Holy Communion

Holy Communion is also called The Lord's Supper, the Sacrament of the Altar, and the Eucharist (a word that means "Thanksgiving" because Jesus gave thanks when He took the bread and the cup)

The following is from Martin Luther's Small Catechism

What is the Sacrament of the Altar?
It is the true body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ, under the bread and wine, for us Christians to eat and to drink, instituted by Christ Himself.

Where is this written?
The holy Evangelists, Matthew, Mark, Luke, and St. Paul, write thus:
Our Lord Jesus Christ, the same night in which He was betrayed, took bread: and when He had given thanks, He brake it, and gave it to His disciples, and said, Take, eat; this is My body, which is given for you. This do in remembrance of Me.
After the same manner also He took the cup, when He had supped, gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, Take, drink ye all of it. This cup is the new testament in My blood, which is shed for you for the remission of sins. This do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of Me.

What is the benefit of such eating and drinking?
That is shown us in these words: Given, and shed for you, for the remission of sins; namely, that in the Sacrament forgiveness of sins, life, and salvation are given us through these words. For where there is forgiveness of sins, there is also life and salvation.

How can bodily eating and drinking do such great things?
It is not the eating and drinking, indeed, that does them, but the words which stand here, namely: Given, and shed for you, for the remission of sins. Which words are, beside the bodily eating and drinking, as the chief thing in the Sacrament; and he that believes these words has what they say and express, namely, the forgiveness of sins.

Who, then, receives such Sacrament worthily?
Fasting and bodily preparation is, indeed, a fine outward training; but he is truly worthy and well prepared who has faith in these words: Given, and shed for you, for the remission of sins.
But he that does not believe these words, or doubts, is unworthy and unfit; for the words For you require altogether believing hearts.

At Christ the King,

• Holy Communion is celebrated every Sunday in both services
• It is also celebrated on Ash Wednesday and Maundy Thursday
• We use small wafers for the bread
• During the winter months we use small individual cups for the wine
• In the rest of the year we also use a large common cup for the wine

At Christ the King,

• People come up to the altar rail at a certain point in the worship service
• If they are able, they kneel at the rail
• The Pastor blesses each one
• The Elder gives a wafer of bread to each one
• The Pastor gives a small cup or a sip of wine to each one
• The Pastor gives a brief blessing, and the people return to their seats

At Christ the King,

• Children and those who have not completed this Communion instruction may not receive Holy Communion
• They may still come to the Communion rail, where the Pastor will give them a blessing based on their Baptism and salvation in Jesus

Pastor Cahill also takes the Lord's Supper at times to people who are hospitalized, seriously ill, or phyusically unable to come to worship to receive Holy Communion