Visiting LCMS this weekend - question

[NowIC]

Hi all -
I will be visiting a LCMS church this Sunday for the 1st time. I was raised a Roman Catholic and have been attending a non-denom. church of late as the emphasis on grace by faith alone appeals to me. However, I miss the reverential quality of the Catholic church. So I've been guided to a Lutheran church. The great thing is that I have emailed the Pastor in advance and have gotten great info. from him. I know that the practice will be "closed communion", but is there anything else I should be aware of when I visit? I just don't want to offend anyone at my first visit....

Thanks.

 

[DaRev]

If you are familiar with the Roman Catholic Mass, you should be very comfortable in an LCMS traditional service. The elements of the service are very similar.
As far as the congregation, local traditions vary from church to church. It might be a good idea to speak with either the pastor or an elder as to how to follow the service, either from the hymnal or a printed bulletin. If they know you are a visitor with an interest in joining they should welcome your questions and be able to answer them for you.

God's blessings to you in your worship this Sunday.

 

[Aibrean]

At our church we have communion open for those who believe the following (I took this pretty much straight off my church website):

We believe that in Communion when we receive the bread and wine we actually receive the Lord's Body and Blood for the forgiveness of sin and strength to serve God in our lives. If you are a baptized and repentant Christian who desires to commune with us, we believe that you are thereby publicly declaring your oneness in faith with us, and that you too recognize the Lord's Body and Blood are being received with the bread and wine.
Guests who desire to commune with us are asked to affirm what we believe regarding the Lord's Supper.

 

[LilLamb219]

Do you know what type of service it will be? A liturgical one will make you very comfortable given your RC background

I don't know if there will be any surprises, but just follow the crowd on when to stand or sit. Come back and tell us how it went!

 

[DaRev]

At our church we have communion open for those who believe the following (I took this pretty much straight off my church website):

We believe that in Communion when we receive the bread and wine we actually receive the Lord's Body and Blood for the forgiveness of sin and strength to serve God in our lives. If you are a baptized and repentant Christian who desires to commune with us, we believe that you are thereby publicly declaring your oneness in faith with us, and that you too recognize the Lord's Body and Blood are being received with the bread and wine.
Guests who desire to commune with us are asked to affirm what we believe regarding the Lord's Supper.

Ours goes into a little more detail than that with the addition of "Those who have not been instructed in the faith, have doubts, or hold to a confession different than the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod, yet wish to commune, are asked to first speak with the pastor."

In any case, it is always a good idea to speak with the pastor anytime one visits a church for the first time.

 

[porterross]

NowIC
Welcome! Former Roman Catholics make great Miss. Synod Lutherans. Some of my favorite people in my church are converts and they just can't seem to get enough.
I pray the liturgy is traditional and reverent for a whole host of reasons, one of them being your feeling comfortable and fed. We FINALLY had a formal, traditional liturgy here last Sunday after years without one and everyone was thrilled, especially the former Roman Catholics.
Blessings on your worship experience and if that congregation is anything like ours, expect a few of these.

 

[DaRev]

We FINALLY had a formal, traditional liturgy here last Sunday after years without one and everyone was thrilled, especially the former Roman Catholics.

Hmmm... I bet it was a Yankee preacher...

 

[NowIC]

Thanks all for your replies. I will let you know how it goes tomorrow. I'm looking forward to it.

 

[Lupinus]

Well I'm still pretty new (been going for bout a month and a half) and I like it. It has all the stuff that I felt to be right, and had moved away from most everything I had heard about and didn't agree with from my understandings of the bible. So yeah I'm liking it at the one I have been going to. The first service was a bit confusing but I caught on quickly enough.

That said (like I said I'm still new to this) what would be the definition of a liturgical service? Still getting used to terms and such

 

[DaRev]

That said (like I said I'm still new to this) what would be the definition of a liturgical service? Still getting used to terms and such

A liturgical service is one that follows a set order of worship, either from a hymnal/service book or a printed bulletin insert. The music is normally traditional hymns and very reverent.

As opposed to a "contemporary" style that normally does not follow a set worship order and the music is more modern.

 

[Lupinus]

Ah ok then thats what I was thinking but wasn't sure.

Thats how it is done at the church I have been going to and rather enjoy it. Naturally I come in when they switch to new hymnals and are getting used to the worships in it themselves. I pick the best times to get envolved in things.

 

[DaRev]

Then you are learning right along with them. That's actually pretty cool when you think of it.

 

[Aibrean]

Our contemporary service is a combination:

"Liturgical elements and the worship band combine to give God all the glory and praise - an atmosphere that encourages a reverent yet relaxed style of worship."