To suggest that the tradition of sharing the peace needs to change?

[Ironoaks]

Anglican church. New vicar who has reintroduced the tradition of sharing the peace by shaking hands. I've attended this church for nearly ten years and we hadn't observed this tradition before.

For those unfamiliar with the practice, this involves shaking hands with a couple of dozen different people.

I have two issues with this:

1. Infection control. It's cold & flu season. Our congregation includes the elderly and frail. In times past, people tended to mostly stay within their own parish, but our congregation on Christmas day included people who had recently travelled from Italy, the Netherlands, Ireland, Sri Lanka and Nepal. Immediately after sharing the peace, the service moves into communion, which involves eating bread from your hand. I've started nipping out to wash my hands between the peace and communion, but it's not feasible for everyone to do this. I've seen a couple of people discreetly using hand sanitiser, but that's a lot less effective that hand washing, especially for viruses.

2. Some people don't feel comfortable having physical contact with people they don't know. I know of two young people who now avoid attending church because the sharing of the peace makes them feel so uncomfortable.

Should the sharing of the peace by shaking hands be re-evaluated?

In my church we hug as well, how is that for spreading germs lol

@BournvilleGreen Methodist deacon here - we definitely share the peace!
I'm immunocompromised as a result of treatment for a chronic condition and my congregations know that. I tend to hug instead of shake hands if I know people well (which I do most of them) as germ wise it's much safer and it feels more friendly and natural to me as well.
In germ season like this I just explain that I can't shake hands because I'm immunocompromised and everyone is very understanding. Likewise, if I have a cold I don't do it either. Church is a community where we look after each other, and the peace shows that care for each other.
The individual communion cups are great for me too!

Jesus washed people’s feet ffs

He also walked on water, died on the cross and rose from the dead. How about you?

And washing feet is a lot more hygienic than just touching lots of them and then immediately eating, which is what the OP is saying they don’t like (albeit with hands, not feet). I wouldn’t like it either.

And the posters (deliberately) missing the point about people from other countries, it’s because they are likely to have come across strains of viruses and bacteria that people in the UK don’t yet have immunity to. Not even a bit of xenophobia or racism in there.

It feels like not shaking hands (at the least) while sharing peace is just entirely missing the point, somehow.

Thank you to those who have voted and commented.

Those posters accusing me of being xenophobic have misunderstood my first point (or perhaps have little understanding of immunity / contagion). If I were to fly to a different country for Christmas and attend church there, I would be the one potentially introducing new pathogens to their community.

Based on the 300 votes so far, IABU.
There does seem to be a minority who are also uncomfortable with the practice, which is interesting.

It's also interesting that the circle of peace-sharing varies in size between different churches, from only shaking hands with immediate neighbours you can reach (5-6 people), to getting up, moving around the building and shaking hands with everyone you encounter within the time frame before you're encouraged to return to your seat (20+ people).

I was wondering whether to speak to the vicar about my concerns, but based on the responses on this thread, I'm going to keep quiet and comply with the mass (pun intended) handshake.

shrodingers this was 45 years ago though... and obviously one specific church!

The early Christian church was touchy-feely to a level that would have many of us introverts these days sprinting for the hills.

Well, there's a significant minority on this thread alone who have expressed discomfort with it. Maybe it's something modern day church leaders could consider looking at given that congregations are also sprinting for the hills in decline. Unilaterally re-introducing a practice church goers themselves find pressured and uncomfortable isn't likely to help reverse that trend.

Church not really big on “let’s ditch this ancient and symbolically important part of the liturgy based on current popularity”, although granted some denominations may feel differently.

It isn’t being unilaterally re-introduced - in most churches it never went away.

I think it's fine restricted to those in your pew and those in front and behind. I draw the line with kissing and going for a rambler around the church. But neither shall I ever pretend to be a little sunbeam or clap. The evangelicals have much to answer for.

As you were.

I’ve been attending catholic mass for 50 years.

The sign of peace (sorry but “sharing of the peace“ - sounds weird to me) as others have said has always been a key part.

However in the numerous churches I have attended every part is optional. Wine, bread, shaking hands- there is usually an alternative way if taking part or polite way of refusing.

Just don’t shake hands if you don’t want to.

If you’re that dubious about receiving the chalice, the fullness of the Sacrament is received in one kind only. If I’ve got a cold I just take the bread and pass on the chalice.

Wonder whether the vote would go the same way now as it did a few weeks ago.

There was a letter at our church yesterday to say that peace would be shared without shaking hands and that the chalice wouldn’t be used by individuals. Instead wafers would be dipped into the wine.

I didn't think that you were unreasonable to begin with, but you definitely aren't now.

Buttered how funny, we have dropped shaking hands for the Peace but our Diocese has ruled the other way and entinction is banned and we can only share the chalice

I think I'm more at risk getting the train and bus into Central London tbh

Some people have no physical contact with another human for weeks on end so I think it's important, however I'd advise against it for the rest of March at least.

@Buttered I have never had communion wine due to all the coughing people that then slurp. Okay most sip politely but I've seen saliva strings between the chalice and mouth and I just can't do it. I never understand why people can't just dip the wafer.

I took communion as usual and shared the peace but we observed a number of people did not take wine and we have banned Intincting (dipping). We are awaiting further guidance from the bishop office, at the moment it is a case of choice. I'm more at risk on the train in my opinion, none of them travel beyond asda!

Surely intinction is worse as people are potentially dipping their fingertips into the wine?

Also, wouldn't you get soggy bits of communion wafer at the bottom of the chalice? (like biscuits and tea)

Catholic here, old enough to remember we didn't do this when I was a child. In recent years, the priest has just skipped on without doing this during regular flu season. It's nice contact but no one is offended if you don't do it. I wouldn't proffer my hand if I had a head cold and I wouldn't be at Mass if I had flu. Instructions from on high in recent weeks have been to skip it. The holy water fonts have been emptied. All our Ministers of the Eucharist wash their hands before distributing the hosts, which at this time may only be received into the hand and not on tongue to protect the Minister and others. Many of our churches have live internet broadcasts of Mass and other services so anyone who wants to avoid crowd contact may watch the service from home.

Instructions from on high in recent weeks...

In any other thread, I'd read that and assume a policy announcement from senior management. In this context, I imagine clouds parting and a heavenly voice from above. Which I suppose is also, in a way, a policy announcement from senior management.

re: dipping into wine. Wouldn't teh alcohol kill of any germs

I am a Chrisian and I go to an Anglican church but am not a fan of the peace. I think it is because it seems "forced" to me- people are shaking hands because they feel they have to? Genuine, unforced, natural expressions of love are surely much better? I get that Jesus washed feet, but there was a genuine reason He was doing it. The Bible says Jesus only ever did what the Father (God) told Him to do?

Guinea only if it's vodka apparently. Good Housekeeping has a feature on using vodka instead of hand sanitizing gel.