# LCMS Convention Workbook_St. Louis Missouri_1983_S349 # Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration) ~ 10 THEOLOGICAL DOCUMENTS Since tne Lord's Supper is the church's confession of its unity in farth and practice. the whole church irrespective of age or special interests. iS properly invited and welcome at the Lords Table. To be avoided are tendencies to regard the Sacrament as more meaningful when partaken of in a beautiful setting, such as a mountain retreat or with ones own family or close friends The manitoid benefits of the Lord's Supper are offered to the communicant on the basis of Christ's word and promise. Tne church's focus shouid remain on the gracious promise of the Savior as He comes in bread and wine to His people !s It appropriate to have Holy Communion on synodical campuses? There are no Scriptura! or contessional texts which would pre- clude such a practice. In the case of a seminary or college commu- nity. the church in tne form of a local congregation can provide for Holy Communion Tne same need for pastoral care. for confessiona: agreement and for good order exists which was stipulated for any extracongregational service icf pp 23—24) !s it proper to celebrate Communion at a wedding? While there are no explicit passages of Holy Scripture which would preclude a nuptiat Communion. there are weighty reasons to discourage such celebrations under normal circumstances. First. it 's clear that the Lord's Supper is at the center of the public worship of the Christian congregation icf discussion on pages 8—9. 23. 28—29) Inasmuch as the Marriage Ceremony. in the popular ming would frequently replace the Sacrament as the center of the worship it would not be fitting to multiply settings where tnis would be a probable attitude. Secondly. it would be logistically difficult to Preserve confessional integrity at such a celebration of the Lord's Supper. since family and friends frequentiy come from a variety of Christian and even non-Christian backgrounds When ts private Communion appropriate? Private Communion 1s the administration of Holy Communion to an individual or group of individuals who cannot attend the regular Eucharistic worship of the congregation. The poor health of those involved or a variety of extenuating circumstances may lead the pastor and congregation to provide these special Communion services. Such worship ts to be a miniature of the congregational Communion service. with a devotion from God's Word, confession and absolution. consecration. distribution prayers. and benediction May the elders take the consecrated elements to the sick and to snut-ins after the Communion service? The chief consideration regarding such a practice 1s that the rouse anc iT pei us the more to partake of it more treauently especially since we xnow tat tne Son of God gradually kirdies “ncreases. and strengthens repentance anc fastn in us more ang more tnrough this means For this medicine nas Deen prepared and providec for the sick wno acknowledge ineir srfirr-ty and seek Counse: and neip - 's it appropriate to commune infants? No St Paul says “Let aman examine himseit. and so eat of the bread and drink of the cup’ i1 Cor 1128) Since infants cannot examine themselves. it is inappropriate to commune them The pre- cise age at wnich a child can examine himself 1s not determined in the Scriptures For the sake of order and to avoid confusion, tne practice of a church body shouid be as uniform as possible in this matter What special considerations should be taken into account regarding the participation of mentally impaired persons in Holy Communion? Caution should be employed so that the mentally impaired not be required to communicate their faith in the usual manner Family friends, social workers. and others can greatly assist the pastor in communicating with the mentally impaired It should be kept in ming that there are those individuals who may lack only the usual avenues of expression and therefore may be unable to communicate fully a confession of their faith When there is in the mentally impaired trust that tne body and blood of the crucified and risen Lord ts sacramen- tally present in the elements of the Lord's Supper a basic understand- Ing of wnat the Sacrament offers the communicant, and an ability to examine ones fife {1 Cor 11 17-34). participation in Holy Commu- nion is to be encouraged How often should the Lord's Supper be offered in a congregation? No fixed number can be given in response to this question However it should be remembered that the Lord's Supper is not to be regarded as an ‘extra’ or an “appendage” to regular Christian worship While some cnurches relegate the Lord’s Supper to an incidental and occasional role in the churchs worship. tne Scriptures place the breaking of bread” at the center of worship ‘Acts 242.207. cf 1 Cor 1120.33) Similarly. the Confessions regard the Sacrament of the Altar as a regular and constitutive feature of the worship of Christs church To beg'r with we must repeat the oretatory Statement tnat we Co Not abolisn tne Mass put religiously keep and detend 1: Im our churches Mass 1s celebratec every Sunday and on otner festivals when the sacrament