Swine Flu and Church Life
13th September 2009
After consulting with other clergy in the Huntingdon Deanery, I have decided to restore the use of the chalice at communion. Please feel free to receive communion in any of the following ways:
- by receiving the chalice into your own hands and drinking directly from it
- by allowing the chalice administrator to present the chalice to your mouth (possibly with your hands to guide it)
- by intinction (dipping the wafer into the wine)
- receiving only the consecrated bread, and not taking the wine in any form
Please note that you should feel entirely at liberty to follow any of the above ways, and if you choose not to receive the chalice, receiving the bread alone is still full communion.
Please also feel free to shake hands at the Peace - or not to do so if you are concerned about possible infection - and to shake the minister's hand after the service.
Alcohol gel is available by the South door for use before, during or after the service if you wish.
If swine flu returns in force in the autumn, or if it mutates into a more virulent form, we may have to change our response accordingly once again. Please speak to me if you have any concerns or questions.
David Busk
We believe that the Parish Church of Saint Mary the Virgin, Godmanchester, exists to build up the individual and corporate spiritual life of our Church and to spread the love of Christ through word and deed, by enabling those who live and work within our town to come into contact with God’s love and come to faith in Christ.