A Liturgical Church
Liturgy is the process by which God brings His free gift of forgiveness of sins to us, poor miserable sinners that we are. We receive, by the Holy Spirit, faith in Christ through baptism. That faith is strengthened through the hearing of God’s Word and receiving the Lord’s Supper.
In this same liturgy we give thanks and sacrifice to God for these gifts. We do so with our prayers of thanksgiving and praise, with hymns of worship that proclaim His glory and with our offerings.
In all of this we are part of the eternal Christian Church. We are triumphant over sin by the grace of God, through faith in Christ Jesus by His Holy Spirit. We celebrate this in our liturgy as it has and will be done forever.
The Lord’s Supper
The Sacrament of the Altar, Adapted from Luther’s Small Catechism
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 drink.
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.
Prayer before communing: Dear Savior, at Your gracious invitation I come to Your table to eat and drink Your holy body and blood. Let me find favor in Your eyes to receive this holy Sacrament in faith for the salvation of my soul and to the glory of Your holy name; for You live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
Our Communion Policy
The LCMS and Advent Evangelical Lutheran Church endorse the doctrine of closed communion.
Closed communion is the policy of sharing the Lord’s Supper ordinarily only with those who are baptized and confirmed members of one of the congregations of the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod or of a congregation of one of her sister churches with whom she has formally declared altar and pulpit fellowship. There are a variety of ways in which Missouri Synod congregations put closed communion into practice.
At Advent we ask visitors to speak with the pastor before coming to our altar for the first time.
Before visiting you may call our Senior Pastor at 317-873-6318 or e-mail him at jfiene@adventlutheran.org to discuss your questions, concerns or schedule a private meeting.