Worship
We use the traditional liturgy as found in Lutheran hymnals. The hymnal we use is Lutheran Service Book. On the first two Sundays of the month we use Divine Service, Setting Three and on the last two we use Divine Service, Setting One. On the fourth Sunday of every month that has five Sundays we use Matins. We celebrate Holy Communion the first, third, and fifth Sundays of the month. [Please see the note below regarding Holy Communion if you are visiting with us.]
Here is a description of what worship is (from the introduction to Lutheran Worship):
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 this 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. Most true and sure is His Name, which He put upon us with the water of our Baptism. We are His. This we acknowledge at the beginning of the Divine Service. Where His Name is, there is He. Before Him we acknowledge that we are sinners, and we plead for forgiveness. His forgiveness is given us, and we, freed and forgiven, acclaim Him as our great and gracious God as we apply to ourselves the words He has used to make Himself known to us.
The rhythm of our worship is from Him to us, and then from us back to Him. He gives His gifts, and together we receive and extol them. We build one another up as we speak to one another in psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs. Our Lord gives us His body to eat and His blood to drink. Finally His blessing moves us out into our calling, where His gifts have their fruition. How best to do this we may learn from His Word and from the way His Word has prompted His worship through the centuries. We are heirs of an astonishingly rich tradition. Each generation receives from those who went before and, in making that tradition of the Divine Service its own, adds what best may serve in its own day—the living heritage and something new.
A note to guests who visit us regarding the Lord’s Supper:
Prince of Peace Lutheran Church has the practice of instructing its members in the Christian faith through a process called Confirmation Class. Upon completion of the process they are confirmed into the Christian faith and partake of the Lord’s Supper. We ask that if you have not communed with us before, have not been confirmed in our congregation or a congregation of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod, or are not currently a member in good standing of a congregation of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod, that you speak to our pastor before communing. If you have any questions about our practice our pastor will be happy to talk with you about it.