Believing and Worship: Frequently Asked Questions
Q: When I was a child growing up in the Catholic church, we had seven sacraments. How many does the Lutheran church have and what are they?
A: Lutherans define a sacrament as an act that is commanded by Christ, uses a material or earthly element, and through connection with the Word is the bearer of God’s promise. Using these criteria, Holy Baptism and Holy Communion are the sacraments practiced in the Lutheran church.
Q: What does the Lutheran church believe about Holy Baptism?
A: Holy Baptism was commanded by Christ when he came to his disciples following the resurrection. As we read in Matthew 28:18-20, “And Jesus came and said to them, ‘All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you.’” Baptism joins the common, everyday element of water with God’s word, to assure us of the gifts of forgiveness of sins, eternal life and connection to all Christians in our local community as well as with those in all times and places.
Q: How is this sacrament celebrated at St. John's?
A: At St. John's, individuals may be baptized at any age. Many parents bring their infants for baptism, but children of all ages, as well as adults, are welcome to receive this sacrament. If you are interested in baptism, please contact one of our pastors by email or call the church office to speak with them.
Q: What does the Lutheran church believe about Holy Communion?
A: Holy Communion has its scriptural basis in Jesus’ Last Supper with his disciples, as told in Matthew 26:26-29, Mark 14:22-25, and Luke 22:14-20. These are the words as we hear them in our service of Holy Communion: “In the night in which he was betrayed, our Lord Jesus took bread, and gave thanks; broke it, and gave it to his disciples, saying: Take and eat; this is my body, given for you. Do this for the remembrance of me. Again, after supper, he took the cup, gave thanks, and gave it for all to drink, saying: This cup is the new covenant in my blood, shed for you and for all people for the forgiveness of sin. Do this for the remembrance of me.” The created elements of bread and wine, together with God’s word, assure us that we will receive forgiveness of sins and everlasting life.
Q: How is this sacrament celebrated at St. John's?
A: At St. John's, ours is not the table of one tradition, but the table of Christ, whose invitation is to all. Communion is for those with great faith, as well as for those who would like to have more; for those who have tried to follow Jesus, and those who have failed.
When you come forward, the communion server will place a piece of bread in your hand and you may dip it in the chalice of wine or white grape juice, or you may drink directly from the cup. Gluten-free wafers are also available upon request. If you are unable to come to the altar, simply tell someone near you, so they can tell us and we can come to you.
Q: I noticed that we said the Nicene Creed on Christmas Eve, but we usually say the Apostles’ Creed. What is the difference?
A: Both the Apostles’ and the Nicene Creeds (and, incidentally the lengthier Athanasian Creed, which you can find on page 54 of Lutheran Book of Worship) are statements of our beliefs as a church. Each of the creeds addresses what we believe about the nature of God the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.
The Apostles’ Creed has been in use since early in the 3rd century. It has had a place throughout history in the baptism liturgy, and is always recited during the service of Holy Baptism, as well as in the regular worship service on most occasions. (When a baptism is held during a worship service, the creed is said here instead of later in the service.)
The Nicene Creed is usually said on festivals such as Christmas Eve and Easter. This creed was forumlated in the year 325 A.D. At this time the church felt a need to clarify certain of its beliefs, so the baptismal creed (Apostles’ Creed) was expanded to include additional statements about the nature of God.
The Athanasian Creed, written during the 5th century, is more of an expanded comment on particular theological issues and is not generally said in the context of worship.
Q: Why do Lutherans say we believe in “the holy catholic Church”?
A: Most Reformation and post-Reformation Churches use the term catholic to refer to the belief that all Christians are part of one universal Church, regardless of denominational divisions. It is in line with this interpretation, which applies the word "catholic"/"universal" to no one denomination, that we understand the phrase "holy catholic church" in the Apostles’ Creed, and “one holy catholic and apostolic church” in the Nicene Creed.
Q: Where can I find out more about the sacraments and the creeds?
A: Martin Luther wrote an explanation of The Ten Commandments, The Apostles’ Creed, The Lord’s Prayer and the sacraments and the Lord’s Prayer in The Small Catechism, which can be found online at www.bookofconcord.org/smallcatechism.html.
Q. Why do the pastors wear different colored stoles, and why are the decorations in the church different colors in different seasons?