is offered to those Marte Cremriz Mfristy Wore ace Sacraments co * role of the pastor in the sacramental Ife of the church should not be displaced. The opportunity to conduct a brief service of confession and absolution. to involve other family members in the private Com- munion. and to be a shepherd for the flock suggests that wnenever possible the pastor wiil distribute the elements to the communicants icf pp 13-15) 8 What constitutes worthy reception of tne Lora’s Supper? Luther's words are as Scriptural and as concise as any which could be written on this point Fast:ng anc bodily preparation are indeed a fire outward traning but ne is truly worthy and wel: prepared wno nas. faith in these words Given and shed for you ‘or tre rems- s.or of sings” But re trat does not believe trese words o° coubts ‘$s unworthy and unpreparec for :ne words tor you reaure al! hearts to Deneve SC VI ‘0 quoted ‘rom 1943 “stersynoorcal Catect's™ 9 27) Martin Chemnitz amplifies in a pastora! manner as he writes 10 answer to the question “How. then. shouid a man examine or look into himself. so that he might eat and drink worthily in the noly Supper? This worthy eating coes not consist ip a mans Durty rouness or perfection For they wno are hea'try do not neec a doctor Dut they who are not healthy :Mt9°2) But by way of contrast with the unworthy one can understand very easily Now that examination or exploration +s to be undertaker namely First. let the ming consider of what nature tne act of "5 Supper 1s. who is present there. (arg! what king of food is oferea and taker there so that one muget prepare nimsel* with Cue humility and piety for ts receptior Second let aman about to approach the Lore s Table be ercowed with tne king of reart that serious'y acknowledges mS SINS and errors anc shudders at tne wrath of Goa and Goes not deligntin sin putts troubled anc grieved ‘by it’ and nas tne earnest purpose to amend [his ute’ Third that the ming sincerely give itself to this concern that it might not perisn in sins under the wrath of Goc and trerefore with ardent desire thirst for and tong for the grace of God so that by true fan in the obedience passion. arc deatr of Christ that is on the offering of ‘His’ boay and snedding of His blood 1! seek deg. lay Roid on and apply to 'tself the grace of God forgiveness of sins and salvation He that examines anc prepares himself in tnis way Ne truly uses tne Sacrament wortrily ot unto juagmert put unto sa'vator Ang though a’! these things are ste: weax. infirm 4nd Siuggish. yet one snouid not for that reason apsta:n from tne Pov Supper Ratner or tne contrary tnis very reason wi! wro wisn for it after tney rave been examined arc absoivec AD XXIV. 11 Tnus the spoken Word of tne liturgy and sermon and the signed Word of Baptism and the Lord's Supper constitute the two foc: of Lutneran worship 12 How often should one participate in the Lords Supper? Tne following counsel by Or Martin Chemnitz is appropriate Crist dia not want tne use of tris Sacramert to be bound ether to a cerla™ time or to certait Gays except that Pa.si Says that the Lord s Supper is to be celebrated when the churcn gatners to commemorate the ceatr of tne Lora 1 Co “**6-26 But it's certar trat God warts us to use ths Sacrament not only once as we are baptized once Dut ofter ang frequently 1Co** 26 Ins mot for ary ™an to givea specific answer to this either with a mumper crwth a certain measure otner tnan as often as a troublec conscience feeis arc recognizes tnat :| Xeeds tnose benefits that are offered :n me Supper for comfort anc strengthen:g Consciences are cneretore not to be forced but aroused to frequent use of tris ~oper Dy earnest agmoniton and corsiderat.om of Pow necessary ‘anc! lixewise Now salutary anc prc!tapie the use of ris Supper is for us Sut ne that does “ot atteng this mos? "oy table thereby Clearly snows that he is a Creistiar in name rather tnan im fact ramery that ne is one wro negiects and cespises the commanc of nis Savior who says Eat. arink arc co ths as ofter etc + 13 Can a quatified male assist with the distribution of the elemerts i> the service of Holy Communion? Yes A pastor and congregation can mutually designate that a qualifed maleis) member of the congregation assist the pastor Great care shouid be taken in such cases to educate such an assistant’ s: ir the proper execution of this function ~ Adequate instruction wil provide the theologica! rationale for the church s liturgical traditions As 1S appropriate for those wno handle holy things. reverence snould mark the manner of any associated with the administration of the Lord's Supper Treter™ Mass was usec 7 !™e Reformator per od tc ses grate '"e s ory Commun or Tre Corfessions if course removeca tory Sacet ce “me © Usage ct tne te “Marte Cmemeaz Movstry word ang Sacrarerts 5° Weir respect to the cstv Dutce of tne Sacrarec: romay De Ca eS tS Rubrc 28 = te A ‘ae Boor 3! Lineran Worsh.p pp 3 osiarce ''™a, 26 42 to pot s at Sirce tre acm." stravor of tne Loras noc, “5 the dees ve ac admiss:o tc tre Sacrament tne pres arg m-" ster as tne resporsibie ™ mister of tne Sacramer: ¢ str Dutes tne ody tire oS “he asssing > sters may ciste bute tre D000 2 349