Choosing prefilled communion cups starts with three decisions: wafer or bread, regular or gluten-free, and the quantity your church will use before the package date. Then test the opening tabs with the people who will actually use them.
This guide explains the differences and helps you plan a service. Ready to compare current quantities, prices and availability? Shop all prefilled communion cups and Fellowship Cups.
Compare cup styles · Opening and dexterity · Gluten-free service planning · Quantity and reordering
What is a Fellowship Cup?
Fellowship Cup® is a Broadman brand of individually sealed communion cups containing juice and a wafer. “Prefilled communion cup” describes the wider category, which also includes other brands, bread compartments, gluten-free wafers and chalice-style designs. Not every prefilled cup is a Fellowship Cup.
The name “fellowship” connects naturally with the shared observance of communion. The bread and cup belong to the much older Christian practice described in 1 Corinthians 11:23–26; individually sealed portions are a modern packaging format. The brand name does not identify a different sacrament or a separate type of juice. Follow your church’s communion practice when selecting the elements.
Which prefilled communion cup should your church choose?
Start with the elements your church uses, then compare the cup design. These five product families are practical places to begin:
| Family | Elements | Opening format |
|---|---|---|
| Fellowship Cup® | Juice + regular wafer | Wafer film above juice seal |
| Elements | Juice + gluten-free wafer | Offset tabs |
| Simply Communion | Juice + regular bread | Separate bottom bread compartment |
| Simply Communion gluten-free | Juice + gluten-free bread | Separate bottom bread compartment |
| The Miracle Meal gluten-free | Juice + gluten-free wafer | Wafer film above juice seal |
Compare the cost per serving: divide the delivered order total by the number of cups. A larger pack may lower the unit cost, but only if your church can use it before the printed date. Product pages show current prices and purchase options.
Fellowship Cup®: juice and wafer
A traditional stacked cup with a wafer above the juice. Choose this family when your church wants the familiar wafer-and-juice format.
25 count · 100 count · 250 count · 500 count
Elements: juice and gluten-free wafer
A gluten-free wafer option with offset opening tabs. A useful choice to compare when your congregation prefers a wafer format.
Shop Elements gluten-free cups
Simply Communion: juice and bread
A chalice-style cup with bread in a separate bottom compartment. Choose this format when your church prefers bread to a wafer.
Simply Communion: juice and gluten-free bread
A separately sealed bread-and-juice format with gluten-free bread. Consider it for a whole-congregation service or a clearly identified alternative.
The Miracle Meal: juice and gluten-free wafer
A stacked wafer-and-juice option sold in multiple quantities. Select the pack size on the product page; the photograph shows the packaging style.
How do you open prefilled communion cups?
For a standard Fellowship Cup, keep the cup upright, lift the thin top film to reach the wafer, then peel the juice seal when it is time to drink. Pull slowly while holding the cup securely. Demonstrate with the actual cup before the service rather than assuming every brand opens the same way.
Separate-compartment cups require a different sequence: open the bread compartment, return the cup to an upright position, then open the juice seal according to the manufacturer’s instructions. Ask volunteers to practice first and check that the format works with your trays or distribution method.
Are they suitable for older adults or people with arthritis?
Age alone does not tell you which cup will work best. Small tabs and peel seals can be difficult for someone with reduced grip strength, limited finger movement or vision difficulties. “Easy open” is not a guarantee that a particular person can open a cup independently.
- Test a small quantity with the people who will use them, including those who need assistance.
- Compare tab visibility, the force needed to peel, and whether the cup stays steady while opening.
- Consider offset tabs or separate compartments as designs to test, rather than guaranteed solutions.
- Offer discreet volunteer assistance and a suitable alternative when a sealed cup is difficult to use.
The 25-count Fellowship Cup option is useful for trying the format before committing to a larger quantity. Plan assistance in advance so worshippers are not left struggling during the service.
