‘Minimalist Abstract’

This morning’s service at St Luke’s saw me assisting at Communion for the first time since the beginning of 2020, before the Covid lockdown began and we were forbidden to enter the church building at all for quite some time. Gradually, as restrictions were relaxed, we were able to gather together again but under the strict rules of social distancing, and for a while we couldn’t receive Communion at all, nor sing hymns, and masks had to be worn at all times. As a last hangover of those times, until only a few weeks ago, we were not allowed to drink directly from the chalice. Instead, the priest intincted (dipped) the bread (wafer) into the cup of wine and then dropped it into each communicant’s hand. The Bishop of Chelmsford has recently instructed that congregations can return to the centuries-old tradition of sharing the common cup, so I volunteered to return to administering the chalice for those who wish to drink from it. I must add that we have always gone about this as hygienically as possible, disinfecting our hands, and the rim of the chalice is wiped clean between recipients. Nobody has to drink if they don’t want to. About half the congregation this morning chose to take only the wafer, which is absolutely fine. I’m relieved to report that all went smoothly for my first time back on duty, with no mishaps or spillages (everybody’s worst nightmare for a whole variety of reasons).

Many thanks to Ingeborg for hosting Abstract Thursday, with this week’s theme being ‘Minimalist Abstract’. There was too much clutter everywhere I went outside, so I have composed my own minimalist image indoors using a simply-shaped smooth metal object as a prop.