Frequently Asked Questions
What Would You Like to Know about Christ Lutheran Church?
Christ Lutheran is a member church of the Lutheran Church – Missouri Synod (also referred to as the LCMS) in the Florida-Georgia District.
“Our Lord speaks and we listen. His Word bestows what it says. Faith that is born from what is heard acknowledges the gifts received with eager thankfulness and praise. Music is drawn into the thankfulness and praise, enlarging and elevating the adoration of our gracious giver God. Saying back to him what he has said to us, we repeat what is most true and sure.” Dr. Norman Nagel.
While not rigid in practice, we delight in using many of the “psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs” (Ephesians 5:19) that the church throughout the centuries and across many human cultures has evolved to use to receive God’s gifts and respond in praise, as well as occasionally using more modern musical expressions of the faith as a supplement.
Our Worship is Christ Focused
In worship our focus is on Christ and His finished work for us on the cross. Our crucified and risen Savior, Jesus Christ, is truly present in Word and Sacrament. Worship is where God comes to us to offer forgiveness of sins, and where we respond in thanksgiving. As such, we do not attempt to impose our own cultural and emotional preferences onto it.
Worship Unites us with the Larger Church
Christ Lutheran is flexibly liturgical. We generally use the four settings of the Divine Service as found in our denomination’s hymnal, the Lutheran Service Book, each for three months at a time, although there might be modifications for holidays and other events.
The church’s liturgy both connects us to those saints who came before us and also unites us with the saints within Christendom throughout the world. The blessed “sameness” of the liturgy allows our little ones and our elderly alike to learn it by heart, allowing them to worship though they are not able to read or no longer able to see. It also allows Lutherans to visit other churches and still feel at home with the familiar liturgy. The liturgy and appointed readings for each Sunday help to ensure that we continue to see Christ throughout the entirety of God’s Word.
Christ Lutheran uses the Three-Year Lectionary, as found in the Lutheran Service Book.
Christ Lutheran Church celebrates Holy Communion every Saturday and Sunday Divine Service. Additionally, there may be special services during the church year where Holy Communion is also offered.
The Lord’s Supper is celebrated at this congregation in the confession and glad confidence that, as He says, our Lord gives into our mouths not only bread and wine but His very own body and blood to eat and drink for the forgiveness of sins and to strengthen our union with Him and with one another. Our Lord invites to His table those who are sorry for their sins, believe in our Savior Jesus Christ and His words in the Sacrament, set aside any refusal to forgive and love as He forgives and loves us, and plan with the help of the Holy Spirit to change their sinful lives.
Because those who eat and drink our Lord’s body and blood unworthily do so to their great harm (see 1 Corinthians 11:27-31), and because Holy Communion is a confession of the faith which is confessed at the altar, any who are not instructed, are in doubt, or who hold a confession differing from that of this congregation and the Lutheran Church – Missouri Synod, and yet desire to receive the Sacrament, are asked to first speak with the Pastor or an Elder before the service begins. Please note that children who have not been confirmed cannot take the bread and wine that is part of the Communion celebration.
We realize that this may sound strange or come across as unwelcoming to people. However, we do this out of great love and care for you and in faithfulness to God’s Word. We encourage you to speak with Pastor about this for a full understanding of the Sacrament and altar fellowship.
Welcome! We look forward to meeting you! If you wish to receive the Lord’s Supper with us, please contact our Pastor during the week, Monday through Thursday, prior to your visit. If you are unable to do this, you may also ask to speak with an Elder when you arrive for worship — please try to be here at least 10 minutes before the start of the service so that we can give you the proper welcome, attention, and information. If you do not wish to participate in Holy Communion, you may simply show up, and we look forward to worshiping alongside our extended church family!
While we do not offer a staffed nursery or separate “children’s church” during the service, a special children’s sermon may be offered — the Pastor will call up any children in attendance at that time. At Christ Lutheran, we believe it is important to keep children with their families during the worship service, where children can hear the Word of God from the Pastor, begin to learn the liturgy and hymns through exposure to them, learn from those around them how to participate in the service, and be an included member of our church family. We truly welcome children in our church!
Yes, sometimes children make a bit more joyful noise to the Lord than parents might be comfortable with. Don’t let that prevent you from coming to church or bringing them with you! If you need to step out briefly to calm a fussy young one or get some wiggles out, there is a quiet area (“cry room”) to the rear of the sanctuary, with a window that looks into the church and sound that will allow you to still hear what is happening in the service, while you care for the needs of your child. An usher can help to direct you there.
We encourage everyone to participate in Bible study. Receiving our Lord’s teaching from the Holy Scriptures is not something that ends once we are confirmed, but should be a way of life for us, young and old alike, from the cradle to the grave. Our Lord tells us that He is with us wherever His Word is faithfully taught and received, and so, like Mary of Bethany, we eagerly gather at His feet to “read, mark, learn, and inwardly digest” all that He has to teach us.
We have several Bible study opportunities each week. Some are led by Pastor, while others are led by a layperson. Bible studies all take place in the fellowship hall, whether in the main room or in one of the smaller rooms, at the times designated on our homepage. You do not need to wait for a new theme or section to begin! We welcome any who wish to continue growing in the Word of God, regardless of where you are in your walk with Jesus. A place will be made for you at the table and we will joyfully dig into the Scriptures together.
We are a vibrant, growing, and active congregation. There are many opportunities to worship, study, grow in our faith, serve, and have fellowship with one another. Please familiarize yourself with our website to discover all the ways we participate as members of Christ’s body, both with each other and with our community. If there is an activity or serving opportunity about which you would like more information or that you would like to initiate, please contact the church office or a Church Council member with any questions.
Each Sunday, we have a time of fellowship following the Divine Service. It takes place in the Fellowship Hall and all are welcome to attend. From October through May, there is a more robust luncheon offered. During the summer months, we keep things lighter with cookies and fruit. There is no cost — a voluntary freewill offering is accepted, which will serve one of our mission partners as stated in the bulletin. Please join us for some food and time together. We would love to get to know you!
Typically, these services take place on Wednesday evenings at 6:30pm. Special services will have a banner posted on the homepage of our website where you can’t miss it with all the details you will need to attend.
We are all at different points in our spiritual walk as the Lord calls us through the Gospel (the Good News of Jesus). If you live in the area, and are looking for a church home, we want you to join our congregation as a full member. If you are a seasonal resident of the area, we would like you to become an associate member. The first step is contacting the church office to arrange a visit with Pastor, who will assess where you are in your walk with Jesus. He may suggest 6-8 additional meetings/classes to give you a very basic understanding of the teachings of the Christian faith as given to us in Luther’s Small Catechism. Some who are familiar with the basic teachings of the catechism will most likely be invited to join by affirmation of the faith.
We are glad for your interest in becoming a member of Christ Lutheran! If you would like to transfer your membership, please get in contact with Pastor and he will be pleased to guide you through the steps.
