even practices concerning alcohol in church but you had a lot of editorial comments in your posts and that is what I objected too.

 

[tragic_pizza]

Gossiping, complaining, I asked if anyone knew anything about them and if this was the usual, or just this church. I guess whenever people ask questions here they are gossiping. I will not make the mistake of trusting the baptist board again. You have called me a liar, you have called my son and daughter in law a liar. I do not appreciate it.

No, I didn't. I merely pointed out the inadvisability of making assumptions based upon the related experiences of others.

Perhaps until you grow a thicker skin, you should refrain from using the internet at all.

 

[donnA]

Maybe you should refrain from insulting people. Which you seem to do so well, well practiced I assume.

 

[donnA]

We are not Episcopalian but we have one in our sacristy, can't think of the name :BangHead: but yes it does drain right into the ground. I don't think we any idea of a burial rather attempting to treat the elements with respect. Now we only do this with the left over wine in the chalice; we reuse anything that was left in the flagen.

DonnA, I wouldn't have cared if you simply asked about disposal practices or even practices concerning alcohol in church but you had a lot of editorial comments in your posts and that is what I objected too.

You can object all you want,but what they did is some of the most horrid I've ever heard of.

 

[donnA]

I can not appreciate being repeatedly called a liar on the baptist board, you people have something wrong with you when [people can not ask questions and receive decent answers without being called a liar.