Frequently Asked Quesitons

What does it mean that St. John is a Lutheran Church?
Being Lutheran, St. John accepts and uses the Christian, Bible-based teachings of Martin Luther who inspired the reformation of the Roman Catholic Church in the 16th century. Luther’s findings can be summarized in three short phrases:

• Grace alone—God loves the people of the world, even though they are sinful, rebel against Him and do not deserve His love. He sent Jesus, His Son, to love the unlovable and save the ungodly.
• Faith alone—By His suffering and death as the substitute for all people of all time, Jesus purchased and won forgiveness and eternal life for them. Those who hear this Good News and believe it have the eternal life that it offers. God creates faith in Christ and gives people forgiveness through Him.
• Scripture alone—The Bible is God's inerrant and infallible Word, in which He reveals His Law and His Gospel of salvation in Jesus Christ. It is the sole rule and norm for Christian doctrine.

I keep reading about worship at St. John.  What is worship?
In the Lutheran church, we understand that Christian Worship can be recognized in two ways.  First, we worship the God who is triune, that is, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.  The second way we recognize Christian worship is that it is centered on Jesus Christ, the only-begotten Son of God.  People often think that worship is about what we do for or toward God, but in our services, God is providing His service for us.  In the reading, preaching, and proclaiming His Word and in His Sacraments of Holy Baptism and Holy Communion, God comes to us.  In worship, God gives us His grace and then we respond with thanks and praise.

St. John is part of a larger church called the ‘Lutheran Church – Missouri Synod (LC–MS).  What is a Synod?
The word Synod in The Lutheran Church – Missouri Synod comes from Greek words that mean ‘walking together.’ The term has rich meaning in our church body, because congregations voluntarily choose to belong to the Synod. Though diverse in their service, these congregations hold to a shared confession of Jesus Christ as taught in Holy Scripture and the Lutheran Confessions which they believe are a correct interpretation and presentation of Biblical doctrine.

I have always believed that Jesus died for me, and considered myself to be a Christian, but I have never felt the need to join a church.  Why should I join St. John?
Joining any Christian congregation says to the public you are a Christian, that you are a member of God's own people, who are called " a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation" (1 Peter 2:9), and that you believe and act as a witness to the Christian faith and as an example to others. It means that you are doing what the very first Christians did in joining together to devote themselves to the apostles' teaching, and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer (Acts 2:42). It will tell other Christians and the world that you have considered it a serious matter to be able to join together with Christians to support the work of the church of calling a pastor, providing instruction in the Christian faith for the youth, adults, doing evangelism and mission work at home and abroad. This is a serious declaration that you intend—with His help—to participate fully in doing the things of God.

What is Holy Communion?  Is this the same thing as the Lord’s Supper?
St. John believes that Scripture teaches that the Lord's Supper is a precious gift of God in which Jesus Christ gives us His true body and blood (in a miraculous way), together with the bread and wine, for the forgiveness of our sins and the strengthening of our faith.  The Lord’s Supper is also called the ‘Eucharist’ (Greek for ‘giving thanks’) and the ‘Sacrament of the Altar’ (an act by which the Lord offers His body and blood under the form of consecrated bread and wine for Christians to eat and drink). In this meal, we are in communion, or in fellowship, with one another at the table of the Lord. 

For more information about the Lord’s Supper at St. John, you may reference the ‘About the Lord’s Supper’ pamphlet in the pew rack or in the back of the worship center.

How do I receive forgiveness?
In each worship service at St. John, we confess our sins to God, because we know that we know we have thought, said, and done evil things.  When we confess our sins, we are aware that we deserve punishment and God’s judgment.  But the Lord is present with us and ready to forgive.  After all, this is the reason God gathers His people together in worship, to give them His mercy and grace.  “If we confess our sins, God is faithful and just to forgive our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9).  Our Lord declares through the mouth of His servant, the pastor, that by His grace and mercy our sins are forgiven.  Through the Gospel words of the Absolution, or the announcement of forgiveness, we receive the salvation earned by Christ upon the cross of Calvary; every sin is covered by His blessed death.