Slideshow image

Dear Faithful People of Christ the King Lutheran Church,

Since some have told us they need important announcements repeated, here’s my pastoral letter sent last Wednesday.

Beginning this Sunday, November 2, All Saints Sunday, worshipers at both 8:30 and 11:00 a.m. liturgies of holy communion will have the choice of receiving either wine with alcohol or alcohol-free wine each Sunday and holy day. After my two-month inquiry into the number of those preferring alcohol-free wine, and upon the unanimous recommendation of our Worship and Music Committee, our Congregation Council adopted this as our Sacramental practice. This past Sunday, Reformation Sunday, October 26, was the last Sunday at which we offered alcohol-free wine alone. Wine with alcohol will also be offered beginning November 1 at our 6:00 p.m. Saturday liturgy.

The graphic, which will also appear in all our worship bulletins beginning November 2, indicates the quadrant of our altar rail where only alcohol-free wine will be offered. Worshipers may sit anywhere in the nave, but are asked to proceed to this, the southwest quadrant, directly in front of the PrayGround, to receive alcohol-free wine. Wine with alcohol will be offered at the other three quadrants.

Primarily, that always and everywhere, Christ’s Church has consistently taught that those who for any reason only receive one element in holy communion receive the whole Sacrament and all its blessings.

Second, please note the way this decision was made. After inquiry, it became the recommendation of a committee, Worship and Music, and was acted upon by the Congregation Council we elected to serve and lead us. It was not, and such matters should never be, a decision by any one person or group. I invite you to remember this as we make other decisions like this in the future.

With this announcement, I also commend to you this historic Maundy Thursday prayer:

Lord God, in a wonderful sacrament you have left us a memorial of your suffering and death. May this sacrament of your body and blood so work in us that the way we live will show forth the redemption you have bought, for you live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

Peace and Joy!

Mandy

Amandus J. Derr

Interim Senior Pastor