HOLY COMMUNION
The Lord's Supper is celebrated at Our Savior Lutheran Church in the profession and confidence that our Lord's Body and Blood is present in the bread and wine to eat and drink for the forgiveness of our sins and to strengthen our union with Him and with one another.
Communion Statement:
Visitors: Please speak with Pastor Pope if you desire to take Communion.
The Sacrament of the Altar is celebrated at Our Savior Lutheran Church according to The Lutheran understanding of the Lord's Supper. We believe that our Lord's Body and Blood are truly present in, with, and under the elements of bread and wine, and are received in the mouths of those who commune (Matthew 26:26; Mark 14:22, 24; Luke 22:19-20; 1 Corinthians 11:24-25). We receive this Sacrament confident that when we eat and drink we receive forgiveness for our sins (Luke 22:19-20), and we express the unity of our faith as Lutherans (1 Corinthians 10:16).
However, Holy Scripture teaches that those who receive the Lord's Supper in an unworthy manner eat and drink it to their great harm (1 Corinthians 11:27-30). For this reason, Our Savior Lutheran Church practices the historical practice of "close" communion. Those who share our confession of faith as Lutherans and maintain membership in a congregation of The Lutheran Church Missouri Synod are welcome to commune with us on Sunday. If you have any questions, please speak to Pastor Pope, who would be happy to set up adult catechesis and new member classes. Thank you for respecting our historic practice.
Communion announcement given during service:
"Dearly beloved, we are gathered in the name of Jesus to receive His body in, with, and under this bread and wine according to His testament and promise. Holy Scripture places great blessings upon the reception of the Sacrament, and so members in good standing in this congregation and sister congregations in our Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod are welcome to commune with us at this time.
However, Holy Scripture also places great warnings on the reception of the Sacrament by the unprepared, the unexamined, and those of differing confessions of faith. For these reasons, we ask all visitors, those still undergoing instruction, and those who are in doubt, and any others, to refrain from communing at this time. We do invite you to come forward to receive a blessing. Please indicate that by crossing your arms over your chest at the front."