Our Savior Lutheran Church Logo
Our Savior Lutheran Church Logo

OUR SAVIOR
LUTHERAN CHURCH

BETTENDORF, IOWA

Baptism & Communion

Our Savior Baptism & Holy Communion Practice

Baptism and Communion

Our Savior is a sacramental church. God has given two very precious gifts to the church by which He gives the forgiveness of sins and the assurance of eternal life. These gifts are Baptism and Holy Communion.

Holy Baptism 

Holy Baptism is the entry point for all Christians into God’s family and Church. We believe Baptism is totally God’s work in us, whether an infant or adult, whereby through His promise and simple water, He gives each of us the assurance that he will never stop loving us and pursuing us. As the Scriptures teach, we believe Baptism is a means of Grace, meaning through it God creates faith, forgives sins, and adopts us into His family – not because we deserve it, but simply out of His unconditional love for us. 

Holy Communion

Like Baptism, Holy Communion is entirely the work of God in us, whereby Jesus Christ is made physically available to sinners through bread and wine. This is a mystery received in faith. We take Jesus at His word when He says “…This is my body… this is my blood.” (Matthew 26:26-28) Only Christ’s true body and true blood can forgive sins, and that is what Jesus gives us in the Holy meal. However, unlike Baptism, which is the entry point for Christians into the Church, Holy Communion is a sacrament that is administered as a Christian matures in faith. Because Christ’s body and blood are really present, the Apostle Paul says in 1st Corinthians 11:28-29, “Let a man examine himself, and so eat of the bread and drink of the cup. For anyone who eats or drinks without discerning the body eats and drinks judgment upon himself.” Therefore, Our Savior practices what is called “close communion,” meaning that in taking what Scripture says seriously about properly discerning the “body” of Christ, we believe that individuals need to be aware of exactly what it is they are receiving at the altar—the real presence of Jesus’ body and blood. We also believe that because the church is the body of Christ on earth (1st Corinthians 12:12-27), we too should be in agreement in the major doctrines of faith. In this way, Holy Communion becomes not only an inward act of forgiveness and grace from God for the individual, but also an outward sign of our unity in a common confession of what we believe.

If you are unaware of the teachings of the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod or have any doubts or questions, we respectfully ask you to refrain from receiving Holy Communion today until you have the opportunity to visit with one of the pastors.

Phone & Email

Location

3775 Middle Road
Bettendorf, IA 52722

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Worship Opportunities

WORSHIP SCHEDULE

SATURDAYS: 5:00 p.m. Traditional Worship with Communion
SUNDAYS:  8:00 a.m. (Traditional)*∇  & 10:45 a.m. (Contemporary)*∇

∇ = Livestream

* = Holy Communion Served

SUNDAY SCHOOL & ADULT BIBLE CLASSES
(September - May)
9:30 - 10:30 a.m.

NURSERY AVAILABLE ON SUNDAY MORNINGS

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