FAQs
When is Communion Offered? May I participate in it?
We celebrate the Lord’s Supper, almost every Sunday (about 48 out of 52 Sundays). There are a handful of Sundays when we use the order of Matins which is not a communion service.
Concerning Holy Communion: As a Family in Christ, we care about all who commune with us. We are deeply concerned that all who come to the Lord’s Table do so for their benefit and renewal of faith in Christ. Scripture says that we are to “examine ourselves” so that we receive Christ’s body and blood rightly and not drink judgment on ourselves at the Lord’s Table.
27 Whoever, therefore, eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty concerning the body and blood of the Lord. 28 Let a person examine himself, then, and so eat of the bread and drink of the cup. 29 For anyone who eats and drinks without discerning the body eats and drinks judgment on himself. (1st Corinthians 11:27-29)
We take our responsibility in this regard very seriously. Communing with us indicates unity with what we believe, teach and confess. For these reasons, if anyone has not been instructed in the beliefs of the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod, we request that they talk to our pastor about attending a class of instruction about what our church believes before communing.
Do you have different styles of worship services?
Lord of Life is traditional and liturgical. Each service is shaped by the liturgical year and the readings of the day (the lectionary.) We follow a predictable and ordered service format taken from one of the five Divine Service liturgies found in our denomination’s hymnal, the Lutheran Service Book. Our early and late services are identical (with the possible exception that the pastor is more awake for the late service.)
Do you have a praise band?
No.
Do you use the creeds? Why don’t you just use scripture?
The Lutheran Church is a confessional church, meaning we hold the Apostles’, Nicene and Athanasian Creeds to be faithful explications of what scripture teaches. We believe they summarize the essential elements of Christianity—the nature of God the Father as Creator, the Son as the Redeemer, and the Holy Spirit as the Sustainer of the Church Universal. Everyone has a creed of some sort—it just may not be written down formally. We recite our statements of beliefs weekly so that we are reminded of the essentials of our faith. Many people recite the creeds from memory. However, along with the rest of the service, the creed is printed in the bulletin so you can read it as you are comfortable. Our Lutheran liturgy is full of scripture. We sing or recite a psalm (or introit) most weeks, we sing “Glory be to God on high” from Luke 2, we sing “Holy, holy, holy, Lord God of power and might” (Isaiah 6:3), we pray “Lord, now let Your servants depart in peace” (Luke 2: 29) and weekly pray the Lord’s Prayer (Luke 11) and are dismissed to one of many scriptural benedictions. We follow the lectionary, meaning we listen to three portions of scripture during most worship services: the Old Testament lesson, the Epistle lesson (taken from Paul’s letters in the New Testament) and one of Gospels. We hope that everyone reads their Bible at home; but, if they don’t, we want to make sure everyone is nourished in God’s Word on Sunday morning.
What can I expect when I attend Lord of Life?
Whether you attend at 8:00 am or 10:45 am, you will be welcomed at the door by greeters who will give you an order of service. You are welcome to sit anywhere—there are no assigned pews! Chairs at the end of the rows have armrests for those needing them. We stand for most prayers and many hymns, but are seated at other times. Just follow the rest of the congregation. It is our goal that God will work through our worship so that we all might know Him in “spirit and in truth.”
What is the Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod?
With the universal Christian Church, The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod teaches and responds to the love of the Triune God: the Father, creator of all that exists; Jesus Christ, the Son, who became human to suffer and die for the sins of all human beings and to rise to life again in the ultimate victory over death and Satan; and the Holy Spirit, who creates faith through God's Word and Sacraments. The three persons of the Trinity are coequal and coeternal, one God.
We accept and teach Bible-based teachings of Martin Luther which can be summarized in three short phrases: Grace alone, Faith alone, Scripture alone.
Grace alone: God loves the people of the world, even though they are sinful, rebel against Him and do not deserve His love. He sent Jesus, His Son, to love the unlovable and save the ungodly.
Faith alone: By His suffering and death as the substitute for all people of all time, Jesus purchased and won forgiveness and eternal life for them. Those who hear this Good News and believe it have the eternal life that it offers. God creates faith in Christ and gives people forgiveness through Him.
Scripture alone: The Bible is God's inerrant and infallible Word, in which He reveals His Law and His Gospel of salvation in Jesus Christ. It is the sole rule and norm for Christian doctrine.
What does "Synod" mean?
The word "Synod" in The Lutheran Church--Missouri Synod comes from Greek words that mean "walking together." The term has rich meaning in our church body, because congregations voluntarily choose to belong to the Synod. Though diverse in their service, these congregations hold to a shared confession of Jesus Christ as taught in Holy Scripture and the Lutheran Confessions which they believe are a correct interpretation and presentation of Biblical doctrine. Contained in The Book of Concord: The Confessions of the Evangelical Lutheran Church, these statements of belief were put into writing by church leaders during the 16th century. The simplest of these is Luther's Small Catechism, and the Augsburg Confession gives more detail on what Lutherans believe. Visit the Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod's website for more information.
How do I become a member of Lord of Life Lutheran Church?
1) Transferring your membership from another LCMS Congregation: Please contact the Church Office.
2) Transferring your membership from another denomination or adult baptism, confirmation, & profession of faith:
Our Lutheran Information Class for Adults (LICA) prepares adults for church membership at Lord of Life. For those who come from a (non-LCMS) Lutheran background, these classes serve as a kind of "refresher" course in Lutheran doctrine, and as a way of clarifying the differences between the LCMS and other Lutherans. For those coming from other denominations, these classes provide a thorough overview of the LCMS' central and foundational teachings and beliefs. This 10 week interactive study is offered on an as need basis. Contact Pastor Shaltanis for more information.
How do I arrange for my child to be baptized at Lord of Life?
Please contact Pastor Shaltanis.
What is confirmation? How do I enroll my child in confirmation classes at Lord of Life?
Basic information on confirmation can be found here. Please contact Pastor Shaltanis for more information.
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