About Emmaus Evangelical Lutheran Church
Our History
The congregation of Emmaus Evangelical Lutheran Church was founded in A.D. 1923 in South Bend, Indiana. For over one hundred years, this congregation has been a faithful witness to the Gospel of Jesus Christ in our community. In 2023, we gave thanks to Almighty God as we celebrated our centennial anniversary - a century of His gracious provision, steadfast faithfulness, and the ongoing gift of Word and Sacrament ministry in this place.
From our founding to the present day, Emmaus has remained steadfast in the apostolic faith, confessing the truth of God's Word and administering the Holy Sacraments as our Lord has commanded.
Our Affiliation
Emmaus is a member congregation of the Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod (LCMS), a denomination of nearly two million baptized members across the United States. The LCMS is committed to the authority and inerrancy of Holy Scripture and to the faithful confession of the Christian faith as expressed in the Book of Concord of 1580.
Our Theological Identity
Emmaus is an orthodox, confessional, and liturgical Lutheran congregation. These three words describe who we are and how we worship:
Orthodox
We hold to the right teaching of the Christian faith as it has been handed down from the Apostles through the centuries. We confess the Triune God - Father, Son, and Holy Spirit - and believe, teach, and confess all the articles of the Christian faith as revealed in the sixty-six books of Holy Scripture and summarized in the three Ecumenical Creeds: the Apostles' Creed, the Nicene Creed, and the Athanasian Creed.
Confessional
We are bound by the Lutheran Confessions contained in the Book of Concord of 1580, which we hold to be a true and faithful exposition of Holy Scripture. These confessions - which include Luther's Small and Large Catechisms, the Augsburg Confession, and the Formula of Concord - shape our teaching, preaching, and practice.
Liturgical
Our worship follows the historic liturgy of the Western Church. The Divine Service at Emmaus is centered on God's gifts to His people: the reading and preaching of His Word, and the administration of the Holy Sacraments. The liturgy is not a human invention, but a faithful pattern of worship received from the Church throughout the ages, rooted in Holy Scripture, and saturated with the Gospel.
What to Expect When You Visit
When you come to Emmaus for the Divine Service, you will encounter reverent, liturgical worship that may feel both ancient and new. The service follows the historic order of the Western Church, including hymns from the Lutheran Service Book, the reading of Holy Scripture according to the lectionary, the preaching of Law and Gospel, and the celebration of the Lord's Supper.
If you are unfamiliar with liturgical worship, do not worry. Hymnals and distributed bulletins are available to help you navigate the service. The bulletin will direct you to pages inside the Lutheran Service Book where you will find the relevant prayers and hymns sung throughout the Divire Service. All of the scriptural readings can be found in the pew Bible. Our pastors, members, and ushers are happy to answer any questions you might have.
In accordance with the Word of God and the historic teaching of the Lutheran Church, the Holy Communion is administered at Emmaus only to those who share the unity and fellowship of our public confession of the faith. Visitors and guests not in fellowship with the Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod (LCMS) are invited to meet with the Pastor concerning the theology of this Holy Sacrament. Visitors from congregations in fellowship with the LCMS should make themselves known to the Pastor, or to one of the Elders, before presenting themselves at the Altar. The true Body and Blood of Christ Jesus are here distributed to those who have been Baptized in the Name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, who have been catechized in the chief parts of the Christian faith and life, and who publicly profess the faith of the evangelical Lutheran Church. However, all are welcome to present themselves at the Altar to receive a blessing in accord with their place in Christ's body. We understand that the practice of closed communion can be awkward and difficult. We invite you to discuss your concerns with our pastor.