Here at Hope Lutheran Church, we offer the Sacrament of the Altar (sometimes referred to as the Lord's Supper, the Eucharist, or Holy Communion) every Sunday. In the Sacrament, we receive our Lord Jesus' very body and blood for the forgiveness of sins. It is a great gift to us and is the center and the heart of the Divine Service. Throughout the ages, the Christian church has identified the Lord's Day (Sunday) with the Lord's Supper.
What is a sacrament?
There is no one universally accepted definition of what a sacrament is. The Lutheran Church has defined a sacrament as a sacred act which is:
Although God is present and operates everywhere throughout all creation and the whole earth, Holy Scripture also teaches that God offers and communicates to us the spiritual blessings purchased by Christ, namely— the forgiveness of sins through external means such as Holy Communion. Along with the Word of God and Holy Baptism, the Sacrament of the Altar gives and seals to us the forgiveness of sins, as the Word of Jesus declares: "Given for you," and: "Shed for you for the remission of sins," Luke 22:19, 20; Matthew 26:28, and: "This cup is the New Testament in My blood," 1 Corinthians 11:23; Jeremiah 31:31-34. We reject as a dangerous error the doctrine, which disrupted the Church of the Reformation, that the grace and the Spirit of God are communicated not through the external means ordained by Him, but by an immediate operation of grace. This erroneous doctrine bases the forgiveness of sins, or justification, upon a fictitious "infused grace," that is, upon a quality of man, and thus again establishes the work-doctrine of the papists. (abridged from the Brief Statement of the Doctrinal Position of the Missouri Synod – adopted 1932)
The sainted Rev. Dr. Rev. A.L. Barry (former president of the LC-MS) described the Sacrament this way:
On the journey through our earthly life to heaven, our good and gracious God provides a holy and precious meal to sustain and strengthen us on our pilgrimage — the Lord’s Supper. What a privilege it is for us to receive this powerfully comforting gift! Thanks and praise forever be to God for the Sacrament of the Altar. Guide me ever, great Redeemer, pilgrim through this barren land. I am weak, but you are mighty; hold me with your powerful hand. Bread of heaven, bread of heaven, feed me now and evermore.
Why do we need the Lord’s Supper?
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 the Lord’s Supper. 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 (Matt. 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” (Matt. 26:26-29; Mark 14:22-25; Luke 22:14-20; 1 Cor. 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). Soul, adorn yourself with gladness, leave the gloomy haunts of sadness, come into the daylight’s splendor, there with joy your praises render. Bless the One whose grace unbounded this amazing banquet founded. He, though heavenly, high, and holy; deigns to dwell with you most lowly.
What is Jesus giving us in the Lord’s Supper?
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. It is often observed how there is a foreshadowing of the Lord’s Supper in the Old Testament discussion of how the sacrifices were eaten by those for whom they were offered (1 Cor. 10:18).The Scriptures indicate that without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins (Heb.9:22).The blood of Jesus Christ, God’s Son, cleanses us from all sin (1 John 1:7; Matt.26:28;Acts 20:28;Rom.5:9;Heb.9:14;Heb.12:24; 1 Peter 1:18-19;Rev.1:5;Rev.7:14).And it is this very blood He gives in His Supper. Draw near and take the body of the Lord, and drink the holy blood for you outpoured; Offered was He for greatest and for least, Himself the victim and Himself the priest.
How is Jesus present in His Supper?
We do not try to explain how Jesus is present under the bread and wine of the Lord’s Supper, rather we believe, teach, confess and rejoice that He is present. We Lutherans let the words of Jesus stand without arguing about their possibility, or trying to explain how they are true. As Luther put it so clearly, "We maintain that the bread and the wine in the Supper are the true body and blood of Christ”(SA III.6). Everyone who communes receives into their mouths the body and blood of Jesus Christ, whether they believe it or not, be they worthy or unworthy. Jesus’ Word is sure and certain. The Holy Spirit gives us faith to trust in and believe Jesus’ words,“Given and shed 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 and efficacious power and thus, by virtue of these words, the body and blood of Christ are truly present, distributed and received. Your body and your blood, once slain and shed for me, are taken at your table, Lord, in blest reality. Search not how this takes place, this wondrous mystery; God can accomplish vastly more than what we think could be.
from "What About the Sacrament of the Altar?" by A.L. Barry
[Jesus said,] "Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if any one hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with me" (Revelation 3:20)
Closed Communion
As a member congregation of the Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod (LC-MS), we practice the ancient, Biblical practice of Close communion (sometimes called Closed Communion). We are required to do so by Holy Scripture and by the confession of our Church. This is a practice that historic Lutheranism shares in common with Roman Catholicism and Eastern Orthodoxy. Simply put, it means participation in the Sacrament of the Lord’s Supper is limited to those who have been instructed in the confession and belief of the Lutheran Church on the doctrine and use of the Lord’s Supper, and have given public confession and testimony of their personal agreement with these teachings.
Each week our Sunday bulletin lists the following Communion Announcement, written by our previous pastor, the Rev. Alan Stoll:
HOLY COMMUNION— This Sacrament is celebrated every Sunday at Hope. The Bible gives specific guidelines about receiving the Lord's Supper. As it can be received either to one's spiritual blessing or to one's spiritual harm (1 Cor. 11), the Lord's Table must be approached with sincere faith and full understanding. That's why all who are new to the Lutheran faith receive special instruction about this sacred meal before attending the Supper.
This Sacrament is also a celebration of oneness in faith, and we welcome all who have made a public confirmation of their faith here or at a sister LC–MS church. Other guests who wish to receive Holy Communion are asked to please speak with the pastor or an elder prior to the service. The faith we believe and profess is God's beautiful gift. If you are new to Hope, we warmly welcome you to learn about this faith. Please check with Pastor Matt to learn when the next class is forming.
To learn more about Closed Communion, click here.
What is the Sacrament of the Altar?
It 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.
Where is this written?
The holy Evangelists Matthew, Mark, Luke and St. Paul write: Our Lord Jesus Christ, on the night when He was betrayed, took bread, and when He had given thanks, He broke it and gave it to the disciples and said: "Take, eat; this is My body, which is given for you. This do in remembrance of Me." In the same way also he took the cup after supper, and when He had given thanks, He gave it to them, saying, "Drink of it, all of you; this cup is the new testament in My blood, which is shed for you for the forgiveness of sins. This do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me."
What is the benefit of this eating and drinking?
These words, "Given and shed for you for the forgiveness of sins," shows us that in the Sacrament forgiveness of sins, life, and salvation are given us through these words. For where there is forgiveness of sins, there is also life and salvation.
How can bodily eating and drinking do such great things?
Certainly not just eating and drinking do these things, but the words written here: "Given and shed for you for the forgiveness of sins." These words, along with the bodily eating and drinking, are the main thing in the Sacrament. Whoever believes these words has exactly what they say: "forgiveness of sins."
Who receives this sacrament worthily?
Fasting and bodily preparation are certainly fine outward training. But that person is truly worthy and well prepared who has faith in these words: "Given and shed for you for the forgiveness of sins." But anyone who does not believe these words or doubts them is unworthy and unprepared, for the words "for you" require all hearts to believe.
— from Luther's Small Catechism
