Divine Service
Jesus serves us through his holy Word and Sacraments. Through these means, He comes among us to deliver His forgiveness and salvation, freeing us from our sins and strengthening us for service to one another and to the world. We generally refer to the church service as Divine Service. Our divine God promises to come and serve us through his word and sacraments. We then respond with thanks and praise both in the Divine Service, as well as out in the world through our vocations.
The word ‘liturgy’ comes from a Greek word meaning ‘service’. You don’t go to a restaurant, and then place your own order, cook your own meal, serve yourself, clear the table, and wash your own dishes! (You could do that at home.) You go to a restaurant in order to be served. In the same way, through the liturgy, God serves you (a 3 course meal).
The first course. A typical first course at a restaurant is a salad. It’s nutritious and it’s good for you. The first course in church (God’s restaurant) is Confession and Absolution. It cleanses you of all guilt, and it’s good for you to clear your conscience.
The second course, main course. Next in church we come before our king (Introit) and ask for mercy (Kyrie), praise him for giving us mercy thru his son (Gloria in Excelsis), and then we listen to what our God has to say to us (through scripture readings and the sermon). This is the main course with all the trimmings. It fills us up, nourishes us, and strengthens us. We then respond by speaking to God through prayer and giving our offerings for his use.
The third course, dessert. Lastly in church (on certain Sundays), we finish with Holy Communion. In the sacrament Jesus gives us the sweet joy of being united to him in a very profound way, receiving another dose of forgiveness, and being strengthened in faith. What a way to be sent out into the world!
Sunday Mornings: 8:00 and 10:45 a.m.
All Sunday services follow the liturgical pattern of the church.
We celebrate the Lord’s Supper at all services on the 2nd, 4th, and 5th Sundays of the month.
The 1st Sunday of the month at 10:45, and the 3rd Sunday of the month at 8:00, we have a liturgical contemporary service in which we sing more modern songs, while still speaking all of the liturgy.
Thursday Evenings – 7:00 p.m.
Our Thursday evening service begins at 7:00 p.m. and is the same as the Sunday following. During Advent and Lent this midweek service moves to Wednesday Evenings at 7:00pm.
Common Questions
In the Lord’s Supper, according to his own words, Jesus gives us his own body and blood to eat and to drink as a priceless gift, to nourish and strengthen us in both body and soul. This is a great mystery. Jesus himself says, “Take, eat; this is My body…Drink of it, all of you; this is My blood of the new testament.” In a mysterious sacramental way Jesus’ body and blood is in, with, and under the bread and wine.
Why does this matter? Think of the phrase ‘you are what you eat’. In the Old Testament, the Hebrews would eat a portion of certain sacrifices to show that they were connected to that sacrifice. When you eat of the Lord’s Supper, you are connected to Jesus in a very real way, and his holiness is inside of you, bringing forgiveness & strength and driving away sin in your body and soul.
Close(d) communion.
The Lord’s Supper is celebrated at this congregation in the confession and glad confidence that, as he says, our Lord gives into our mouths not only bread and wine but his very body and blood (Matt 26:26-28) 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 (1 Cor 11:28-30) and because Holy Communion is a confession of the faith which is confessed at this altar (1 Cor 10:16-18), 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 one of the pastors.
The Lord’s Supper is a joining together in unity of doctrine and belief of all those who partake (1 Cor 10:16-18). Therefore, before partaking of Holy Communion in any church, a person should first understand what beliefs and doctrine he is uniting himself to. That is why we practice what is called ‘close’ communion (i.e. including those who are members of the LCMS, and asking others to talk to the pastor first). Keep in mind, though, that all people are invited to the Divine Service and are forgiven and strengthened in faith throughout all the other parts of the service.
Baptism is God’s work upon us. In Holy Baptism, Jesus puts his name upon us, pours His Holy Spirit into our hearts, works forgiveness of sins, rescues from death and the devil, and gives eternal salvation to all who believe this as the words and promises of God declare. (Mt 28:19, Mark 16:16, Titus 3:5-8, 1 Peter 3:21)
Because baptism is God’s work upon us, and because children are sinful yet are capable of having faith in Jesus for the forgiveness of sins (Mk 10:14-16), therefore we baptize both adults and infants (Acts 2:38-39), as the Nicene Creed states: ‘one baptism for the remission of sins’.
One way of thinking of baptism, as an illustration, is as an invisible tattoo. In baptism, the Holy Spirit brands us with the sign of the cross, claiming us for Christ. Every time we see or make the sign of the cross in church, it reminds us that we are claimed by Jesus and belong to him.
We welcome children in all parts of our worship services, and we have a nursery should you need it.
We are grateful to have you visit us! Know that when you do you don’t have to introduce yourself or give an offering, we’re just glad you are here!