Communion

[HunterJon]

I went to my first Lutheran service last Sunday, and I observed everyone going to the front to the church to recieve communion. I am a Moravian and I have never seen this before, so I wanted to to ask you guys, how do you recieve communion? Do you reach out to recieve the bread? Do you get to drink the wine? I would just like to know the mechanics of Lutheran Communion so I don't look like an idiot if I go up to recieve it (I know the ELCA and the Moravian Church are in full communion so I can partake at any ELCA church). Thanks a lot for any responses.

[alabaster jar]

In the Missouri Synod, it is more formal. You have to talk to the Pastor before service, to see if you are allowed to 'commune.' Communion is 'closed' in other words to those not in their synod. If you are in a Sister church, you'd just fill out a communion card and indicate which church. Hand this to the usher as you go up.

The actual process from the ones I've been to, because it can vary somewhat, is that of getting in a line before the alter, standing until the Pastor motions for you to kneel. Head bended, hands clasped, you wait for the plate and usually a wafer is placed in either one opened palm, or two. Then the wine is distributed. This is done differently depending on churches, as well. Some churches have one side be the 'common' cup and one side of the church be the individual plastic cups. My old church would offer the individual cups first down the line and then if you did not take one, the Pastor would then on the next round, place the common cup to your lips. When the Pastor bids you peace, you stand and return in an orderly fashion to your seats. Then if there are kneelers in your pew, you kneel afterwards and pray before finally sitting.

In the ELCA church that I attend now, communion is open to anyone who believes in the 'real presence of Christ.' A communion card is filled out and handed to the usher. In the church I attend, it is not quite as formal as the above example, in that you kneel immediately and upon going to the alter. Then the Pastor hands a plate around of wafers and you take one. Then the individual communion cups.

Every church is slightly different, so the above is not necessarily how all the churches do it. You have to sort of play it by ear as you go.

[ctobola]

HunterJon,

Welcome to the forum. As a general rule, you won't be allowed to commune with LC-MS people. They consider anyone who does not agree with their theology to be "heterodox."

You will be welcome to commune at most ELCA congregations; however, the practice of taking communion varies from congregation to congregation. In many instances, people go forward to the altar, but I've also seen communion shared in the pews. My suggestion is to watch the people around you and see what they do. You can also ask an usher, but sometimes it's just easier to see the process than hear about it.

All the best! -Cloy


I went to my first Lutheran service last Sunday, and I observed everyone going to the front to the church to recieve communion. I am a Moravian and I have never seen this before, so I wanted to to ask you guys, how do you recieve communion? Do you reach out to recieve the bread? Do you get to drink the wine? I would just like to know the mechanics of Lutheran Communion so I don't look like an idiot if I go up to recieve it (I know the ELCA and the Moravian Church are in full communion so I can partake at any ELCA church). Thanks a lot for any responses.

[ctay]

I go to an LCMS church and I've never had to talk to the pastor before I went up for communion, well the only time I did was when I first time I went to the church I'm going to now, never did have to ask after that.

[CaliforniaJosiah]

Because I often go to churches other than my own, I just think it's a totally solid practice to ASK. There's lots of tradition here and I just think that when we are a guest in another church, we need to be respectful of that and not like take it personally.

Just MY experience and feelings about all that.

Sometime, I'd like to discuss this whole thing of Lutherans and Communion.

Keep the faith! Share the love!


Josiah



.

[SPALATIN]

Can I insert something here?

I've been to WELS, LCMS and WELS churches - as a non Lutheran.

I can ONLY speak for me, just MY experience. And I think it TOTALLY depends on the particular congregation you're attending, maybe much more than what group it happens to belong to.

Anyway, I sent to a WELS church with my grandfather (a retired WELS pastor) who, when he saw Communion was being offered, told me I was not to participate. Since I knew a bit about the whole "fellowship" thing (I STUDIED Lutheran theology when I was homeschooled, having totally read all of Francis Pieper), so I kinda understood.

I've been to an LCMS church a few times when a good friend of mine (they have an awesome praise team). Anyway, it said to talk to the pastor, and since we got there kinda early, I could. He asked me some questions, I think I can remember 4 of them: What church did I belong to (it's Protestant, not Lutheran), was I sorry for my sins, did I believe that by faith in Christ as my Savior I have forgiveness of sins, and did I believe that Christ is truely present in the Sacrament. I knew what he meant by "present" and although I'm not like 100% sure I totally agree with Lutherans on all that, I consider it valid and I do believe Christ is present in some sense - I answered 'yes.' He responded that the church would be honored or something like that to include me. I told my Dad that and he's only response was it varies hugely in the LCMS but I was right to talk to the pastor first.

When I went to the ELCA church, I asked my girlfriend (the pastor's daughter - we're both PK's) and she said 'sure.' If there was some card to fill out, she didn't say anything about it and she didn't fill out anything.

Because I often go to churches other than my own, I just think it's a totally solid practice to ASK. There's lots of tradition here and I just think that when we are a guest in another church, we need to be respectful of that and not like take it personally.

Just MY experience and feelings about all that.

Sometime, I'd like to discuss this whole thing of Lutherans and Communion.

Keep the faith! Share the love!


Josiah



.

Thank you for sharing. I appreciate the fact that you respect the traditions of each synod by asking. That shows respect in so many ways.

[Bollman]

I'll add my experiences.

At regular services we commune in one of two methods. The standard way you go up and take a cup from a tray on the way to the alter. There you kneel and wait for the pastor to dispense the wine and an acolyte or deacon gives the bread. You then pause and pray over the holy gift as long as you need to. After taking them you return the cup to a tray on the opposite side of the church.


The other method, intinction (spelling??), you receive a wafer from a deacon and the pastor passes the cup by and you dunk the bread in. I call this 'the dink and dunk method'... though older folks in the church frown at my jokes.



At our youth services we do intinction with a loaf of French break that we break with our own hands and then dunk it into a Holy Grail-looking medieval cup that my pastor has. It really gets the kids. Just their speed.



BTW- my church is LCMC, formerly ELCA. All baptized believers past the fifth grade can take communion at our church.



Bollman

[Melethiel]

At my church, we commune by continuous line...as space becomes available at the altar rail, people go up to kneel, where they receive the elements. Only common cup is used.

[OrthoCanuck]

At our church there is leavened bread and a common cup with a tray of individual 'shot' glasses following. We go up in a line to the rail, but no one kneels (though I've been to ELCiC churches where people kneel). Anyone who is believes Christ is present in the sacrament can receive (except young children can receive without believing in Christ's presence, since they are too young to believe).

Peace.

[doulos_tou_kuriou]

Communion practices do depend on congregation from congregation. Some churches welcome "all baptized believers" others "those who believe in the true presense" having been a member of an LCMS church before and attend a college that is technically an LCMS univeristy, there are instances within the LCMS where non-members of the Synnod can commune, but they are fewer and farther between.
The various "practices" vary though. Any Lutheran church should offer both Bread and Wine, since that was a great emphasis of Luther, and to not do so is contrary to Biblical Example. But some churches you approach and kneel and the bread/wine is handed to you, some run in a continual line. I know your main post is a bit old now, but never worry about what you look like in the end. Know that many bulletins have notes as to what to do when you take communion (especially if there is anything unique about how they give it). Just know if you approach with a confessing heart, seeking Christ, and truly believe that his words "for the forgiveness of sins" is true, you will be fine. Communion brings us together with one another and with God, don't let formalities frighten you away from that.