When we celebrate the Lord's Supper, this holy meal is so precious to Christ's people that we are encouraged in Scripture to prepare our hearts and minds before receiving it:

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"Let a person examine himself, then, and so eat of the bread and drink of the cup."

1 Corinthians 11:28 ESV

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With this understanding, we encourage both members of Zion Lutheran and also our visitors to take a few moments to prepare yourselves through the following questions:

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Do you believe in the Savior Jesus Christ?

To believe in Jesus Christ is to know and trust in Jesus as my only Savior from sin, death, and the devil and believe that He gives me eternal life (see Acts 4:12, John 3:36)

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Do you trust His Words in the Sacrament?

(Jesus said) "This is my body, which is given for you...This cup that is poured out for your [for the forgiveness of sins] is the new covenant in my blood" (Luke 22:19-20, Matthew 26:28).  In other words, our Lord gives into our mouths no only the bread and wine, but his very body and blood to eat and to drink for the forgiveness of sins and to strengthen our union with him and with one another.

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Are you sorry for your sins?

"For godly grief produces a repentance that leads to salvation without regret, whereas worldly grief produces death."  (2 Corinthians 7:10)

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Do you plan with the help of the Holy Spirit, to change your sinful life?

You were taught "to put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness." (Ephesians 4:22-24)

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If you have answered YES to all of these questions, the Lord has prepared your heart and mind to receive what Christ gives to us in the Lord's Supper.  For further preparation you are encouraged to use some of the prayers on the inside cover of the Lutheran Service Book located in each pew.

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A SPECIAL NOTE TO GUESTS AND VISITORS

Because those who eat and drink our Lord's body and blood unworthily do so to their great harm (see 1 Corinthians 1:27), we ask that anyone who has not previously communed here at Zion Lutheran to please speak with the pastor or an elder before coming to the Lord's table to commune.

 

If a worshipper is not yet ready to commune with us but wishes to receive a blessing, they are invited to come forward and kneel at the rail, with arms folded and hands on opposite shoulders to indicate that they wish to receive a blessing.

 

Alcohol reduced wine is offered for those with health or medical conditions, as well as, gluten free bread wafers if so preferred.​​

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A list of partner church bodies which the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod have a recognized full altar and pulpit fellowship with can be viewed here.