Welcome, Visitors!
Visitors are warmly welcomed to join us for the Divine Service and to remain afterward for Bible study and Sunday School. We kindly ask that you provide your full contact information by completing a visitor pew card or signing the guestbook at either entrance so that we may properly thank you for worshiping with us. If you are interested in learning more about what we believe, teach, and confess our pastor is more than willing to meet with you! Please also see our frequently asked questions below regarding Holy Communion at our church.
Worship at Christ Evangelical Lutheran Church is centered on Christ and the gifts He gives to His people. Our Sunday worship service is called the Divine Service, a historic and biblical pattern of worship in which God comes to serve us through His Word and Sacraments. Our services follow the historic Lutheran liturgy. In each service you will hear readings from the Bible, join in prayer and confession, sing hymns, and hear a sermon that proclaims Jesus Christ crucified and risen for the forgiveness of sins.
Our music reflects our rich Lutheran heritage. We sing time-honored hymns that clearly confess the faith and proclaim Christ’s saving work, accompanied by the organ and often supported by our choir and handbell choir. The liturgy provides a steady and reverent rhythm to our worship, guiding us through God’s promises in an orderly and meaningful way. A printed bulletin helps everyone follow along easily, whether you have attended Lutheran worship for years or are visiting for the first time. For a more detailed explanation of the Divine Service, please see The Divine Service: A Guide.
Children and Worship
but Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven.” – Matthew 19:14
Children of all ages are welcome and encouraged to attend worship. Just as adults do, children need to hear the Word of Jesus and receive the blessings He gives in the Divine Service.
Children may at times be restless or fussy, but please do not be discouraged. It is a joy and a blessing to have children present in worship, and the congregation understands the challenges of helping little ones sit quietly. We often use “Kids in the Divine Service” bulletin inserts, which help children learn about the seasons of the Church year and better understand the liturgy and sanctuary. If you need to step out for a moment, a nursery room is located at the rear of the sanctuary, and restrooms are downstairs near the kitchen.
Sunday School is offered after worship during the school year for children ages three and older, and Vacation Bible School is offered each summer. Please see our Study and Formation page for additional information.
Frequently Asked Questions
In Holy Baptism our Triune God washes away sins, rescues us from death and the devil, and gives eternal salvation to all who believe these promises. Holy Baptism is the means by which one is born again, bestowed with the Holy Spirit, and brought into the Christian faith. If you have never been baptized, please speak with the Pastor as soon as possible so that he may talk to you about this wonderful gift of God!
We practice the historic Christian tradition of Closed Communion. This practice is sometimes misunderstood and may be unfamiliar to visitors. Please know that it is not our intention to cause offense. Rather, we seek to be faithful to the teaching of our Lord Jesus Christ regarding the Lord’s Supper. Each week, our bulletin includes the following Communion Statement that explains our practice. If you plan to join us for worship, we encourage you to contact our Pastor ahead of time. He would be glad to speak with you about receiving the Lord’s Supper.
The Lord’s Supper is celebrated at Christ Ev. Lutheran every Sunday in the confession and glad confidence that, as He says, our Lord Jesus gives into our mouths not only bread and wine but his very body and blood to eat and to drink for the forgiveness of sins and to strengthen our union with him and with one another. Our Lord invites to His table those who trust His words, repent of all sin, and set aside any refusal to forgive and love as He forgives and loves us, that they may show forth His death until He comes. Because those who eat and drink our Lord’s body and blood unworthily do so to their great harm and because Holy Communion is a confession of the faith which is confessed at this altar, any who are not yet instructed, in doubt, or who hold a confession differing from that of this congregation and The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod, and yet desire to receive the Sacrament, are asked first to speak with the pastor or an elder. In addition to the members of this congregation, visitors from our sister LCMS congregations and other Lutheran denominations with whom we enjoy altar fellowship are invited to join us at the Lord’s Table. For further study, please see Matthew 5:23; 10:32; 18:15-35; 26:26-29; 1 Cor. 11:17-34
If you find it difficult to follow along during the service, please do not feel discouraged. Lutheran worship may be unfamiliar at first, and it is perfectly fine to simply sit, observe, and listen. Our Lord promises that He blesses us through the hearing of His Word, even when we are still learning the order of the service.
For those who would like additional guidance, pamphlets titled “The Divine Service – An Explanation” are available to read in the pews. These pamphlets explain what Lutherans do in worship and why we worship in this way. We hope this helps you feel more comfortable as you join us in worship.
Parking is available at the rear of the church building. Entrances are located at both the front and back of the building, though most visitors find the rear entrance, adjacent to the parking lot, to be the most convenient. This entrance also includes an elevator for accessibility.
When entering from the rear entrance, proceed up the stairs to reach the sanctuary. The church kitchen and fellowship hall are located downstairs, and restrooms are also located downstairs near the kitchen. Please note that the parking lot entrance and exit are one-way.