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FAQs about Christianity, Lutheranism, and the LCMS
Our worship follows historic and traditional orders of service that have been used in the Christian church for thousands of years. We use the hymnal with congregational singing being led by the organ. The service is oriented around Scripture and Holy Communion, with Jesus always being the center and source of all that we do or say.
While we seek to dress in a way that confesses and reflects the reality that the Triune God is actually present in our midst, there is no specific dress code. We simply ask that you refrain from wearing anything that is inappropriate or revealing.
As our Lord says, “Let the little children come to me.” We love children! Although we have a nursery, a church marked by the noises of children is a healthy church and does not detract at all from the gifts we receive during worship
It is the Bible, which is God’s true and trustworthy Word. We believe, teach, and confess that the Holy Spirit inspired the prophets and apostles of times past to write down the events and teachings of the Bible. Scripture interprets itself, is without contradiction, and without error. There is no other standard or source by which we judge our life and teaching.
They are particular ways in which Christ established and commanded the Word of God to be made tangible for us for the forgiveness of sins. We have three Sacraments: Baptism, Confession and Absolution, and Holy Communion. In each, the Word of God is joined to a physical element (water, pastor, bread and wine).
It is the true body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ, given in, with, and under the bread and the wine for the forgiveness of sins and the strengthening of faith. We believe that we actually eat and drink Jesus’ body and blood, not in a cannibalistic manner, but for our life and in keeping with Jesus’ own words: “Take eat, this is My body; drink of it all of you, this is my blood.” This is a meal about unity with God and unity with each other. We receive Jesus’ true body and blood with the bread and wine for forgiveness, life, and salvation. It unites us to Christ. We also confess that this meal unites us to one another, as we receive from the one Lord a shared drink and shared bread in the one faith. It is a public confession of our unity in what we believe. Due to the sad divisions throughout the Christian church, this unity does not always exist.
Instructions for the Lord’s Supper at OALC
Guests and visitors: Welcome to Oklahoma Ave. Lutheran Church! We are pleased you are here. The Bible instructs pastors to “shepherd the flock of God which is among you, serving as overseers” (1 Peter 5:2), and it teaches that pastors are to “watch out for your souls, as those who must give account” (Hebrews 13:17). Since the Bible demands this relationship of mutual accountability between pastor and communicant, only members of Trinity/OALC or another LCMS congregation may receive Communion here. This loving and Scriptural practice is called Closed Communion. It does not mean we think you are not Christian or that we are better than you. While this practice may seem offensive and exclusive, we pray that you see this less as a penalty and more as an invitation. Our goal is not to keep you away from our altar. Our hope is to enjoy deep and lasting communion and unity with you and God.
If you belong to another LCMS congregation and desire to commune, please announce your desire to the pastor prior to the service or, if you didn’t have a chance to do so, tell him your home congregation when you come to the Communion rail.
If you are not yet a member of an LCMS congregation, our pastor would be delighted to meet with you to establish a relationship of pastoral care. You are welcome to come to the altar and receive a blessing. After you kneel at the rail, simply cross your arms across your chest.
Members of Trinity/OALC: Martin Luther’s “Christian Questions with Their Answers (pp. 329-330 in the hymnal) is a helpful resource for you to prepare to receive Communion.
We are a member congregation of the Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod, the largest conservative Lutheran church body in the United States. The LCMS Mission Statement is as follows: “In grateful response to God’s grace and empowered by the Holy Spirit through Word and Sacraments, the mission of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod is vigorously to make known the love of Christ by word and deed within our churches, communities and the world.” To learn more about the LCMS in general, click here. To learn more about our beliefs, click here.
The Holy Spirit is the 3 rd Person of the Trinity. Faith that Jesus has died for our sins, rose for our life, and reconciled us to God is purely a gift of the Holy Spirit. We cannot by our own reason or strength believe in Jesus Christ or come to Him. But the Holy Spirit calls us by the Gospel, promises to be given in Scripture, and enlightens and strengthens us with His gifts of Word and Sacrament. The Holy Spirit’s role is to present Jesus clearly to us, bring us the riches of salvation in Christ, and conform us to the life, death, and resurrection of Christ in love to God and neighbor alike.
