POST THE HOST RECEIVES A GOOD CRITIQUE FROM ANGLICAN PARISH WEB SITE
Mr David Brown of Holy Trinity Church, Bishop’s Stortford writes “ My seven year old son, Gabriel , was very interested and wanted to join in. Gabriel is not confirmed and does not normally receive communion, but considering the highly inclusive nature of this new ministry, I didn’t feel that I should deny him. So we suggled up together with a laptop and watched the “Singing Mass”. After about 8 minutes ++Jonathan tells us “please now receive the consecrated Host”. So we did –it was a lovely moment.”
Jon Durrant comments about Post the Host. “ Brilliant. Great idea to bring innovation to the Church”
A Christian from Belgium wrote "I feel I should write to you . I am a Christian, and just read the article on the consecrated wafer and home made masses and find it a great idea. I want to congratulate you on this."
Post the Host has been contacted from Italy, Canada, Holland, Belgium, the Netherlands and Germany.
Nearly 1000 Hosts have been distributed.
Reasons for receiving. The housebound. Outreach. Preparation for surgery. Parish Church only providing a monthly Mass. Personal Devotion. For Personal Chapel.
Due to demand, consecrated wine is also now available.
Post the Host has also begun distributing on the streets:
The first orders have been received. The very first was for an elderly woman preparing to have major surgery this week who wanted to receive the sacrament before going into hospital. Having settled on packaging and sent the first orders out we have set the cost of the service to £2 for all orders up to 100 Hosts.
PRESS RELEASE JUNE 7TH
We are approaching Pentecost and the commemoration of the arrival of God's Holy Spirit in this world. The disciples were compelled on to the streets to speak about Jesus to those that had gathered from many nations. Two weeks later it is the feast of Corpus Christi, a day which commemorates the supreme gift of the institution by Jesus Christ of the Holy Eucharist. In Roman Catholic churches the feast day will be known as the "Body and Blood of the Lord Jesus Christ" and throughout most of world-wide Christendom there will be a celebration of this institution of communion in some way.
Yet what will those same churches do with the Eucharist? The answer is that they will consecrate the bread and the wine in private ceremonies and will only allow a select few to share in the feast. Any bread that is left over will be reserved in locked tabernacles or aumbries and the majority of people will be denied the bread of Christ, the very bread of life.
Inclusive church asks why. Why can those of a different sexual persuasion not take communion in some churches? Why is this bread denied to the divorcee in others? Why do you have to be a card carrying member of some particular churches to share in theircommunion? Why do some other churches refuse to accept, or allow their members to share in, the communion of another church?
Inclusive church believes that there is a better way, the way that Jesus intended. A way that allows all women, men and children to take part in the Eucharistic feast without exception. Jesus did not turn anyone away, so why should the churches? This is not some new cranky religious idea but a core instruction given by Jesus himself whose own ministry was radically inclusive, challenging social, cultural, and religious traditions and beliefs which had the effect of devaluing any human being.
In a culture where tax collectors were corrupt and despised, he broke bread and shared it with them (9:9-13 asked, "Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?" Yet daily, many of our established churches of the 21st century continue to turn the tax collectors, anyone who they perceive to be sinners, away from the Eucharistic table and away from the presence of Jesus himself.
Inclusive church, in the form of the Post the Host ministry, will launch its new website on Corpus Christi Sunday, the 14th June 2009, with its new website at www.postthehost.net.
Post the Host is a not for profit ministry sponsored by the Open Episcopal Church and will be an ongoing means whereby all, without exception, are able to share in the life of the church and will be able to take communion wherever and whenever they wish. The host will be provided free of charge but users will be asked to pay nominal charges for the costs involved in packaging and delivery.
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