Communion Archives - Faith Lutheran Church, Wesley Chapel

Kurt Steinbrueck May 20, 2021

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A Tangible Faith

He Is Risen!!

“Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here, and see my hands; and put out your hand, and place it in my side. Do not disbelieve, but believe.” Thomas answered him, ‘My Lord and my God!’“ – John 20:27-28

Have you seen the movie, “Jumanji – Welcome to the Jungle”?

If you aren’t familiar with the Jumanji movies, the basic idea is that instead of just playing a fantasy game, the Jumanji game actually pulls people into the game and they physically experience the game. In the case of this latest movie, the characters of the movie are pulled into a video game, where they physically have to complete the game to make it home.

Things That Aren’t Real
I’ve played my share of video games over the years and, while I have enjoyed it, there’s something lacking. It isn’t real. I’m pushing buttons or hitting keys on a keyboard. I’m not actually running through a jungle or flying a jet. I don’t actually have to know Jiu-Jitsu. No matter how good the graphics or interfaces are, games aren’t real. That’s the appeal of the Jumanji films. What if the game was physically real?

The Physical Resurrection
When we say, “He is Risen!” we aren’t just saying Jesus spirit is alive or Jesus is alive in Heaven. We are saying that Jesus literally, physically rose from the dead. Jesus appeared to His followers several times and He made a point to show them that He was really, physically risen.

He spoke with them (Luke 24:13-35, John 20:19-23, etc.).
They saw Him ( John 20:19-23, Matthew 28:16-17, etc.).
He ate with them (Luke 24:42).
He interacted with physical things (Luke 24:42).
They touched Him (John 20:24-29).

For many of Jesus’ disciples, seeing that Jesus had physically risen helped them to believe. It made it real to them. The Bible tells us that when the women reported Jesus’ resurrection, the disciples didn’t believe them. It wasn’t until He was in the room with them or, in the case of Thomas, they actually touched Jesus, that they believed.

The Physical Elements of Faith
Even today, God still gives us physical ways of experiencing Him. We don’t just speak of the Word in the church, but Word and Sacrament.

He gives us His body and blood in the Lord’s Supper that we physically eat.

He washes us with the waters of baptism. We get wet!

These are tangible sacraments that God has given us. We can feel them.

Why did God do this?

I think that at least one reason is because the one who created us knows that things become more real to us when we can touch them. When doubt starts to creep in, we can say, we tasted the supper and felt the waters, and believe.

Dear Jesus,

You physically came to us in human flesh. You walked the land, healed physical illness, and died a physical death. You also rose, physically, and you continue to give the church something tangible for our faith, the Sacraments You instituted. Strengthen my faith. May every time I feel water or taste bread of wine remind me of the very real forgiveness and salvation You have given me.

Amen.

In Christ’s Service,

Pastor Kurt

Kurt Steinbrueck December 3, 2020

Blog Communion, jesus, righteousness

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Who’s Hungry?

Who's Hungry?

“Jesus then said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, it was not Moses who gave you the bread from heaven, but my Father gives you the true bread from heaven. For the bread of God is he who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.” They said to him, “Sir, give us this bread always. Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst.” – John 6:32-35

Have you ever felt like you were starving?

We all need to eat to survive. If you don’t eat, you will not only feel hungry, but you will suffer. You’ll feel weak. Your body will start to consume itself, such as fat stores and eventually muscle. Cognitive abilities begin to diminish. After a while, starvation can affect organ function and, of course, eventually, cause death.

Water is even more important since we have less water reserves than sources of energy in our bodies.

Physical Food and Spiritual Food
When Israel was in the wilderness, God provided food called, manna. It, along with quail, sustained the Israelites. Jesus, however, points out that there is a more important food, spiritual food, which only comes from God.

That spiritual food is Jesus, Himself.

Just as food sustains our life, Jesus was given for us to give and sustain our spiritual life. Without Christ, we are spiritually dead. By receiving Christ through faith we are given life. He, then, continues to sustain our spiritual lives through Word and Sacrament.

The more we go without God’s Word and Sacraments the more we starve ourselves.

We become weak. Our spiritual thought processes begin to diminish. We could even become so estranged from God that we walk away from the faith and die, spiritually.

God Offers a Feast
God is not stingy with our spiritual food. He offers a feast without end! He gives us His Word. He gives us the church. He even gives us His body and blood in the Lord’s Supper. And guess what? You can eat all the spiritual food you want without getting fat. 😉

So, fix yourself a heaping plate of God’s Word. Eat it every day, even several times a day. Go out to “eat” on Sundays at church and receive His body and blood.

