My Eucharist reading goes on.
I found out today that at the first Eucharist’s in Uganda the bishop gave banana bread and banana beer as these were the normal everyday food items and (wheat) bread and wine were unavailable.

It also strikes me that if we are supposed to join in with this meal then we need to use the everyday that is with us and that we are used to. If we have to import stuff (as the Ugandans would have to have done) then that kind of makes the event quite foreign and open to more misinterpretation by others. Surely, the everyday earths that God is with us.

I was also surprised to learn while flicking through the 39 articles (as you do when bored and screaming children are around) that Articles 24 and 34 are quite interesting:

XXIV. Of Speaking in the Congregation in such a Tongue as the people understandeth.
It is a thing plainly repugnant to the Word of God, and the custom of the Primitive Church to have public Prayer in the Church, or to minister the Sacraments, in a tongue not understanded of the people.

XXXIV. Of the Traditions of the Church.
It is not necessary that Traditions and Ceremonies be in all places one, or utterly like; for at all times they have been divers, and may be changed according to the diversity of countries, times, and men’s manners, so that nothing be ordained against God’s Word. Whosoever, through his private judgment, willingly and purposely, doth openly break the Traditions and Ceremonies of the Church, which be not repugnant to the Word of God, and be ordained and approved by common authority, ought to be rebuked openly, (that others may fear to do the like,) as he that offendeth against the common order of the Church, and hurteth the authority of the Magistrate, and woundeth the consciences of the weak brethren.

Every particular or national Church hath authority to ordain, change, and abolish, Ceremonies or Rites of the Church ordained only by man’s authority, so that all things be done to edifying.

In other words – the traditional ‘laws’ of our church say that everything should happen in a language that all can understand and also that one size does not actually fit all – quote: ‘they may be changed’!

So – why so much fuss about changing stuff?

Now that I have looked at the 39 articles I feel particularly holy, and in personal shock, so feel I need to go to bed. I am believing that lack of sleep in the first place caused me to look at the 39 articles as I cannot think why else I found myself there. Severe lack of sleep would seem to be causing me to quote from the said articles. I am in personal disbelief of my actions and am just about to pinch myself.

To my friends that are in shock too – please accept my heartfelt and most warm apologies! Do not worry – I am not being Anglicanised!