All Leaders

We have the candles lit every week.  But, to be clear, we also have communion every week.

------------------------------
Cheryl Schnicker
St. James Lutheran Church
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 12-03-2025 01:44 AM
From: Joan Koch
Subject: Candles

 At our church, we were having a discussion about when the Altar candles are to be lit, and became interested in knowing what other churches do. Is it only when communion is being served that they are lit, or can they be lit when there is no communion? 

--

Blessings,

Joan M. Koch

"I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." Philippians 4:13

 

Thank you all. You have given me good information to go back with and finish this discussion. (And I will win. joking)

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Joan Koch
Risen Savior Lutheran Church
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Original Message:
Sent: 12-04-2025 10:32 AM
From: Cheryl Schnicker
Subject: Candles

We have the candles lit every week.  But, to be clear, we also have communion every week.

------------------------------
Cheryl Schnicker
St. James Lutheran Church

Original Message:
Sent: 12-03-2025 01:44 AM
From: Joan Koch
Subject: Candles

 At our church, we were having a discussion about when the Altar candles are to be lit, and became interested in knowing what other churches do. Is it only when communion is being served that they are lit, or can they be lit when there is no communion? 

--

Blessings,

Joan M. Koch

"I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." Philippians 4:13

 

Original Message:
Sent: 12/4/2025 11:33:00 AM
From: Cheryl Schnicker
Subject: RE: Candles

We have the candles lit every week.  But, to be clear, we also have communion every week.

------------------------------
Cheryl Schnicker
St. James Lutheran Church
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 12-03-2025 01:44 AM
From: Joan Koch
Subject: Candles

 At our church, we were having a discussion about when the Altar candles are to be lit, and became interested in knowing what other churches do. Is it only when communion is being served that they are lit, or can they be lit when there is no communion? 

--

Blessings,

Joan M. Koch

"I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." Philippians 4:13

 

Original Message:
Sent: 12/4/2025 11:33:00 AM
From: Cheryl Schnicker
Subject: RE: Candles

We have the candles lit every week.  But, to be clear, we also have communion every week.

------------------------------
Cheryl Schnicker
St. James Lutheran Church
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 12-03-2025 01:44 AM
From: Joan Koch
Subject: Candles

 At our church, we were having a discussion about when the Altar candles are to be lit, and became interested in knowing what other churches do. Is it only when communion is being served that they are lit, or can they be lit when there is no communion? 

--

Blessings,

Joan M. Koch

"I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." Philippians 4:13

 

We have 7 smaller candles on each side of the alter that are lit every service and one large “communion” candle on each side that is lit only when having communion.
Christ Lutheran Noblesville, IN
John South


Original Message:
Sent: 12/4/2025 11:33:00 AM
From: Cheryl Schnicker
Subject: RE: Candles

We have the candles lit every week.  But, to be clear, we also have communion every week.

------------------------------
Cheryl Schnicker
St. James Lutheran Church
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 12-03-2025 01:44 AM
From: Joan Koch
Subject: Candles

 At our church, we were having a discussion about when the Altar candles are to be lit, and became interested in knowing what other churches do. Is it only when communion is being served that they are lit, or can they be lit when there is no communion? 

--

Blessings,

Joan M. Koch

"I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." Philippians 4:13

 

Original Message:
Sent: 12/5/2025 7:07:00 PM
From: John South
Subject: RE: Candles

We have 7 smaller candles on each side of the alter that are lit every service and one large “communion” candle on each side that is lit only when having communion.
Christ Lutheran Noblesville, IN
John South


Original Message:
Sent: 12/4/2025 11:33:00 AM
From: Cheryl Schnicker
Subject: RE: Candles

We have the candles lit every week.  But, to be clear, we also have communion every week.

------------------------------
Cheryl Schnicker
St. James Lutheran Church
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 12-03-2025 01:44 AM
From: Joan Koch
Subject: Candles

 At our church, we were having a discussion about when the Altar candles are to be lit, and became interested in knowing what other churches do. Is it only when communion is being served that they are lit, or can they be lit when there is no communion? 