And don’t worry, Jesus already paid the bill.

Dear Jesus,

My soul hungers and thirsts for You. Give me the life-sustaining nourishment I need for my body and my soul. For You alone can satisfy.

Amen.

In Christ’s Service,

Pastor Kurt

PS – As an interesting note…The Gospel of John is the only Gospel that does not record the part of the account of the Last Supper where Jesus institutes the Lord’s Supper. There are many who think that this section of John chapter six, verses 22-59, is referring to the Lord’s Supper which He would soon institute.

Kurt Steinbrueck May 24, 2020

Special Posts Communion, worship

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Receive Holy Communion This Afternoon

Receive Holy Communion

Reminder:

This afternoon (Sunday, May 24) we will be celebrating Holy Communion at 4pm in the Song and Dance, Inc. dance studio parking lot. We will remain in our cars so as to maintain social distancing.

Song and Dance Inc.
Studio of the Arts
27221 Foamflower Blvd.
Wesley Chapel, FL 33544

The Service:
At 4pm, Pastor Kurt will officiate a short Communion service, the order of which is below in this post. The bread and wine will be distributed before the service begins on small, disposable plates to each car. Pastor Kurt will wear a mask to set up and distribute the bread and wine. Near the end of the service, Pastor Kurt will speak Christ’s Words of Institution and then we will all take the bread together and then the wine together.

THE ORDER OF SERVICE

INVOCATION
P: In the name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit.
C: Amen.

CONFESSION AND ABSOLUTION
C: Most merciful God, we confess that we are by nature sinful and unclean. We have sinned against You in thought, word, and deed, by what we have done and by what we have left undone. We have not loved You with our whole heart; we have not loved our neighbors as ourselves. We justly deserve Your present and eternal punishment. For the sake of Your Son, Jesus Christ, have mercy on us. Forgive us, renew us, and lead us, so that we may delight in Your will and walk in Your ways to the glory of Your holy name.
Amen.

P: Almighty God in His mercy has given His Son to die for you and for His sake forgives You all your sins. As a called and ordained servant of Christ, and by His authority, I therefore forgive You all your sins in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.
C: Amen.

P: Let us pray…
O God, You have prepared for those who love You such good things as surpass our understanding: Pour into our hearts such love toward You, that we may love You above all things, and lead us, by faith, to Your eternal promises, which exceed all that we can desire; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one true God, now and forever.
C: Amen.

APOSTLES’ CREED
I believe in God, the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth.
And in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord,
who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the virgin Mary,
suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died and was buried.
He descended into hell.
The third day He rose again from the dead.
He ascended into heaven
and sits at the right hand of God the Father Almighty.
From thence He will come to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy Christian Church,
the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.

LORD’S PRAYER
Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name, Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven; give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For Thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever and ever.
Amen.

THE WORDS OF OUR LORD
Our Lord Jesus Christ, on the night when He was betrayed, took bread, and when He had given thanks, He broke it and gave it to the disciples and said: “Take, eat; this is My + body, which is given for you. This do in remembrance of Me.”
In the same way also He took the cup after supper, and when He had given thanks, He gave it to them, saying: “Drink of it, all of you; this cup is the new testament in My + blood, which is shed for you for the forgiveness of sins. This do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.”

DISTRIBUTION

POST-COMMUNION COLLECT
General We give thanks to You, almighty God, that You have refreshed us through this salutary gift, and we implore You that of Your mercy You would strengthen us through the same in faith toward You and in fervent love toward one another; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
Amen.

BENEDICTION
The Lord bless you and keep you. The Lord make His face shine upon you and be gracious unto you. The Lord lift up His countenance upon you and give you peace.

In Christ’s Service,

Pastor Kurt

Kurt Steinbrueck May 21, 2020

Special Posts Communion, worship

0

Receive Holy Communion This Sunday

Receive Holy Communion

Sunday, May 24, we will be celebrating Holy Communion at 4pm in the Song and Dance, Inc. dance studio parking lot. We will remain in our cars so as to maintain social distancing.

