Of the Arrival of Bishop David, Reader day and a poser about Communion.... Chaplain’s blog Stardate 17- 05-2025I write this while watching the installation of Bishop David, and feeling rather glad it is being live steamed so that I can sit in my study in relative comfort and protect my dodgy hips and knees!Watching online has a few downsides, like getting distracted by writing a blog, interruptions by Mr Dog wanting attention or he possibility of the phone ringing on the other hand the different camera angles allow seeing much more of the wondrous goings-on! The Anglican church really does do a wonderful ceremonial service on these occasions- the good folk of the cathedral staff will be exhausted afterwards!Of course, as Readers we got a privileged preview of Bishop David’s ministry last week in St Petroc’s in Bodmin for Reader Day when those of us listened to his views on Lay Ministry and took part in a question and answer session. For those of you who missed it.. Reader Tim Symons said it was, “an interesting and encouraging day last Saturday. It was great to hear from such a range of speakers from such a wide variety of ministries, especially the bishop, and the refreshments were excellent too!” Which just about sums up the mood of the room I think! Claire Salzmann- deserves a huge vote of thanks for all the work she put in to organising the event.But back to the cathedral…A full cathedral and 206 people online listened to Bishop David’s first sermon in the Cathedral beginning with thanks to Bishop Hugh, our warden to Readers which received well deserved warm applause from the congregation. It looks like Truro, for the moment, has a wonderful team at the top! We will indeed pray for Bishop David, and indeed Bishop Hugh as they pray for us.My prayer is that as Readers we will be inspired, motivated and warmed by the fire of their faith.Readers and Communion…. Or one sort and another. In various conversations with Readers I have gleaned a variety of opinions and practices from across the diocese.Reader involvement in the Eucharist falls into three categoriesThe service of the word part of the communion service up to the ‘Peace’Taking communion to those who are unable to leave home or to groups in Care Homes.Communion by Extension.Personally I am reluctant to do communion by extensionI feel my ministry is distinctive to that of a priest and somehow communion by extension seems a second-class option.The diocesan rules; (links below) are clear and quite specific about wat must or must not be done. https://trurodiocese.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/CbE-in-DoT-policy.pdf https://trurodiocese.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/Training-liturgy.pdfGoing to a service early on a Sunday to collect the blessed sacraments and then going on to take a service of extension makes for a very long morning which, as I plough on into my 70s is more than I want to do.I was going to quote some bits of these two documents but instead I will put them at the bottom of this article as well as…