A: We are following the tradition of the church year, which is a representation of the life of Christ. It is arranged around two principle events, Christ’s birth and resurrection .Each of these events is part of a larger season, Advent through Epiphany (called the Christmas Cycle) and Lent through Pentecost (called the Easter Cycle).
Q. So what is the Christmas Cycle?
A: The Christmas Cycle begins with Advent, the four weeks before Christmas. Advent is meant to be a time of preparation for the coming of Jesus. It is a season of hope, emphasized by the use of the color blue. The church season of Christmas begins with Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. For these days and the weeks following, white is used in the worship space, symbolizing joy, purity and the light of Christ. Christmas continues until Epiphany, the time when Jesus was baptized and was visited by the Magi, representatives of the nations who came to worship Jesus. In the Lutheran church, this is often a time of emphasis on world missions. The color green, symbolic of growth in the Christian life, is used during the Time after Epiphany, except for the special days of the Baptism of our Lord and the Transfiguration of Our Lord, when white is used.
Q: And what is the Easter Cycle?
A: The season of Lent begins the Easter Cycle. Purple is used during this season as a symbol if penitence. During Holy Week, the week before Easter, red is used on Palm Sunday and Maundy Thursday to symbolize the passion of Christ. Gold is used on Easter to indicate the prominence of this single most important event in the year. In the weeks following Easter, white is once again used. The Easter cycle concludes with Pentecost, when red is used to represent the fire of the Holy Spirit. The time after Pentecost begins with Holy Trinity. White is again used as a symbol of Christ’s light. Green is the color seen inside the church during the long season following Holy Trinity and lasting until Advent. Some churches call this “ordinary time”, meaning not mundane or common but ordinal, or counted time, as in “the seventh week after Pentecost.” In the church, green reminds us that just as there is natural growth, there is spiritual growth in our lives, as well. While our lawns and gardens grow and “green up”, we are growing spiritually as we send our roots down deep into the soil of God’s love. Lutherans interrupt the Time after Pentecost to celebrate the Reformation, and the color red is used for this major church occasion. White is then used for the last week before Advent, Christ the King, when we celebrate the kingship and sovereignty of Christ.
More information about our beliefs and practices as Lutherans can be found at www.elca.org/What-We-Believe.aspx.
A: Lutherans define a sacrament as an act that is commanded by Christ, uses a material or earthly element, and through connection with the Word is the bearer of God’s promise. Using these criteria, Holy Baptism and Holy Communion are the sacraments practiced in the Lutheran church.
Q: What does the Lutheran church believe about Holy Baptism?
A: Holy Baptism was commanded by Christ when he came to his disciples following the resurrection. As we read in Matthew 28:18-20, “And Jesus came and said to them, ‘All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you.’” Baptism joins the common, everyday element of water with God’s word, to assure us of the gifts of forgiveness of sins, eternal life and connection to all Christians in our local community as well as with those in all times and places.
Q: How is this sacrament celebrated at St. John's?
A: At St. John's, individuals may be baptized at any age. Many parents bring their infants for baptism, but children of all ages, as well as adults, are welcome to receive this sacrament. If you are interested in baptism, please contact one of our pastors by email or call the church office to speak with them.
Q: What does the Lutheran church believe about Holy Communion?
A: Holy Communion has its scriptural basis in Jesus’ Last Supper with his disciples, as told in Matthew 26:26-29, Mark 14:22-25, and Luke 22:14-20. These are the words as we hear them in our service of Holy Communion: “In the night in which he was betrayed, our Lord Jesus took bread, and gave thanks; broke it, and gave it to his disciples, saying: Take and eat; this is my body, given for you. Do this for the remembrance of me. Again, after supper, he took the cup, gave thanks, and gave it for all to drink, saying: This cup is the new covenant in my blood, shed for you and for all people for the forgiveness of sin. Do this for the remembrance of me.” The created elements of bread and wine, together with God’s word, assure us that we will receive forgiveness of sins and everlasting life.
Q: How is this sacrament celebrated at St. John's?
A: At St. John's, ours is not the table of one tradition, but the table of Christ, whose invitation is to all. Communion is for those with great faith, as well as for those who would like to have more; for those who have tried to follow Jesus, and those who have failed.
