Holy Communion, Christ’s gift of His Body and His Blood in, with, and under the bread and wine, is received at every Sunday and Wednesday Divine Service. This Food is from Our Lord Jesus Christ for us repentant sinners to eat and drink.
Those who partake of Holy Communion show publicly that they agree with the teachings believe, taught, and confessed by the Pastor and congregation at which the Sacrament is distributed. Members in good standing of churches that publicly believe, teach, and confess the Evangelical-Lutheran faith, namely members of congregations of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod, or other bodies with which the Missouri Synod is in fellowship, are invited to commune at this Altar. Those who have not confessed the Evangelical-Lutheran faith are encouraged to consult with Pastor Beffrey and be instructed in the Faith so they may also receive Christ’s gifts in the Sacrament. This practice, referred to as closed Communion, is not done in a spirit of meanness or exclusivity. Rather it is carried out in love. St. Paul wrote to the Corinthians that those who ate and drank the Body and Blood of Jesus in Holy Communion without being aware of what they were receiving ate and drank to their own damnation (1 Corinthians 11:23-31). We do our best to ensure that those who eat and drink confess clearly that they receive the Body and Blood of Christ so that this Meal is received to their benefit, not to their spiritual harm. |