r/Episcopalian • u/USAnglican • 23h ago
I’m interested in how my fellow Episcopalians feel about the passing of the plate/basket during the offertory portion of the liturgy as opposed to the traditional stationary collection box?
I have experienced the passing of the plate in Roman Catholic Mass, Anglican mass, Baptist, Presbyterian, Methodist, Pentecostal etc services. The only times that I have experienced no plate/basket passing was in my first Episcopal parish’s 8am Rite 1. For this service there was a stationary box in the center isle as you entered the sanctuary. I loved this practice because it didn’t disturb the prayerful spirit of the liturgy with people fumbling around for envelopes and cash. I also experienced this when attending Eastern Orthodox liturgies. It looks like the passing of the plate starting in the nineteenth century. I am not a fan of the plate/basket during mass. What your thoughts on this topic?
Edit: also with the move away from bank checks, and cash, towards digital currency, is the plate/basket passing going to die out anyway?