tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6881617320676906596.post4336717967300325044..comments2024-01-02T16:09:57.364-07:00Comments on Intrepid Lutherans: The journey to the cross and the empty tomb - a Lutheran translationIntrepid Lutheranshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05867580862562801804noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6881617320676906596.post-81130269609149561722012-04-02T22:48:28.659-07:002012-04-02T22:48:28.659-07:00I am eagerly looking forward to celebrating the Ho...I am eagerly looking forward to celebrating the Holy Supper at my home parish this coming Easter. I think it is the first time that the Blessed Sacrament has been celebrated on the Feast of the Resurrection since I have been a member; perhaps one of the first times in congregational history! The Lord is merciful.Daniel Bakerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02167233773588648850noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6881617320676906596.post-65768420020386171762012-04-02T19:51:08.272-07:002012-04-02T19:51:08.272-07:00I once heard it suggested that, in our Christian f...<i>I once heard it suggested that, in our Christian freedom to not offer Holy Communion on any given Sunday, maybe Easter Sunday is the best time to exercise that freedom for the sake of our Easter visitors.</i><br /><br />I assume these Easter visitors are unchurched or nonmember visitors. It is a faulty philosophy of ministry that leads to the practice of not offering the Sacrament on the most Christ-centered festivals of the church year because of the visitor.<br /><br />First of all, the Divine Service is primarily for the believer members, not the unchurched, otherchurched, or unbelieving visitors. what better time to proclaim and offer the "living Christ" * than in Holy Communion on Easter Sunday!<br /><br />Secondly, Close Communion is not something to be afraid or ashamed of. My experience has been that most visitors understand it. And if a visitor should come forward to receive the Sacrament, which I have to assume is in faith, then I remember that the Sacrament is not a boiling cauldron of witch's brew that will burn the non-member visitor from the inside out. Holy Communion is gospel, pure gospel, and evangelism to the visitor who hears and sees the Sacrament, but does not receive it.<br /><br />* "And we speak of the presence of the living Christ [living body]; for we know that death hath no more dominion over Him, Rom. 6:9." - Apology X:57.<br /><br />- Rev. James SchulzAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com