When you come forward, the communion server will place a piece of bread in your hand and you may dip it in the chalice of wine or white grape juice, or you may drink directly from the cup. Gluten-free wafers are also available upon request. If you are unable to come to the altar, simply tell someone near you, so they can tell us and we can come to you.
Q: I noticed that we said the Nicene Creed on Christmas Eve, but we usually say the Apostles’ Creed. What is the difference?
A: Both the Apostles’ and the Nicene Creeds (and, incidentally the lengthier Athanasian Creed, which you can find on page 54 of Lutheran Book of Worship) are statements of our beliefs as a church. Each of the creeds addresses what we believe about the nature of God the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.
The Apostles’ Creed has been in use since early in the 3rd century. It has had a place throughout history in the baptism liturgy, and is always recited during the service of Holy Baptism, as well as in the regular worship service on most occasions. (When a baptism is held during a worship service, the creed is said here instead of later in the service.)
The Nicene Creed is usually said on festivals such as Christmas Eve and Easter. This creed was forumlated in the year 325 A.D. At this time the church felt a need to clarify certain of its beliefs, so the baptismal creed (Apostles’ Creed) was expanded to include additional statements about the nature of God.
The Athanasian Creed, written during the 5th century, is more of an expanded comment on particular theological issues and is not generally said in the context of worship.
Q: Why do Lutherans say we believe in “the holy catholic Church”?
A: Most Reformation and post-Reformation Churches use the term catholic to refer to the belief that all Christians are part of one universal Church, regardless of denominational divisions. It is in line with this interpretation, which applies the word "catholic"/"universal" to no one denomination, that we understand the phrase "holy catholic church" in the Apostles’ Creed, and “one holy catholic and apostolic church” in the Nicene Creed.
Q: Where can I find out more about the sacraments and the creeds?
A: Martin Luther wrote an explanation of The Ten Commandments, The Apostles’ Creed, The Lord’s Prayer and the sacraments and the Lord’s Prayer in The Small Catechism, which can be found online at www.bookofconcord.org/smallcatechism.html.
Q. Why do the pastors wear different colored stoles, and why are the decorations in the church different colors in different seasons?
A: We are following the tradition of the church year, which is a representation of the life of Christ. It is arranged around two principle events, Christ’s birth and resurrection .Each of these events is part of a larger season, Advent through Epiphany (called the Christmas Cycle) and Lent through Pentecost (called the Easter Cycle).
Q. So what is the Christmas Cycle?
A: The Christmas Cycle begins with Advent, the four weeks before Christmas. Advent is meant to be a time of preparation for the coming of Jesus. It is a season of hope, emphasized by the use of the color blue. The church season of Christmas begins with Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. For these days and the weeks following, white is used in the worship space, symbolizing joy, purity and the light of Christ. Christmas continues until Epiphany, the time when Jesus was baptized and was visited by the Magi, representatives of the nations who came to worship Jesus. In the Lutheran church, this is often a time of emphasis on world missions. The color green, symbolic of growth in the Christian life, is used during the Time after Epiphany, except for the special days of the Baptism of our Lord and the Transfiguration of Our Lord, when white is used.
Q: And what is the Easter Cycle?
A: The season of Lent begins the Easter Cycle. Purple is used during this season as a symbol if penitence. During Holy Week, the week before Easter, red is used on Palm Sunday and Maundy Thursday to symbolize the passion of Christ. Gold is used on Easter to indicate the prominence of this single most important event in the year. In the weeks following Easter, white is once again used. The Easter cycle concludes with Pentecost, when red is used to represent the fire of the Holy Spirit. The time after Pentecost begins with Holy Trinity. White is again used as a symbol of Christ’s light. Green is the color seen inside the church during the long season following Holy Trinity and lasting until Advent. Some churches call this “ordinary time”, meaning not mundane or common but ordinal, or counted time, as in “the seventh week after Pentecost.” In the church, green reminds us that just as there is natural growth, there is spiritual growth in our lives, as well. While our lawns and gardens grow and “green up”, we are growing spiritually as we send our roots down deep into the soil of God’s love. Lutherans interrupt the Time after Pentecost to celebrate the Reformation, and the color red is used for this major church occasion. White is then used for the last week before Advent, Christ the King, when we celebrate the kingship and sovereignty of Christ.
More information about our beliefs and practices as Lutherans can be found at www.elca.org/What-We-Believe.aspx.