For Visitors
Visitors and children - even sweet little noisy ones, since there is no more wonderful sound than a child in church - are always welcome to participate with us in the Divine Service every Sunday morning at 8:00 am, as well as Wednesday evenings during the season of Lent. As you prepare to visit St. Paul for the first time, there are perhaps a few things you may like to know. Restrooms and changing tables are located just outside the sanctuary. If you need anything else please feel free to ask one of the ushers.
A note about Holy Communion. At St. Paul Lutheran Church we celebrate the Lord's Supper on the second and fourth Sundays of the month. As part of our belief in the Lord's Supper, we follow the historic Lutheran practice of closed communion. This is nothing new, nor a novel innovation of the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod. Rather, for many centuries, this has been the universal practice of all of Christendom, and to this day, is still practiced by the majority of the Christian Church. We observe closed communion to protect people in body and soul from taking the Lord’s Supper to their judgment and harm. (1 Corinthians 11:27-32)
We observe closed communion because the Lord’s Supper is a public profession of our unity of faith. (1 Corinthians 10:16-17) Our practice is guided by our love, care, and concern for people. We ask that if you are not a confirmed member of a congregation of the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod, that you do not commune until you have had a chance to visit with our Pastor. Please know that this ancient practice is in no way any kind of judgment on you or your faith, and that we eagerly look forward to having you at the Lord’s Table with us. Our Pastor sincerely invites you to visit with him about the joys of Holy Communion. He will offer you instruction about our Lutheran faith and this sacrament of the Lord’s Supper, so you will be ready to stand with us and partake of this wonderful meal.
For a brief explanation of the practice of closed communion please read this short pamphlet or feel free to contact our Pastor with any questions.