--

Blessings,

Joan M. Koch

"I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." Philippians 4:13

 

We light the altar candles only when we have communion. 

I tell my acolyte class that there are a couple of reasons we follow this practice:

1. It's a visible reminder that we will have the special presence of Christ in communion.

2. The two candles visibly remind us of the unique nature of Jesus as fully God and fully man. Which is important because as a man he has a body with blood like ours that he gave as the once-for-all sacrifice for our sins, and as God he can be present in the sacrament as he says he is.

3. The two candles visually remind us of the bread and the wine by which we receive Jesus' body and blood as he promises in his own words of the new covenant.

Of course, candles and they are lit or not is among the many things that are adiaphora in worship, things that the Bible neither speaks for or against. 

Hope this helps.

Jim Neubauer

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Jim Neubauer
St. Johns Lutheran
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 12-03-2025 01:44 AM
From: Joan Koch
Subject: Candles

 At our church, we were having a discussion about when the Altar candles are to be lit, and became interested in knowing what other churches do. Is it only when communion is being served that they are lit, or can they be lit when there is no communion? 

--

Blessings,

Joan M. Koch

"I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." Philippians 4:13

 

At Trinity Wichita, the candelabras, seven candles each on two large pedestals on each side of the altar, are lit just prior to the beginning of every service; Divine Services, Matins, Evening Prayer, Vespers.  For Divine Services (i.e., with communion) two altar candles are also lit just prior to the beginning of the service. The communion elements are on the altar at the beginning of the service.

At another LCMS congregation in the city, similar practices but the altar candles are not lit until after the Service of the Word. As part of the preparation of moving the elements from a credence table to the altar, the altar candles are lit.

Curt

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Curtis Engelbrecht
Trinity Lutheran Wichita KS
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 12-03-2025 01:44 AM
From: Joan Koch
Subject: Candles

 At our church, we were having a discussion about when the Altar candles are to be lit, and became interested in knowing what other churches do. Is it only when communion is being served that they are lit, or can they be lit when there is no communion? 

--

Blessings,

Joan M. Koch

"I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." Philippians 4:13

 

We have two candelabras that are on the alter. Each candelabra holds 3 candles. they are lit at the beginning of all church services. During Advent season we have an Advent wreath that has 5 candles on it. First week of Advent one candle is lit. Second week of Advent two candles are lit. Third week another candle is lit. This is done until all candles are lit. We have four candles space evenly around the wreath and one candle is in the middle. 

Three of the candles on the Advent wreath are purple and two are pink if my memory is right.

White candles replace the color candles Christmas Day.

A candle is lit in memory of a decease member (if one passed away during the year) when we have our All-Saints Day service.  

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Dale Merkle
St.Thomas Lutheran Church
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 12-06-2025 03:05 PM
From: Curtis Engelbrecht
Subject: Candles

At Trinity Wichita, the candelabras, seven candles each on two large pedestals on each side of the altar, are lit just prior to the beginning of every service; Divine Services, Matins, Evening Prayer, Vespers.  For Divine Services (i.e., with communion) two altar candles are also lit just prior to the beginning of the service. The communion elements are on the altar at the beginning of the service.

At another LCMS congregation in the city, similar practices but the altar candles are not lit until after the Service of the Word. As part of the preparation of moving the elements from a credence table to the altar, the altar candles are lit.

Curt

------------------------------
Curtis Engelbrecht
Trinity Lutheran Wichita KS

Original Message:
Sent: 12-03-2025 01:44 AM
From: Joan Koch
Subject: Candles

 At our church, we were having a discussion about when the Altar candles are to be lit, and became interested in knowing what other churches do. Is it only when communion is being served that they are lit, or can they be lit when there is no communion? 

--

Blessings,

Joan M. Koch

 

"I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." Philippians 4:13