Questions for people who attend Episcopal churches

[TommyT139]

10. In my experience

In my experience, the common cup is standard practice, with intinction/dipping being a common variant -- especially if someone was raised Roman Catholic.

It is also very acceptable to decline the cup, which people do if they don't drink alcohol and there's no non-alcoholic wine available. Crossing one's arms over one's chest in an X signals that clearly, and the priest will give a quick blessing. Then extend hands for the bread. During the pandemic after vaccines (required in the parishes I attended), it was bread-only for a long time for everyone.

As far as confession, I've only gone to anglo-catholic parishes -- "smells and bells," high liturgy, often sung services. Individual confession was rare, maybe once a year or so, or perhaps on a retreat. Again, people who grew up Roman Catholic seemed more likely to include individual confession in their personal practices.

I was raised Methodist -- thimbles of grape juice and all! Joining the Episcopal Church as a grad student, even though I served on altar staff for a year, I never felt pressured to do something I wasn't comfortable with.

Long story short-ish: if you find most of the service meaningful, but sharing the chalice squicks you out; and individual confession is off-putting...you get to participate as you are comfortable. If clergy are judgy, that's them, not the Episcopal Church.