Planning a gluten-free communion service
Gluten-free prefilled cups can serve the entire congregation, or they can be an alternative for people who request them. A church may also use regular wafers for most worshippers while offering a sealed gluten-free cup to a smaller group. Choose the arrangement that fits your church’s practice and makes the alternative easy to receive.
Decide whether the gluten-free option should contain a wafer or bread. Elements and The Miracle Meal offer gluten-free wafer options; Simply Communion gluten-free offers bread in a separate compartment. Standard Fellowship Cup wafers are not the gluten-free option.
- Keep regular and gluten-free stock clearly identified and separate.
- Retain the packaging so ingredient and date information can be checked.
- Keep the portions sealed until needed, and avoid handling gluten-free elements with hands or equipment used for regular bread.
- Tell volunteers where the alternative is kept and how to offer it respectfully.
A “gluten-free” label does not establish suitability for every allergy or dietary need. Check the current package and manufacturer information for the person’s requirements. Gluten-free and low-gluten are different: Catholic parishes should follow diocesan guidance on valid communion elements; USCCB guidance explains the distinction.
How many communion cups should you order?
Count expected participants for each planned service, include homebound visits or additional gatherings, and add a reserve based on your church’s attendance pattern. Keep regular and gluten-free quantities separate if you offer both.
Example: 150 participants × 3 services = 450 cups. Adding a 30-cup reserve gives a 480-cup requirement. A 500-count Fellowship Cup pack covers that plan with 20 cups remaining, provided the package date covers the planned services. This is an illustration, not a required reserve percentage.
For this family, compare 25 count · 100 count · 250 count · 500 count. A small pack can support visits or a trial; larger quantities can support recurring services. Check availability and the delivery estimate before ordering for a specific date. For a time-sensitive service, contact CFaithS with the product, quantity and service date.
Storage, package dates and stock rotation
Read the instructions on the particular product you buy. Standard Fellowship Cups do not require refrigeration and should be kept in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight. Other brands have their own storage instructions and shelf-life periods; do not apply one brand’s guidance to every cup.
A manufacturer’s shelf-life period is not the amount of time guaranteed to remain when your order arrives. Check the printed date on receipt, use older stock first, and inspect seals before distribution. Set aside leaking, damaged or unsealed cups rather than serving them.
When should you reorder?
Set your reorder point to cover the services you expect during delivery lead time, plus your reserve. For example, if you use 150 cups per service and want stock for two services plus 30 spare cups, your reorder point is 330 cups. Adjust that number for your actual lead time, attendance and package dates.
Record the brand, pack size and SKU after a successful service so the next order is straightforward. Return to the prefilled communion cup collection to compare current stock and order the quantity you need.
Frequently asked questions
Are all prefilled communion cups called Fellowship Cups?
No. Fellowship Cup® is a specific brand. Prefilled communion cups are the category, including Elements, Simply Communion and The Miracle Meal.
Does a standard Fellowship Cup contain gluten-free wafers?
No. Choose a product explicitly sold with gluten-free wafers or gluten-free bread, and check the current package information.
Can our church use gluten-free cups for everyone?
Yes, if the elements meet your church’s requirements. You can also offer them as an alternative alongside your usual communion elements.
Do all prefilled cups fit the same tray?
Do not assume they do. Check the cup shape and your tray, especially when changing from a traditional cup to a chalice-style design. Test the actual cup before a service.
Which cup is easiest to open?
Opening comfort depends on the tab, seal and person using it. Compare a small quantity with your congregation and arrange assistance where needed.
Where can I buy the cups shown in this guide?
Use the product links above or shop CFaithS’s prefilled communion cups collection for current sizes, prices and availability.
Manufacturer information and further reading
Product formats and handling guidance were checked against Broadman Fellowship Cup information, WCC Elements information, WCC Simply Communion information, WCC gluten-free bread information and The Miracle Meal information. Always follow the label on the product received.
Updated October 1, 2026.