Holy Communion is at the heart of Lutheran worship.Our regular weekly Sunday worship has (unless there is no pastor present) the joyful celebration of this holy meal as one of its high points. This worship service is joyful because of the presence of the living Lord Jesus Christ who strengthens and refreshes us with the gift of his body and blood.
We celebrate the Holy Communion frequently because Christians need the sacrament, the means by which the Church’s fellowship is established and its mission as the baptized people of God is nourished and sustained. This holy meal is Christ’s gift to us in our need, whether we feel the need or not. The benefits of this sacrament depend on Christ’s intention and promise. Participation in the sacramental meal is by invitation, not demand. We are encouraged to make the sacrament a frequent rather than an occasional part of our lives. All worshippers (including all children and those who may not yet be baptised) are welcome to come to the altar, with the rest of the congregation, and receive a blessing. The desire to receive a blessing instead of the sacrament is best indicated by holding your right arm across your chest when at the altar. Luther’s small catechism says this about Holy Communion
(also known as the Eucharist, the Lord’s Supper and the Mass).
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If you would like to know more about the Lutheran teaching and practice of Holy Communion the following is from an official LCA document called 'Some pastoral guidelines for responsible communion practice'
Scripture and Luther’s Small Catechism teach that holy communion is ‘the true body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ given with bread and wine, instituted by Christ himself for us to eat and drink’. The benefits of such eating and drinking are ’the forgiveness of sins, life, and salvation’. Every communicant, even an impenitent and unbelieving one, receives Christ’s body and blood in this sacrament. But the benefits of the sacrament - forgiveness, life, and salvation — are received only by penitent believers who accept Christ’s words and trust his promises expressed in the words of institution. So the Lord’s supper is a means of grace. It nourishes and strengthens God’s people. The body and blood of Christ, given in and with the bread and wine, make the Lord’s supper a precious gift, which believers receive joyfully and thankfully. Such a precious gift should not be regarded lightly. The Apostle Paul warns against the sin of eating and drinking ‘in an unworthy manner’ (1 Corinthians 11:27-29). Those who administer the Lord’s supper and those who receive it both have the responsibility of doing so only and always in a way which is in keeping with the nature of the sacrament. Therefore responsible celebration of the Lord’s supper requires that we try to ensure that all who commune
If this raises issues and concerns for you please feel free to contact pastor on 38901957. God bless you. |