Among his few gifts, Kenny received a communion token from his friend.

I was thrilled for it and told his friend's mother that I had seen tokens for sale online and considered buying him one but didn't.

I explained to Kenny what the token was used for historically.

The friend's mother asked, "I wonder why they stopped using those."

I gave the fairly obvious answer that people disdain authority these days, so they naturally reject even the pastor's evaluation of their "worthiness" to receive communion.

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"Communion tokens" - Material History of American Religion Project