From the Vicar

"Body-boarders do it on their bellies"
"Trapeze artists do it standing up"
"Call centre operatives do it sitting down"
"Car mechanics do it on their backs"

If you read the messages stuck onto car rear windows ™ between the nodding dog and the "Baby on Board" sticker, then you'll have seen dozens, probably tens of dozens of notices similar to these. I want to add another one:

"Communicants do it anyway they wish"!

When people receive Communion at the altar, they come into a holy place and receive a gift from God, namely his Son's Body and Blood. For some people it may be right to approach the altar in a humble and dignified way and to kneel at the altar rail. However, in his life Jesus did not look on humans as lowly beings or as his servants. Instead he spoke about his followers as brothers and sisters, and so they can come before him in confidence that he will forgive them and embrace them. For some people then it may be right to receive Communion standing up. It's equally true that when people pray God hears them and welcomes them. Again, to him it's unimportant whether they are kneeling, sitting or standing.

My purpose in writing about posture is to make it clear that at St. George's it's OK to stand or to kneel - there is no "correct" way to pray or to receive Communion so long as it is dignified and reverent. I'm sure that what matters to our Heavenly Father is our physical and spiritual presence in worship - not how we present ourselves.

Remember "Communicants do it anyway they wish"! Incidentally I don't think it matters what we wear in Church either - but that's a topic for another time!

MIKE SHEFFIELD

PARISH PRIEST