Sacraments
What is a Sacrament?
The word “sacrament” derives from the word “sacred." As Lutherans, we believe sacraments are more than just symbols—they’re ways God meets us and gives us His grace. In Baptism and Holy Communion, God is truly at work—offering forgiveness, strengthening faith, and reminding us that His promises are for us.
We believe the requirements for a sacrament’s existence are that, first, Jesus commanded it; and second, it involves a physical element joined to a spiritual promise. These are gifts God gives for all people, through which He brings His grace to us.
Baptism is commanded in the Great Commission in Matthew 28:19, “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.” The earthly element is the water, and a promise follows when Jesus continues in Matthew 28:20, “And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” It is also clear from many of the New Testament letters that baptism was practiced from the earliest days of the church, as Acts 2:28 recounts Peter saying, “‘Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.’”
Holy Communion is described in three of the four Gospel accounts, as well as in the letters of Paul. In Luke’s version, after Jesus has given the disciples the bread and the wine, he commands them, “Do this in remembrance of me” (Luke 22:19). He also tells them that the bread and the wine are his body and his blood, which is “poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins” and that it “confirms the covenant (i.e., promise) between God and his people” (Mark 14:24).
We believe the sacraments are gifts from God in which His grace is made tangible for us. Like any good gift, they are meant to be shared. Baptism is for all people, including children. Holy Communion is offered to those who desire to receive it and trust in Christ’s promise. If you’re exploring what that means for you or your children, we’d love to walk with you.
We would love to celebrate this milestone on your faith journey with you! If you are seeking baptism, or an affirmation of baptism, for yourself or for your child(ren), please fill out the applicable form below. Once we have received your information, we will reach out to you about scheduling a meeting with one of our pastors.
We know families may come from varying faith backgrounds and traditions surrounding communion. At CGLC, we practice what is known as “open table,” meaning all believers in Christ are welcome to receive communion as often as they are able. Our Traditional service includes communion weekly, while our Contemporary services include communion on the 1st and 3rd Sundays of the month. Once a year in March, we offer our “Table Talk” class. While it is geared toward kids and students who have not yet received their first communion, the class is open to anyone. While we recommend parents consider the class around the time their child reaches 5th grade, we do not set an age requirement. Following the class, we celebrate our First Communicants on Maundy Thursday with dinner and an experiential worship service as we commemorate the night Jesus instituted this incredible gift.