Worship
The Divine Service
We call it the Divine Service because God serves us in it: with his word, with forgiveness and with the body and blood of Christ. Our part is to receive, and to sing.
8:00 is spoken and lasts about 55 minutes. 10:30 is sung, with choir and organ, and lasts about 75.
Your first Sunday
What to expect
Nothing will be asked of you that isn't printed in front of you.
The 10:30 sung service
Prelude
The organist plays. People pray quietly before the service begins.
Confession and absolution
We kneel, confess our sins together and hear the pastor forgive them in Christ's name.
The Service of the Word
Old Testament, Epistle and Gospel read aloud, the hymn of the day, the sermon and the Nicene Creed.
The Service of the Sacrament
The Sanctus, the Words of Institution and the Lord's Supper at the rail, row by row.
Benediction and coffee
The Aaronic blessing, a closing hymn, then coffee and kuchen in the fellowship hall.
This Sunday, 25 October
Hymns for Reformation Sunday
A Mighty Fortress Is Our GodEntrance hymnHymnal 656
Luther's own text and tune, 1529. All four stanzas, with brass and timpani at the 10:30.
Get connectedThe Church's One FoundationHymn of the dayHymnal 644
Samuel Stone, 1866. Sung between the Epistle and the Gospel.
Get connectedThy Strong WordDistributionHymnal 578
Martin Franzmann, 1954, written by a Missouri Synod seminary professor.
Get connectedLord, Keep Us Steadfast in Your WordClosing hymnHymnal 655
Luther again, 1541. Short, and sung at full volume.
Get connectedFind us
On Fairfield Avenue since 1868
1103 Fairfield Ave, Fort Wayne, IN 46802- Parking
- Our lot is across Washington Boulevard, behind the school. On Sundays the bank lot on Fairfield is ours too.
- Transit
- Citilink route 2 stops at Fairfield and Washington. No Sunday service before 9 AM.
- Access
- Step-free entrance and lift at the Washington Boulevard door. Reserved spaces beside it.
Questions
About the liturgy
Why do you have communion every Sunday?
Because Christ gives himself there for the forgiveness of sins, and we would rather not go without. The early church did the same, and so did the Lutheran reformers.
Why close communion?
Because receiving the Sacrament together is a confession that we believe the same things about it. It isn't a judgement on anyone. A pastor would be glad to talk it through with you, before or after the service.
Do I have to kneel?
No. Kneel, stand or sit as your knees allow. The rail has a gap for wheelchairs, and the pastor will come to your pew if you ask an usher.
What's the difference between 8:00 and 10:30?
The same liturgy and the same sermon. At 8:00 it's spoken, with two hymns and no choir. At 10:30 it's sung, with the senior choir and the full organ.
Questions about communion?
Either pastor will meet you before the service, or call you this week. It's no trouble.