Holy Communion

We believe, teach and confess, that the Lord ́s Supper is central to Christian life and living. This is reflected in St. Pauĺ's Evangelical Lutheran Church with the practise of weekly celebrating this special sacrament. 

Churches differ significantly in how they understand and practise the Lord ́s Supper, some celebrate it very rarely and see in this meal mainly a blessing by which the individual with eating bread and drinking wine remembers what Christ has done on the cross. Thus, fellowship exist mainly in doing the same and thereby feeling a sense of community. 

We believe, teach and confess, that the Lord ́s Supper is much more. It is first and foremost Christ gift of himself, his body and blood for the forgiveness of sins (cf. Matthew 26: 26-28). Everyone who eats and drinks receives with the bread and wine Christ ́s body and blood, this is the case irrespective whether the recipients believe it or not. Also, all those who receive the Lord ́s Supper are joined into one body (cf. 1 Corinthians 10:16-17), thus it is not simply a meal for individuals, but for the congregation. To help communicants receive the Lord ́s Supper as Christ has intended it the pastor takes great care to teach the right biblical understanding and to know his members. 

When visitors or guests’ worship with the congregation, they are welcomed with open arms and are invited to share in the fellowship of hearing God ́s Word and joining in singing, prayer and praise. Beyond that the pastor would love to help them in receiving the Lord ́s Supper in a blessed manner. To this they are invited to talk with him in advance, before receiving the Lord ́s Supper at St. Pauĺ's Evangelical Lutheran Church.

Why do we need Holy Communion?

As we examine our lives in the bright light of God’s holiness, we realize how much we have sinned and how much we need His forgiveness. Our sinfulness and the troubles, sorrows, difficulties and stresses of our life in this fallen world are all reasons we need Holy Communion.

As great as is our need, even greater is the life-giving meal He has provided! It is a very personal way God works in our life to save us, to strengthen us and to keep us close to Him. Jesus promised to be with us always, to the very close of the age (Matthew 28:20). Through His precious Word and Sacraments, our Lord continues to fulfill His promise.

Our Lord Jesus Christ instituted the Sacrament of the Altar with these words: “This is My body, given for you. This cup is My blood of the new testament, shed for you for the forgiveness of sins” (Matthew 26:26-29; Mark 14:22-25; Luke 22:14-20; 1 Corinthians 11:23-25). The Lord’s Supper “is the true body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ under the bread and wine, instituted by Christ Himself for us Christians to eat and to drink” (Small Catechism).

What is Jesus giving us in Holy Communion?

In the Sacrament of the Altar our Lord and Savior is continually distributing to us the body and blood of the sacrifice He made for us, the sacrifice by which He paid for the sins of the entire world. Thus, receiving His body and blood, we receive forgiveness, life and salvation. Flowing from these tremendous treasures of God’s mercy are the love, peace and hope that He gives us in His Supper, and the ability and desire to do God’s will, living in love and harmony with others.

How is Jesus present in Holy Communion?

We do not try to explain how Jesus is present under the bread and wine in Holy Communion, rather we believe, teach, confess and rejoice that Jesus is received into the month of the communicant. We let the words of Jesus stand without arguing about their possibility, or trying to explain how they are true. Jesus’ Word is sure and certain. The Holy Spirit gives us faith to trust in and believe Jesus’ words, “Take, eat, this is my body ... Drink of it, all of you, this cup is the new testament in my blood, which is hsed for you for the forgiveness of sins.” Faith in Christ’s promise is what makes us worthy to receive His Supper. Christ’s Words of institution retain their validity power and thus, by virtue of these words, the body and blood of Christ are truly present, distributed and received. Communicants who have no faith also receive the body and blood of Christ, but they do so to their damnation, therefore the Pastor needs to take great care to whom he gives Holy Communion.

Why do we receive Holy Communion often?

We receive Holy Communion often because of how much we need what the Lord gives in His Supper. We dare never make a law about how often an individual “should” or “must” receive Holy Communion. But this is a separate question from how frequently Holy Communion is offered in our congregations. Our Lutheran Confessions make it clear that Holy Communion is offered every Lord’s Day and on other days when there are communicants present.

In saying this, our Confessions are merely reflecting the truth of the Sacred Scriptures, which place Holy Communion at the center of worship (Acts 2:42; 20:27; 1 Corinthians 11:20, 33), not as an appendage or an occasional extra. It is for this reason that we repeatedly encourage our members who so desire to receive Holy Communion every Sunday.

What should we do if we do not feel a need to receive Holy Communion?

Because of our sinful human nature, we are tempted at times to think, “I don’t need to take Communion. I just don’t feel like it.” But when we feel this way, we need to realize that in the Lord’s Supper, the holy God of God, and Light of Light, very God of very God, is coming among us, under the bread and wine, to be with us, to join Himself to us, to forgive, renew and strengthen us.