Attending an LCMS church...

[Proeliator]

It looks like a wonderful congregation. Very formal and traditional. I need to visit there sometime.

Thankfully they didn't look down on our informalness. We don't really have much in the way of dress clothes right now so....Just holding all the bills down is rough at the moment.

 

[Studeclunker]

I don't know how you do it, Shadrach. New York is insanely expensive. With little ones at that! My hat's off to you.
Don't worry about your clothing. They're there to save your soul, not your wardrobe (LOL).

 

[paladin_carvin]

(I hope you don't mind me making a comment- I am ELCA, but was a long time member of LCMS, and go to an LCMS church when not in town for my home church, so since this isn't really a 'what do you think' issue but 'what is it like', I felt it not so inappropriate. Woo- wordy!)

It looks like a great church. I like that a close resteraunt serving German food and beer is listed in the links! XD Hit the Lutheran nail on the head! (The question is, what is the nail posting? Hehe) But for a church (especially a Lutheran one) it is great to have that size if it can stay active and strong.

As for clothes, I've never felt (in any Lutheran church) that clothes were considered by -other- members of the church. A good number at all the (Lutheran) churches I have been to have felt that dressing well was important, because, being it God's day, they wanted to be at there best (think along the lines of giving your -first- ten percent as a tithe- it's the best you are offering). Others felt that coming to church in humility, 'as you are' (As Christ finds us, in the everyday) was more appropriate. Some, in more practical feeling, don't dress formaly because they don't want people who can't afford to drance formaly to feel they are out of place. I have myself felt different from time to time, and I have never been looked down for it either way.

Only other note (I don't think this was mentioned)- In the LCMS, often the communion is limited to members of the LCMS church, or those that were confirmed in the LCMS church. Unlike many of the big non-denom churches you mentioned, Holy Communion is not a fluffy thing to do once every couple months in a special service as symbol, but a serious, very real action of faith you partake with as part of the Church. You said you visited once, so, you may have gotten some of this in service or the like, so I won't go too into it, but it is important to talk to the pastor before taking communion to see at least what Communion is according to the Lutheran church, if not to see what they require before you partake.

Woo- wordy. Thanks for letting an elk have a word : )

 

[DaSeminarian]

I would like to see every LCMS church go to a custom of Holy Communion at every service every Sunday. I see the true benefits of receiving the sacrament as often as possible. One seminarian told me that during Holy Week last year he took the sacrament some 11 or 12 times. Seems like overkill, but he is not the kind to take the sacrament lightly.

God Bless

 

[Studeclunker]

Luther, have you ever served on the Altar Guild? Having communion on every Sunday is a tremendous amount of work. It's also expensive. Now, some churches don't mind the effort. Others just don't have the resources, ie: people, money, etc...

Please don't get me wrong on this. I agree with you. Still, having been there, I can see why many congregations don't serve communion every Sunday.

 

[synger]

Our church serves Communion every Sunday, but it alternates between the early and the late service. So one Sunday it is served at 8:00 and the next at 10:30, etc.

Oh, and on fifth Sundays we use the Order of Matins. There are folks who never miss a fifth Sunday, because it's such a treat to do that liturgy. I

 

[ricg]

I agree that I wouldn't stay away because of clothes. Wear the best you have. My attitude is we should dress as if we are going to meet our King, but that doesn't mean it needs necessarily be expensive, it just means it should be respectful and dignified. If that means sneakers for the kids because their feet are always growing, then so be it. If someone thinks it inappropriate, I would just explain that I'd be happy to have them buy my kids some dress shoes. By the same token, if they have dress shoes, then don't let them go in sneakers.

My 2 cents, as California Joshua would say.