Worship at Christ Ev. Lutheran Church is…
Distinctively Lutheran- Our worship is liturgical and follows an order of service printed within our hymnal (Lutheran Service Book). Every Sunday we receive the gift of the Lord’s Supper in the Divine Service of Holy Communion following the common order of service (Setting III in the LSB). The hymns that we sing are based on biblical texts, true to what we believe, teach, and confess, and have withstood the test of time.
Sacramental- Christ has given to His Church on earth His precious gifts of the Sacraments. Jesus promises that where two or more are gathered in His name, there He is with them. Most especially, Jesus promises to be with us bodily when we celebrate the Lord’s Supper, where He gives to His Church His very body and blood for the forgiveness of sins. Because Christ promises to truly be present with us, our worship is reverent, that is, what we say and do is deliberate and respectful for Christ’s presence with us.
Christ centered- Above all else, all that we say, sing, pray, and do is centered around Christ and what He has done for us. Our hymns sing about Christ, our sermons are about Christ, and our worship is directed towards Christ.
Frequently Asked Questions
Absolutely! Children of all ages are highly encouraged to attend worship. “Let the little children come to me”, says our Lord. Just like adults, children need to hear the words of Jesus during the Church service. Children may be fussy at times, but don’t be discouraged. It is a blessing that your children are at worship and the congregation understands the frustrations of having a child sit still. If you need to step out for a minute, there is a child’s nursery room in the rear of the sanctuary. Restrooms are located downstairs next to the kitchen.
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.
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. The rear entrance, adjacent to the parking lot, 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.
