UNDER CONSTRUCTION

It is particularly important in a church that people take a personal responsibility to each other in group Bible study. Such personal responsibility to one another is impossible to be achieved in a worship service. The dynamics of studying God’s Word together and fellowshipping together are important for the continued involvement of every Christian. God works in and through your fellow believers to benefit the Bible students in their participation.

The example of the Church in Berea “For they received the Word with all eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so.” (Acts 17:11)

Jesus confronts and challenges the Jews and all men, even people of today: “He who is of God hears the words of God; the reasons you do not hear them is that you are not of God.” (St. John 8: 6,47)

Jesus said: “If you continue in my Word, then you are truly my disciples.” (St. John 8.31)

I encourage every member (and leaders are expected to set examples) to be faithful in group study of God’s Word. In this way the Body of Christ can mature and grow.

Every member needs to be involved in at least one activity within the Body of Christ. There is opportunity to serve in so many ways that most people’s talents and gifts can be used. It is also expected that each member financially support the ministry which is being performed by all the members of the Church. This means an annual “Faith Promise” (a commitment, or pledge) of financial resources that God provides to you so that you can prove the earnestness of your love (2 Corinthians 8 & 9). Offerings and gifts to the Lord ate not optional but are expected of every Christian as the Scriptures clearly indicate. There are examples in Scripture as well as direct demands to be generous and supportive of the Lord’s work. Such offerings are to be sacrificial gifts and provide a means of praising Him for His generous sustenance.

It is expected of every member to be faithful in worship and in receiving the Sacrament of Holy Communion. Faithfulness is to be defined as being present every Sunday among God’s people unless there is a providential reason such as sickness, accident, and the like which would prevent it. The Third Commandment demands it and Scriptures throughout expect the faithful people of God to be present in worship. It has become the habit, custom, expectation of many to think that God is satisfied with half-hearted commitment or a token participation. Neither God nor your fellow members of the Church are satisfied with that kind of participation. “Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.” (Hebrews 10:25 NIV)

Historically, the Lutheran Church is a “liturgical” church. That means that the basic pattern of our worship is drawn from the services that have been used by Christians for many centuries all across the world. The components of the Liturgy come from the Bible and serve to focus our worship on God’s Word and our response to His Word in faith. As Martin Luther once said, “We worship to hear God speak and to speak to the God who hears us.” If anyone is new to our worship format they are encouraged them to let it serve as a witness of our response to God who reaches out to us. In time, we pray that they, too, will celebrate the rich spiritual rewards of our heritage in Worship. [A full explanation of our core values for Worship is included in “ Theses for Worship ”]

Our Communion practice, although different from all Protestants, is consistent with the historic practice of the Christian Church, which has regarded unity in doctrine as a prerequisite for admission to the Sacrament (Eucharist) (“oneness at Communion demonstrates oneness in doctrine”). 

For this reason the churches of the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod practice Closed Communion.  Closed Communion is the Scriptural and historic practice of limiting participation in the Lord’s Supper to those who have been...

We believe that Holy Communion (the Eucharist) is a special gift of God to His church.  This Sacrament is administered in the confession and glad confidence that, as God says, He gives into our mouths not only bread and wine but the actual Body and Blood of our Lord Jesus to eat and drink for the forgiveness of sins and to strengthen our union with Him and with one another. [A full explanation Closed Communion may be found at " Holy Communion - A Clarifying Word "]