Song and Dance Inc.
Studio of the Arts
27221 Foamflower Blvd.
Wesley Chapel, FL 33544

The Service:
At 4pm, Pastor Kurt will officiate a short Communion service, the order of which is below in this post. The bread and wine will be distributed before the service begins on small, disposable plates to each car. Pastor Kurt will wear a mask to set up and distribute the bread and wine. Near the end of the service, Pastor Kurt will speak Christ’s Words of Institution and then we will all take the bread together and then the wine together.

All are invited!

Christian Freedom:
I mentioned this last time we celebrated Communion, but it bears mentioning again. While some will want to participate, I understand that others will not want to take the risk. That is perfectly fine. Communion is a blessing, not a required work. Our Christian freedom allows us to act according to our conscience and I do not want anyone to feel pressured to participate. In Romans, God’s Word addresses how some people felt compelled to follow certain food laws and others did not. God’s Word encouraged each to follow their conscience and not rebuke or condemn the other for following theirs.

“One person believes he may eat anything, while the weak person eats only vegetables. Let not the one who eats despise the one who abstains, and let not the one who abstains pass judgment on the one who eats, for God has welcomed him. Who are you to pass judgment on the servant of another?” – Romans 14:1-4a

Therefore, if you desire to receive Communion, you are welcome to come. If you feel it’s better for you to refrain, for now, you are welcome stay home. Both are loved by God and by your brothers and sisters in Christ.

In Christ’s Service,

Pastor Kurt

Kurt Steinbrueck April 25, 2020

Special Posts Communion, worship

0

Receive Holy Communion This Afternoon

Receive Holy Communion

Sunday, April 26, we will be celebrating Holy Communion at 4pm in the Song and Dance, Inc. dance studio parking lot. We will remain in our cars so as to maintain social distancing.

Song and Dance Inc.
Studio of the Arts
27221 Foamflower Blvd.
Wesley Chapel, FL 33544

The Service:
At 4pm, Pastor Kurt will officiate a short Communion service, the order of which is below in this post. The bread and wine will be distributed before the service begins on small, disposable plates to each car. Pastor Kurt will wear gloves and a mask to set up and distribute the bread and wine. Near the end of the service, Pastor Kurt will speak Christ’s Words of Institution and then we will all take the bread together and then the wine together.

Christian Freedom:
While some will want to participate, I understand that others will not want to take the risk. That is perfectly fine. Communion is a blessing, not a required work. Our Christian freedom allows us to act according to our conscience and I do not want anyone to feel pressured to participate. In Romans, God’s Word addresses how some people felt compelled to follow certain food laws and others did not. God’s Word encouraged each to follow their conscience and not rebuke or condemn the other for following theirs.

“One person believes he may eat anything, while the weak person eats only vegetables. Let not the one who eats despise the one who abstains, and let not the one who abstains pass judgment on the one who eats, for God has welcomed him. Who are you to pass judgment on the servant of another?” – Romans 14:1-4a

Therefore, if you desire to receive Communion, you are welcome to come. If you feel it’s better for you to refrain, for now, you are welcome stay home. Both are loved by God and by your brothers and sisters in Christ.

The Order of Service

INVOCATION
P: In the name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit.
C: Amen.

CONFESSION AND ABSOLUTION
C: Most merciful God, we confess that we are by nature sinful and unclean. We have sinned against You in thought, word, and deed, by what we have done and by what we have left undone. We have not loved You with our whole heart; we have not loved our neighbors as ourselves. We justly deserve Your present and eternal punishment. For the sake of Your Son, Jesus Christ, have mercy on us. Forgive us, renew us, and lead us, so that we may delight in Your will and walk in Your ways to the glory of Your holy name.
Amen.

P: Almighty God in His mercy has given His Son to die for you and for His sake forgives You all your sins. As a called and ordained servant of Christ, and by His authority, I therefore forgive You all your sins in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.
C: Amen.

P: Let us pray…
O God, You have prepared for those who love You such good things as surpass our understanding: Pour into our hearts such love toward You, that we may love You above all things, and lead us, by faith, to Your eternal promises, which exceed all that we can desire; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one true God, now and forever.
C: Amen.

APOSTLES’ CREED
I believe in God, the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth.
And in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord,
who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the virgin Mary,
suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died and was buried.
He descended into hell.
The third day He rose again from the dead.
He ascended into heaven
and sits at the right hand of God the Father Almighty.
From thence He will come to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy Christian Church,
the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.

LORD’S PRAYER
Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name, Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven; give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For Thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever and ever.
Amen.

