We’re a liturgical church, using Lutheran Service Book for all of our services. The order of service is found in the bulletin and will guide you through the service in regards to liturgy and hymns. Inside the bulletin there is a seasonally-colored sheet with announcements of activities, weekly calendar, prayers and a devotion to be used with your family at home.
We offer the Lord’s Supper on a regular basis as part of our Services, and we observe the historic Christian practice of Closed Communion. See below for more on this.
After the service, the congregation gathers in the Parish Hall for donuts and coffee Following a brief time together, the children are dismissed for Sunday School and the adults gather for the Scripture Study. Please plan on sticking around for this too! It is very good to study the Scriptures together, and this time is great for asking questions about the service, the Bible, or anything else you’ve been wondering.
Our Communion Practice
At Good Shepherd we follow the historic Christian practice of Closed Communion (sometimes referred to as Close Communion). This practice is commonly misunderstood, and therefore sometimes leads to offense. We have no desire to offend you! However, we cannot be unfaithful to the instruction of our Lord Jesus Christ when it comes to the Lord’s Supper.
Vistors and guests are always welcome to Good Shepherd and we pray those attending will be blessed by the service. We encourage those visitors and guests to return to worship on a regular basis.
Here is the Communion Statement which is published each week inside our bulletin. It briefly explains the practice. If you’ll be joining us, please feel free to contact Pastor Schneider ahead of time. Seriously! He’s ready and willing to chat with you about receiving the Supper here, either right away or after a period of instruction in what we believe, teach, and confess:
The Lord’s Supper is joyfully received here today. At the altar, our Lord Jesus Christ delivers His True Body and Blood into our mouths. His gift of Body and Blood, given in, with, and under the bread and wine, forgives our sins, strengthens our faith, binds us to the Lord, and unites us with each other.
Members of Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod congregations have publicly confessed this sacred gift and its blessings, and so are encouraged to commune. Other guests wishing to join our confession and receive this Holy Sacrament are encouraged to speak with one of the pastors before communing for the first time.
Anyone not receiving the Sacrament today is welcome to come forward to the rail to receive a blessing from the pastor. Please stand or kneel with your arms crossed over your chest, as a sign of your desire to receive a blessing.
Again, if you have any questions about our communion practice, or anything else regarding Good Shepherd, please contact us! We would love to help you with any questions you might have.