Communion Servers

Instructions for Communion Servers

(Rev. September 2026)

The Communion Server will assist with Communion by serving the wine after the communicants have received the bread.  The Communion Server does not need to wear a robe. 

Guidelines

1.      The Communion Server, along with the usher(s), goes forward to the altar as soon as the Lamb of God starts.  He/she goes behind the altar and pours wine from the flagon into the chalice, unless the Pastor or Assistant Minister has already done so.  There is no need to wait for the Lamb of God to end, but rather get going as soon as everyone seems to be ready.  Follow the direction of the usher. 

2.      The order for serving communion will be Sunday School children (during the school year, unless they are not ready, in which case adults will start until the kids are ready), choir, those in congregation who cannot walk up to altar and would rather receive communion in pew, and finally those assisting with communion for the service.  During the summer when there is no Sunday School, children will go to communion with their parents, and likewise choir will go on their own, not as a group.   

3.      After each communicant receives the bread, the Communion Server follows behind the Pastor, pouring the wine and simultaneously saying, “The blood of Christ shed for you”.  Be sure to say it loud enough and clearly so that the communicant can hear you. 

4.      The grape juice is already poured and in the communion trays of empty cups.  When someone wants grape juice rather than wine, they will take the cup of wine with them to the altar as they are ushered up for communion.  For someone who has grape juice, the Communion Server should pause in front of him/her and again say, “The blood of Christ shed for you”. (We have word that this has not always been done in the past).

5.     As more wine is needed in the chalice, the Communion Server should return to the flagon and pour more wine in the chalice. 

6.     After all in the congregation and choir have communed, the Communion Server assists in taking communion out to those people who are best served in their pews.

The procedure is as follows:

a.       Usher who has been ushering congregation up to the altar leads other assistants (Usher Pastor, Communion Server, Acolyte) to those people who are being served in their pews).

b.      Usher with empty cups takes tray of cups and grape juice (in case someone wants grape juice), and Acolyte takes the empty cups (to dispose of used cups).

c.       Pastor serves the bread, Communion Server serves the wine (or grape juice), and Acolyte takes the empty cup(s).

d.      They all move on to the next person or back to the altar. 

7.      After all in the congregation and choir have been served, all assistants go to the altar to be served by the Pastor.  The usher holding the tray of cups should take cups for all    assistants, generally 4. 

8.      After all assistants have communed, the Communion Server should return to his/her seat in the congregation.