1. The Doors and Beyond! Part Seven - Lesson 2 People Are Strange

2. Communion Practice at Saint Luke We believe and teach that holy communion is the true body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ under the bread and wine, instituted by Christ Himself for us Christians to eat and to drink. (Luther's Small Catechism) We believe that this meal we share does not belong to any pastor, congregation, or church body. It is truly what it is called: the Lord's Table. Because it belongs to the Lord Himself, we welcome everyone to this table whom our Lord welcomes to this table, namely every Christian who shares this belief and desires what He gives to sinners in this meal: forgiveness, life, and salvation. We welcome children who have not yet been instructed concerning the Lord's Supper or who have not yet been confirmed to come to the altar to receive a blessing. Please let the pastor know beforehand whether a child has been confirmed.

3. ESV Malachi 4:1 "For behold, the day is coming, burning like an oven, when all the arrogant and all evildoers will be stubble. The day that is coming shall set them ablaze, says the LORD of hosts, so that it will leave them neither root nor branch. 2 But for you who fear my name, the sun of righteousness shall rise with healing in its wings. You shall go out leaping like calves from the stall. 3 And you shall tread down the wicked, for they will be ashes under the soles of your feet, on the day when I act, says the LORD of hosts. 4 "Remember the law of my servant Moses, the statutes and rules that I commanded him at Horeb for all Israel. 5 "Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the great and awesome day of the LORD comes. 6 And he will turn the hearts of fathers to their children and the hearts of children to their fathers, lest I come and strike the land with a decree of utter destruction."

4. ESV Romans 15:4 For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope. 5 May the God of endurance and encouragement grant you to live in such harmony with one another, in accord with Christ Jesus, 6 that together you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. 7 Therefore welcome one another as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God.

5. ESV Luke 21:33 "Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away. 34 "But watch yourselves lest your hearts be weighed down with dissipation and drunkenness and cares of this life, and that day come upon you suddenly like a trap. 35 For it will come upon all who dwell on the face of the whole earth. 36 But stay awake at all times, praying that you may have strength to escape all these things that are going to take place, and to stand before the Son of Man."

6. Communion Practice at Saint Luke... We believe that this meal we share does not belong to any pastor, congregation, or church body. It is truly what it is called: the Lord's Table. Because it belongs to the Lord Himself, we welcome everyone to this table whom our Lord welcomes to this table, namely every Christian who shares this belief and desires what He gives to sinners in this meal: forgiveness, life, and salvation.

7. we welcome everyone to this table whom our Lord welcomes to this table, namely every Christian who shares this belief and desires what He gives to sinners in this meal: forgiveness, life, and salvation.

8. If any brother, man or woman, come in from another parish, bringing recommendatory letters, let the deacon be the judge of that affair, inquiring whether they be of the faithful, and of the Church? Whether they be not defiled by heresy?...And when he is satisfied in these questions, that they are really of the faithful, and of the same sentiments in the things of the Lord, let him conduct every one to the place proper for him. – Ap. Const. Bk VIII Sec. II, XII

10. Closed Communion: Rome & East = 61%

12. ESV Exodus 12:48 If a stranger shall sojourn with you and would keep the Passover to the LORD, let all his males be circumcised. Then he may come near and keep it; he shall be as a native of the land. But no uncircumcised person shall eat of it. 49 There shall be one law for the native and for the stranger who sojourns among you."

13. ESV John 13:10 Jesus said to him, "The one who has bathed does not need to wash, except for his feet, but is completely clean. And you are clean, but not every one of you." 11 For he knew who was to betray him; that was why he said, "Not all of you are clean." ESV Leviticus 22:4 None of the offspring of Aaron who has a leprous disease or a discharge may eat of the holy things until he is clean. Whoever touches anything that is unclean... shall be unclean... and shall not eat of the holy things unless he has bathed his body in water.

17. Let the children stand at the reading-desk; and let another deacon stand by them, that they may not be disorderly. And let other deacons walk about and watch the men and women, that no tumult may be made, and that no one nod, or whisper, or slumber; and let the deacons stand at the doors of the men, and the sub-deacons at those of the women, that no one go out, nor a door be opened, although it be for one of the faithful, at the time of the oblation. But let one of the sub-deacons bring water to wash the hands of the priests, which is a symbol of the purity of those souls that are devoted to God. – Ap. Const. Bk VIII Sec. II, XI

18. ESV Psalm 26:2 Prove me, O LORD, and try me; test my heart and my mind. 3 For your steadfast love is before my eyes, and I walk in your faithfulness. 4 I do not sit with men of falsehood, nor do I consort with hypocrites. 5 I hate the assembly of evildoers, and I will not sit with the wicked. 6 I wash my hands in innocence and go around your altar, O LORD, 7 proclaiming thanksgiving aloud, and telling all your wondrous deeds.

19. Approaching the Lords Altar 1.Avoid incontinence, dissipation, drunkenness, etc. 2.Make use of private Prayer, Meditation, Self-Examination 3.Visit the pastor for Private Confession and Absolution 4.Reconcile with others 5.Fast before the Sacrament 6.Get plenty of sleep the night before 7.Rise in plenty of time and avoid distractions 8.Enter the nave quietly, reverently, respectfully 9.Visit the restroom before service to avoid leaving 10.Wash hands – they will handle Holy Things 11. Remove gum (lipstick, retainer, tongue-ring?) 12. Devote yourself to praying the Liturgy and the hearing of Christs own Voice... Exercise self-discipline 13. Come in the humility of faith, with a heart adorned in true contrition and true desire for Christs forgiveness

21. Offertory – DS 3

22. ESV Psalm 51:10 Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. 11 Cast me not away from your presence, and take not your Holy Spirit from me. 12 Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and uphold me with a willing spirit. 13 Then I will teach transgressors your ways, and sinners will return to you.

23. Offertory – DS 1

24. ESV Psalm 116:12 What shall I render to the LORD for all his benefits to me? 13 I will lift up the cup of salvation and call on the name of the LORD, 14 I will pay my vows to the LORD in the presence of all his people. 15 Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his saints. 16 O LORD, I am your servant; I am your servant, the son of your maidservant. You have loosed my bonds. 17 I will offer to you the sacrifice of thanksgiving and call on the name of the LORD. 18 I will pay my vows to the LORD in the presence of all his people, 19 in the courts of the house of the LORD, in your midst, O Jerusalem. Praise the LORD!

25. P Do you confess the doctrine of the Evangelical Lutheran Church, drawn from the Scriptures, as you have learned to know it from the Small Catechism, to be faithful and true? R I do. P Do you intend to hear the Word of God and receive the Lord's Supper faithfully? R I do, by the grace of God. P Do you intend to live according to the Word of God, and in faith, word, and deed to remain true to God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, even to death? R I do, by the grace of God. P Do you intend to continue steadfast in this confession Rite of Confirmation and Church and to suffer all, even death, rather than fall away from it? R I do, by the grace of God.

26. In truth all kinds of tribulation were wrought out beyond number on us, perhaps because we were paying the penalty of sins, perhaps because the merciful God was trying us by means of the multitude of our sufferings. For these all thanks to God, who by means of such afflictions trained his servants and, according to the multitude of his mercies, brought us again to refreshment. We indeed needed long leisure, time, and toil to restore the church once more, that so, like physicians healing the body after long sickness and expelling its disease by gradual treatment, we might bring her back to her ancient health of true religion. Synodical Letter, Council of Constantinople, AD 382 Semper Reformanda!

27. Next Week Prayers and Preface!