Pastor Kory’s Page for May 25, 2025

Holy Communion: The Common Cup and More

As Lutheran Christians, we give thanks for Christ’s gift of Holy Communion and we celebrate it often. We confess with Martin Luther and Christians through the ages that the Sacrament of the Altar (one of the other names for Communion) “is the true body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ under the bread and wine, instituted by Christ Himself for us Christians to eat and to drink” (Luther’s Small Catechism). And not only do we place great emphasis on Christ’s presence with us in His Sacrament but on its chief benefit: “Given and shed for you for the forgiveness of sins.” To assure us that His forgiveness is applied personally to us, Christ left us with His means of grace, which include this holy meal, along with God’s Word, Baptism, and Confession and Absolution.

Over the past year, I’ve been approached by several members who were interested in adding the option of a common cup for our celebration of Holy Communion. I gathered more feedback on the possibility and started looking into options for adding the common cup. I inquired with our LCMS Mid-South District Office to see if they had an extra chalice and flagon on hand. As it happened, they had a silver set available for us! We recently received the chalice and flagon, and I look forward to using them in the Divine Service, beginning this Sunday, May 25.

The common cup is an option for receiving the blood of Christ in Communion. Through church history, a common cup was the normal way that Communion was distributed. The Words of Institution in the Gospels describe Christ using a singular cup. Paul also references a singular cup in his teaching on Communion in 1 Corinthians 10:16 & 11:26. A common cup can also serve as a fitting symbol of the oneness of body of Christ, the Church.

Individual communion cups are a more recent invention and are preferred by many communicants. Both options will be available as we go forward, and communicants will be free to choose either an individual cup or the common cup. The elder or assistant will continue to offer the individual cups on the tray. Communicants who wish to receive the common cup can simply wait as the individual cups are offered. The pastor will come by each table at Communion to offer the common cup after the elder has passed by. It can be helpful for communicants to extend an open hand or otherwise indicate to the pastor that they are wishing to receive the common cup. It is also helpful for communicants to help hold the chalice and tip it toward their mouth as the pastor offers it to them. 

Lastly, here are two other reminders of some options at Communion for you: for those with gluten sensitivities, gluten-free communion wafers are available. Also, for those with alcohol sensitives, an alcohol-free white wine is also provided in a few individual cups. Please let me know if you need either of these options at Communion and please also let me know if you have any other questions for me about this gift of Holy Communion!

Grace and Peace,

Pastor Kory Janneke