Holy Communion

Holy Communion is a sacred meal in which Christ comes to us in and through bread and wine. “This is my body given for you… This is my blood shed for you.” We believe those words to be true. Christ is truly present in Holy Communion. When we receive the bread and wine of this meal, we receive his body and blood.
Holy Communion goes by many names, Eucharist (meaning Thanksgiving), the Lord’s Supper, the Sacrament of the Table.

All of God’s people are welcome to our Lord’s table — it’s our Lord’s table after all, and all are invited. It is not “pastor’s” table, or “St. John’s” table or a “Lutheran” table. It is our Lord ’s Table, and Jesus sends out the invitations — to everyone.
There is no minimum age for receiving this sacrament. There is no sense of understanding or mental capacity necessary to receive communion.

If your child is baptized, then your child is ready.  But if you are still wondering, here are some questions:
Can my child receive a gift of love with “no strings attached?”
Is the child asking questions about Holy Communion?
Is there a verbal desire being expressed to receive communion?
 Does the child want to extend his or her hand to receive communion?
Does the child participate in the worship service (sings along in worship, says the Lord's prayer, etc.)?
Does the child talk about feeling left out when other family members commune?

We offer a formal class once a year during the season of Lent.  If you are interested in the class, if you have questions about the class, or if you’d like to sign up for the class, please contact the office.  Because our regularly scheduled class does not meet the calendar constraints of some families, we are pleased to offer individual classes.

What about allergies or other sensitivities to bread and wine?
As we seek to welcome all, we want to be sensitive to the special needs of all who gather with us.  We offer gluten-free bread and non-alcoholic juice to those who request it.