Altar rail communing at Salem Lutheran Church

    Salem celebrates Communion each Sunday at both the 8:30 and 11:00 service.

    We typically walk to the front of the sanctuary where the pastors and assistants are standing. They give us a morsel of bread and then we dip the bread into the wine (this method of distribution is called intinction). Since the full effect of the sacrament is involved in either element, some participants elect to avoid the wine. And very young children and visitors who choose not to participate in the Sacrament of Holy Communion may come forward for a blessing from the pastors. Following the bread and wine, worshippers are welcome to go to the communion rail for prayer.

    Another frequent distribution model for Communion is to invite all worshippers to go forward to the Communion rail surrounding the altar. About twenty participants at a time kneel at the altar and the pastors and the assistants distribute first a morsel of bread and then a small individual cup of wine. When they return to their seats, others take their places at the rail. Alternately, some worshippers sit in the forward pews and the pastors bring Communion down the steps to them.

After the meal, the pastors bless the congregation with a Communion benediction.

(Back to Holy Communion)