The Common Cup
By Fr. John Trammell
“We are… reminded by the one cup that we cannot drink it alone. We drink from a common cup as a strong symbol of unity and our willingness to accept each other. We share our love and lives as we share the cup. The implications for this for fellowship and support in the local church… are enormous. The cup of love and unity is unavoidably a cup of sacrifice.”
Biblical Model
Jesus said, “Drink this, all of you; for this is my Blood of the New Covenant, which is shed for you, and for many, for the forgiveness of sins: Whenever you drink it, do this in remembrance of me.”
As Jesus and his disciples commemorated the Passover, hours before his death, he took up the cup, blessed it (thanked God for it) and passed it around to his disciples for them to drink from.
Certainly they had their own cups. This was not pragmatic. It was symbolic, a gesture pregnant with more meaning than they could comprehend — certainly more than the traditional cup of blessing, which was always consumed during the Passover meal. Sharing in Jesus’s cup meant throwing their lot in with his fate. It meant joining him in his mission no matter the cost.
However, it also meant being sacramentally joined to him in intimate fellowship, incorporated as members of his Body. Of course, the disciples didn’t realize this for some time. They knew that there was something unique about this meal; it was more than just the Passover. It was something new… which is why they continued celebrating this meal at regular intervals after his death, resurrection, and ascension.
Historical Practice
Throughout the centuries and millennia which followed, followers of Jesus have observed this meal, the Eucharist or Holy Communion, in faithful obedience to his words, “as often as you drink of it, do this in remembrance of me.”
At various times, different understandings of Holy Communion (especially of the cup or the chalice) have arisen in the Church. There were even centuries where the cup was denied to lay people, thought to be too precious or too delicate to be entrusted to untrained hands. This was one of the very abuses which gave rise to the English Reformation of the 16th century, to which Anglicans owe much of their heritage. Article 30 of the 39 Articles of Religion (an important founding Anglican document) states, “The Cup of the Lord is not to be denied to the Lay-people: for both the parts of the Lord's Sacrament, by Christ's ordinance and commandment, ought to be ministered to all Christian [persons] alike.”
Local Expression
From its beginning, Eucharist Church (like most churches around the world and throughout time) participated in the tradition of the “common cup,” meaning all communicants were offered the chalice to drink from. Those who wished could practice intinction, and those who needed to abstain completely would simply reverence (or even kiss) the chalice, but most communicants chose to sip from the cup. Occasionally, our leaders would field questions from persons not-quite-comfortable with the idea of sharing a cup with 100 other people. Priests would share interesting facts about the high alcohol content of the wine we use (18% ABV), or the antibacterial qualities of precious metals (especially copper, of which our larger chalice is made), or the low likelihood of surface communication of pathogens in this context (there are studies), but all of these facts were overshadowed in the spring of 2020 when a mysterious pandemic was spreading across the globe. As we practiced increased caution regarding potential pathogenic transmission (out of solidarity with and love for our neighbors), the common cup and individual intinction were set aside in favor of priestly intinction.
Rediscovering a Beloved Tradition
We feel the time is now right (and many in our congregation have been asking for some time) to reinstate both of these practices. As such, we made this transition back to this format on All Saints Day 2024.
We recognize that, for some, this will require some re-training. You can rest assured that we will describe this shift in process in detail as we move forward. However, I thought it would be helpful to outline a bit of what this will look like.
When we come together to celebrate Holy Communion, an usher will release communicants to receive by rows. As they approach the celebrant / server, communicants will hold out their hands (remembering that grace is never taken, but is received), into which the server will place the bread.
After receiving the bread, the communicant will approach one of the chalice bearers to receive the wine. At this point, he / she has 3 options: sip, dip, or skip.
Sip: If the communicant desires to sip directly from the chalice, he / she will eat the bread immediately upon receiving it. It is customary for the communicant to perform the sign of the cross or to say alleluia or amen after receiving. He or she will then approach the chalice bearer, who will extend the chalice toward the communicant, who will take the chalice, grasping it with two hands. The chalice bearer will take his/her hands away to indicate that the communicant has control of the chalice. The communicant will take a sip, and hand the chalice back to the chalice bearer, who will wipe the rim of the cup with the purificator, and will rotate the chalice in preparation for the next communicant.
Dip: If the communicant desires to receive the wine by intinction (dipping the wafer into the wine), then after receiving the bread, he or she will keep the bread in his / her hands after receiving it and will approach the chalice bearer, who will extend the chalice toward the communicant, tilting it slightly. The communicant will dip the edge of the wafer into the wine, touching the wafer to the inside of the chalice in order to disperse excess wine. He or she will then consume the wafer.
Skip: The historic Church has always taught that even if a worshiper receives only one element of the Eucharist, he or she nonetheless receives the full Christ. If, therefore, communicants are unable to receive the wine, for whatever reason, they can receive the bread confidently, knowing that they do not miss out on any of the spiritual benefits offered in Holy Communion. In such a case, the communicant would receive the bread, consume it immediately, and simply by-pass the chalice. It may be appropriate to pause before the chalice and simply reverence the presence of Christ with a slight bow.
This new system will enable us to renew participating in this ancient practice and continue to offer Holy Communion in a way that is both safe and reverent. Remember, the goal in Holy Communion is… communion – a most intimate fellowship with both Christ and His Body, the Church. As we faithfully consume the Sacrament of His Body and Blood, we are incorporated as members of His Body. We are enfolded into the very life of God. We are joined together in fellowship. We are empowered to go out into the world, to be and do as Members of His Body.
This happens whether you sip, dip, or skip the wine altogether. Christ is fully present in both elements. As we walk together in unity and fellowship, there is an important maxim that is appropriate for this context – all may, none must, some should.
No one is under compulsion to receive in one specific way, but all who are joined to Christ are free to. Come to the Table. Join us in gratefully receiving the medicine of immortality.
