Spotting our Pastor and Elders

On Sundays our pastor will be in a colorful poncho-like garment known as a chasuble and our elders wear white robes, called “albs.” While these clothes might make them stand out, the purpose of these garments is to emphasize the role, not the person (it’s not about me). 

Our Church

St. Paul Lutheran Church is a Bible church and the Bible is all about Jesus. Thus, our church is all about Jesus. We read the Bible, preach from the Bible, and receive the Sacrament of the Lord’s Supper, according to the Bible.

Yes, children are welcomed here!

•  First, please relax and enjoy your time here. Our Lord knows that children tend to wiggle and fuss a bit, so please do not feel embarrassed by it. You and your family are a joy at St. Paul.

•  Second, be sure to sing, say, and pray your parts of the liturgy. Children learn by example and what better way to learn than by following your lead.

•  Lastly, if you need help, please ask! Members of St. Paul would gladly lend you a helping hand. If you need to take your children to the restroom, then the side doors to the front right and left of the altar will take you there. If needed, there is also a nursery room, our ushers are happy to help direct you.

During your time at St. Paul, take comfort in the Words of our Lord: “‘Let the children come to me, and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of God.’” (Luke 18:16).

The whole Divine Service is built on the Bible. If you look in the book we use for worship, our hymnal, you will find each part of the Service has one or more Bible passages that explain where that part comes from – why we are confessing our sins or why the pastor is singing or what Baptism is.

If you take all those parts, you can divide the Service into two major parts called, first, the Service of the Word, where the Bible is read and preached, and the Service of the Sacrament, where Holy Communion is celebrated and received.

The Words of Institution: 

Take, eat, this is My Body.

Take, drink, this is My Blood.

Who should receive? Anyone who trusts in the words of Christ (see above) and repents of his sin should receive Holy Communion. If you repent of your sin and trust in Christ, you are a Christian. If you are a Christian, you should be a member of a Christian congregation, accountable to it and its pastors.

How do you practice communion? At St. Paul our pastor decide who receives the Lord’s Supper according to what’s usually called “closed communion” and sometimes is called “close communion.” The two phrases mean the same thing: our pastor holds our people and everyone accountable to what our congregation believes and does. 

We don’t practice “open communion,” meaning anyone who shows up can take communion regardless of what he believes or how he lives, because we don’t believe Jesus’s Body and Blood should be treated as if His words about our faith and our life don’t matter.

What do you believe about the Lord's Supper? The Lord’s Supper is joyfully received every week here at Saint Paul. At the altar, our Lord Jesus Christ delivers His true body and blood into our mouths. His gift of body and blood, given in, with, and under the bread and wine, bestows tremendous benefits, forgiving our sins, strengthening our faith, binding us to the Lord, and uniting us with each other. In this is life and salvation.

All members of the Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod have publicly confessed this sacred gift and its blessings, and so are encouraged to commune. Other guests wishing to join our confession and receive this Holy Sacrament are asked to meet with the pastor in the weeks before communing for the first time.

Why do you practice closed communion? We practice closed communion because we love you and want you to be connected to Christ through our congregation or another faithful congregation, where a solid pastor will care for what you believe and what your life is.

You can contact our pastor via email: pastordmonday@gmail.com