And again, I ask how is each individual's status to be known? How else do you offer communion? Generally speaking, when communion happens, it's kind of like, "we're doing this now." Then the congregants either line up and kneel, or it's passed around to them.

In Presbyterian churches, at least, there is typically an invitation before Communion to the effect that all who are baptized and who seek to follow Christ are invited to commune. ("Our Savior invites those who trust him to share the feast which he has prepared" or words that effect.) A similar announcement may be in the service bulletin. My experience in Episcopal and other churches is similar.

So, to follow on what Vito said, the officiant (or the bulletin) states the position of the church as to who can receive. That having been done, the officiant will not question someone who presents him or herself for the Sacrament (or who takes bread and cup when passed).

And this has been my experience as well; I suppose that's what I meant by "we're doing this now" (I'm Presbyterian, too.)

A Kappa and a Presbyterian. I knew I liked you (says the man married to a Kappa and a Presbyterian). :D

COMMUNION is meant to be just that - amongst other things, a sign of those who, in the case of the RC church, are in communion with the Church. If you are not in communion with the Roman Catholic Church, be it because you belong to another sect or know yourself to be in a state of grave sin, don't believe in the real presence or aren't a Christian, you don't take communion. To do so would be to do what this thread started out being about - to take something which is a religious tradition (in the case of communion, a sacrament) infused with a very specific meaning and purpose and to adopt it for another reason. It's up to you to decide whether or not you fit the criteria listed in the missal. Unless you make a big show of not being in communion, no one is going to question you during it.

At the wedding that we attended where everyone was offered communion (the Archbishop specifically invited all: Christian or Jew, Catholic, Muslim or atheist) all the Jews just looked around the Church in bewilderment. None of us went up. My husband, educated as an Episcopalian, didn't go.

Incidentally if my son marries his girlfriend this will be a very new experience: She is far more religiously Jewish than my family ever has been since we immigrated 150 years ago. She said that she will walk around the chuppah seven times (a mystical number meant to establish a new home safe from outsiders....be they demons or in laws) and have the "full" service. It will be lovely.

........and yes, I'm aware that I'm an in law.

I love chuppahs (both the look and the symbolism. As a Christian, I take a bit of an interest in Judaism because they're sort of related. Kinda.)

I don't want to turn this into a "look at all the chuppahs" thread but seriously:

http://media-cdn.pinterest.com/uploa...2I7KxkYn_c.jpg

http://media-cdn.pinterest.com/uploa...gU5hjL72_c.jpg

http://media-cdn.pinterest.com/uploa...eeWWeJnf_c.jpg

Beautiful.

Sidenote: I'd be interested in your take on this, ellebud. I've seen some couples opting for suspended style chuppahs (as in no poles.) In the eyes of some more traditional Jews, no poles = not a chuppah. Some people say that as long as the covering is there, and the symbolism, it still is. What say you?

Is there a difference between a chuppah and just getting married under say a decorated four pole cloth gazebo tent type thing?

Except in the situation in which it was brought up here, it's not really the same:

Quote:

Originally Posted by ellebud (Post 2109506) At the wedding that we attended where everyone was offered communion (the Archbishop specifically invited all: Christian or Jew, Catholic, Muslim or atheist) . . . .

That's a different situation -- it's not people adopting the rites or rituals of another religion for their own purposes, it's people being invited (however incorrectly) to participate in the rite of another religion by someone in that religion. (And, of course, I'd say there's a difference in non-Catholic Christians and non-Christians when it comes to communion in the Roman Catholic Church. That notice in the missal does provide for non-Catholic Christians to take communion under specific circumstances.)

You're not my husband are you? Kidding. My husband isn't Greek. :D

KSUViolet - absolutely gorgeous chuppahs. Thanks for sharing. We should also find some photos of some other wedding traditions from other faiths. I think Hindu weddings (I've only seen photos, not been to one) are gorgeous.

I seem to recall a story in the worst wedding thread about a Jewish bridesmaid having communion forced upon her by the pastor, even after she showed him her Star of David pendant. I'll see if I can find it and link.

It outlines those sects which the Roman Catholics recognize and which the RCs consider able to take communion, but also notes that non-RCs should follow the dictates of their religious organization. I'll have to pay special attention to it this Sunday - I know it lists those groups. There are extraordinary circumstances in which I know priests can give communion to non-RCs, but I doubt that attending a wedding would be one of them. I don't know why a non-Christian would want to take communion, or what the Archbishop was thinking. If he thinks of it as merely symbolic, sounds like he'd be happier in ECUSA!

The chuppahs are gorgeous.

They are. Seeing it in person is even more so.

Henna (groom's name is traditionally written somewhere in it and he has to find it.)

http://media-cdn.pinterest.com/uploa...Fn9M4Yfk_c.jpg

The altar, called a mandap (again, beautiful):

http://a3.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphot..._5250140_n.jpg

amIblue, that was me.

DaffyKD

That truly was a horrendous story. :confused:

http://www.greekchat.com/gcforums/sh...&postcount=140

Does she want a Yichud room? That's one of my favorite customs of Jewish weddings. I really like the emphasis in Judaism on the couple being a separate entity from their families of origin. :)

One wedding I attended, the chuppah was covered by the bride and groom's fathers' tallits (prayer shawls). Simple, elegant, and meaningful.