Close Communion
Dear Visitor, here at Immanuel we follow the Biblical principle of “Fellowship” or “Close” Communion. We invite all members of Immanuel and our brothers and sisters from the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod and the Evangelical Lutheran Synod to come to the Lord’s table. If you are not a member of Immanuel, please talk to the pastor before the service about how you may take part in holy communion.
Holy Communion is not only a Means of Grace, assuring us of the forgiveness of our sins and of our fellowship with God, but is also a testimony to our fellowship with one another.
All are invited who know how to examine themselves; recognize the Real Presence of Christ’s Body and Blood together with the bread and wine; and are close to us, that is, one with us in doctrine, teaching, and belief.
What is Communion? “Our Lord Jesus Christ…gave it to His disciples, saying, ‘Take, eat; this is My body.’” (Matthew 26:26). So it is the Lord’s Supper, not ours. He gave His body and blood in, with, and under the bread and wine to His disciples – to His believers. The first Lord’s Supper was “close communion” and so were those that followed in the early New Testament times.
God’s Word says: “A man ought to examine himself before he eats of the bread and drinks of the cup.” (1 Cor. 11:28). For this reason, believers must know God’s Law and use it as a mirror in order to recognize their sinful condition before God.
God’s Word says: “For anyone who eats and drinks without recognizing the body of the Lord…” (1 Cor. 11:29). For this reason, believers must know the Gospel and believe that the body and blood of Christ are truly present in the sacrament.
God’s Word says: “Because there is one bread, we who are many are one body, for we all partake of that one bread” (1 Cor. 10:17). This verse shows that in Holy Communion we are expressing our unity in faith. We want this unity to be real and genuine; not just a superficial agreement. We work to achieve this unity by studying the Bible together so that the Holy Spirit may direct our hearts and bind us together.
Please call Pastor DeVries if you would like more information.