THE WORDS OF OUR LORD
Our Lord Jesus Christ, on the night when He was betrayed, took bread, and when He had given thanks, He broke it and gave it to the disciples and said: “Take, eat; this is My + body, which is given for you. This do in remembrance of Me.”
In the same way also He took the cup after supper, and when He had given thanks, He gave it to them, saying: “Drink of it, all of you; this cup is the new testament in My + blood, which is shed for you for the forgiveness of sins. This do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.”

DISTRIBUTION

POST-COMMUNION COLLECT
General We give thanks to You, almighty God, that You have refreshed us through this salutary gift, and we implore You that of Your mercy You would strengthen us through the same in faith toward You and in fervent love toward one another; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
Amen.

BENEDICTION
The Lord bless you and keep you. The Lord make His face shine upon you and be gracious unto you. The Lord lift up His countenance upon you and give you peace.

In Christ’s Service,

Pastor Kurt

Kurt Steinbrueck August 8, 2019

Blog Communion, Sacraments

0

Take and Eat

“For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: The Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, ‘This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me.’ In the same way, after supper he took the cup, saying, ‘This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me.’ For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.” – 1 Corinthians 11:23-26

Communion, the Lord’s Supper, the Eucharist, or the Sacrament of the Altar.

This sacrament has many names, each emphasizing a different aspect of this blessed gift. Communion speaks to the communion we experience with Christ and with each other. The Lord’s Supper reminds us that Jesus instituted the meal and His body and blood are present. Eucharist means, “giving thanks”, and focuses on it being a meal of thanksgiving to God for forgiveness, life, salvation through Jesus’ sacrifice. The Sacrament of the Altar emphasizes Jesus being the one true and final sacrifice for our sins, the sacrifice in which His body was broken and His blood shed.

With Communion, God gives us His presence in a way we can touch, taste, see, smell, and sometime even hear (the sound of the bread breaking or wine being poured). All of our senses are engaged as communion with our Lord and each other and receive forgiveness of sins. This physical experience can be very helpful as we face our doubts and the accusations of enemy. The devil loves to accuse us and tell us we still stand guilty in our sins. However, we can remember receiving Jesus body and blood and trust in His promise to give forgiveness through the meal.

As Luther once wrote:

““When the devil throws our sins up to us and declares we deserve death and hell, we ought to speak thus: “I admit that I deserve death and hell. What of it? Does this mean that I shall be sentenced to eternal damnation? By no means. For I know One who suffered and made a satisfaction in my behalf. His name is Jesus Christ, the Son of God. Where he is, there I shall be also.””

This Is My Body. This Is My Blood.

There is much debate among Christian denominations of whether Jesus body and blood are truly present and in what way they are. As Lutherans, we believe Jesus body and blood are truly present for Jesus said, “This is my body.” (Luke 22:19) and “This is my blood.” (Matthew 26:28) We do not, however, try to explain how Jesus body and blood are present except to say that it is by the power of God. The Bible doesn’t explain it. It simply tells us it is, so we trust that it is.

What Happens In Communion?

There are many things which happen in communion. 1 Corinthians speaks of us, together, participating with Christ’s body and blood. It also says we are proclaiming Christ’s death until He comes. Jesus says we receive forgiveness of sins. Where we receive forgiveness of sins we receive life and salvation. When we receive Communion in faith, we receive all these blessings for our spiritual nourishment and strength.

What a wonderful blessing Jesus has given us in the Lord’s Supper. May Christ be with you every moment. And if the devil tries to accuse you or bring up sin from you past, you can, like Luther, say, “I admit my sin, but it does not condemn me. For Jesus has forgiven my sin, washed me clean, and made me His own.”

Heavenly Father,

Thank you for sending Your Son to die for us. Jesus, thank you for giving us Your body and blood. Please forgive me and strengthen me that I may endure all of life’s trials until I go to be with You or You return. Unify Your church with You.

Amen.

In Christ’s Service,

Pastor Kurt

Communion

A Tangible Faith

A Tangible Faith

Who’s Hungry?

Who's Hungry?

Receive Holy Communion This Afternoon

Receive Holy Communion

THE ORDER OF SERVICE

Receive Holy Communion This Sunday

Receive Holy Communion

Receive Holy Communion This Afternoon

Receive Holy Communion

The Order of Service

Take and Eat

Take and Eat

Faith Lutheran Church in Wesley Chapel, FL serving Lutz, Zephyrhills, Land O’ Lakes, and New Tampa, FL