Word & Sacrament

The ways in which God conveys his grace and forgiveness to us are key elements of Lutheran worship. These “means of grace” are God's Word and the Sacraments, Holy Communion and Baptism.

On this page:

Word

The written Word of God is at the core of our identity and life as Lutheran Christians. The Bible is the sole norm and standard for all doctrine and life in the church.

The speaking and hearing of the Word of God is central to the worship service. The liturgy itself consists mainly of Scripture verses, and God speaks to us also in the readings from the Scriptures, and in the sermon. The Scripture readings for worship services are set by the Revised Common Lectionary – a three year cycle of readings used by most mainline Christian churches.

Jesus Christ, the living Word, is the centre and theme of both the written and the spoken Word.

Members of our congregation are committed to reading and studying the Bible in their daily lives and also in fellowship groups.

We also teach children the Word in Sunday School and we encourage the use of Scripture in family devotions and discussions.

Holy Communion

Holy Communion, also called the Lord's Supper, is at the heart of our worship and was instituted by Christ himself.

We believe that when Christians eat the bread and drink the wine in the sacrament of the Lord’s Supper they receive the body and blood of Jesus Christ, and that their sins are forgiven because of Christ’s death on the cross.

As we come to the Lord's Supper, we are invited:

  • to confess that we have sinned and need God’s forgiveness
  • to believe that Jesus died for our sins, and to humbly accept what Jesus gives;  his true body and blood with the bread and the wine, given and shed for the forgiveness of our sins
  • to receive the sacrament for the strengthening of our faith and to help us live as God wants us to
  • to join with the congregation in a public profession of the death of Christ.

If you have any questions about attending the Lord’s Supper at Bethlehem, please speak to one of the pastors.

Baptism

Baptism is much more than a sign or ritual. It is a gift of God in which we receive the forgiveness of sins and are made God's children.  It is God’s work, not the result of a human decision or commitment.

Baptism is also in obedience to Jesus Christ’s command in Matthew 28 to baptise all people and teach them the Word of God and the Christian life.

This once-only gift from God is celebrated and renewed daily as we live in repentance and faith, confessing our sins to God, and asking for and receiving his forgiveness and power in our lives. Our whole lives are ‘soaked in the renewing and refreshing waters of baptism’.

Baptism is performed with water in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

When infants and small children are baptised Christian parents and/or sponsors make the baptismal vows on behalf of the child, and take responsibility for the Christian upbringing of the child. We encourage parents to commit themselves to the ongoing process of nurture, teaching and spiritual formation of their baptised children

In the case of adults any unbaptised person confessing faith in Jesus Christ may be baptised after a period of instruction.