Curious about attending church? Have you never been or haven't been in years and don't know what to expect? Grace aims to be as welcoming as possible with easy to follow services. Below you can find some explanations to hopefully make it less stressful to attend church from the first time.
When entering the church, use the double doors by facing the road. Upon entering you will be greeted, handed a bulletin, and welcomed to the church.
There is a burgundy book on the back of the benches that include the walk-throughs of every service the church holds. The page numbers that will be used for the service can be found in the bulletin or you can ask anyone at the church for guidance.
Communion is the practice of remembering and taking part in the last supper Jesus Christ had before dying for our sins.
The Lutheran Church practices a closed communion, which means that if you are not a member of the Lutheran Church you are not permitted to have communion. You are welcomed to come to the front along with the whole of the church at the time of communion and are asked to cross your arms (one hand on each shoulder) to receive a blessing. To learn more about why we practice closed communion, follow this link.
When recieving communion you will be invited to go to the front of the church by an usher. Line up along the alter along with the others who where ushered up. You than receive the bread either on your hand or tongue depending on your preference. Wine will be offered in individual cups and directly from the chalice, it's up to you which you use. Drink the wine when told to by the pastor.
It's optional to perform the sign of the cross at various points during the service. The times that you are invited to do so are when a symbol of the cross appears in the order of service.
If you don't know what the sign of the cross is, don't worry about it, it's optional and if you desire to learn about it members of the church will be happy to explain it.
Below is a list of terms and definitions put together by Lutheran Church-Canada.