|
Our liturgies at Trinity include the Divine Service (with the Preparation, the Service of the Word, and the Service of the Sacrament); also Matins (morning praise); the Service of the Word itself (with the Preparation); Vespers (evening praise); and the Confessional Service. These liturgies may be found in our worship book, The Lutheran Hymnal. Most services follow one or more of the formats; all are liturgical and congruent with our historical understanding of worship.
About the Lord's Supper, or Holy Communion
Scripture teaches that, in the Lord's Supper, the bread and wine we receive in our mouths is simultaneously the true body and blood of Jesus, crucified and raised for our sins. This He gives to all who partake as a certain guarantee of our forgiveness, won by Him 2,000 years ago on Calvary's cross.
Rev. Martin Luther, in his Small Catechism,explains it this way: The Sacrament of the Altar (another name for the Lord's Supper) "is the true body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ under the bread and wine, for us Christians to eat and to drink, instituted by Christ Himself."
The benefit of the Sacrament, as Luther further states, "is shown us by these words, 'Gven and shed for you for the remission of sins'."
Who Should Partake of Holy Communion at Trinity?
In his Small Catechism, in answer to the question, "Who receives (Holy Communion) worthily?" Rev. Luther has written, "He is truly worthy and well prepared who has faith in these words, 'Given and shed for you for the remission of sins' . . . for the words 'for you' require all hearts to believe."
Lutherans also believe that the Lord's Supper is a celebration of the oneness of doctrine and practice that we share. Furthermore, instruction and commitment to our confession prior to receiving the Sacrament is essential both for the spiritual well-being of the one communing as well as the statement we make as Christians communing together. Therefore, we respectfully ask that only current, confirmed members, in good standing, of Lutheran churches in doctrinal fellowship commune with us, for our belief is that unity at the altar presupposes unity in doctrine (1 Corinthians 10:14-21; 11:17-34).
"Lutheran churches in doctrinal fellowship" would include, by and large, those of the Lutheran Church--Missouri Synod or of Lutheran church bodies of other nations in full altar and pulpit fellowship with the LCMS (e.g. the Lutheran Church--Canada, the Evangelical Lutheran Church of England, etc.). This fellowship does not currently include any other Lutheran church bodies headquartered in the United States, and only the LCC in Canada. It does, however, include some of the Lutheran church bodies from many countries around the world. The fellowship does not include European Lutheran state churches (several nations have them), but in some of these countries, there is a free and independent Lutheran church body we are in fellowship with instead.
The division within visible Christianity is a sad fact that we all should work and pray to overcome. However, reception of the Lord's Supper at this time by Christians not fully united with us would imply a oneness of confession that does not yet exist and for which we all must pray. We ask you to join us in praying for the unity of the Church in the confession of the true doctrine.
If you have questions about our practice, or would like to inquire about the process of joining our confessional fellowship and thus being able to commune with us in future, we warmly encourage you to speak with our Pastor.
An abbreviated version of these statements on Holy Communion may be found in our church bulletin issued at each Sunday morning Divine Service. This statement is an elaboration on the bulletin announcement.
|
|
|
