Divine Services at Salem

Thursdays at 7 p.m.

Sundays at 8 a.m.

Sundays at 10:30 a.m.

 

Our Communion Practice

We ask that only those who have previously spoken to Pastor Bare and are members in good standing of Salem or another WELS or ELS congregation come to the Lord’s table. This is in no way a judgment of anyone’s faith, but rather we have the Scriptural desire (1 Corinthians 11) to ensure that all who come to the altar know what they are receiving, have examined themselves, and share in our confession of the faith, as it is revealed in the infallible Scriptures and properly explained in the Lutheran Confessions. This has been the historic practice of the Christian Church and is intended to safeguard those from eating and drinking to their harm (see Matthew 18:15-18; 1 Corinthians 11:27-30; 2 John 10-11). St. Paul warns that those who receive the Sacrament unworthily (that is, without examining themselves, recognizing the real presence of the Body and Blood of our Lord, or tolerating error and false teachings) eat and drink judgment on themselves. No one would want a doctor who prescribed medicine without knowing his patient’s condition, and no Christian should want a pastor who would administer this Sacrament in a similarly inappropriate way. This is an act of love and is done with the full hope of communing with you in the future, after we are better acquainted and any appropriate instruction has taken place.

When We Worship