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Joint Communion Service in Dayton


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Written: 10/22/2009

On Sunday October 18th, Fairview United Methodist Women (UMW) hosted a gathering of approximately 47 women from New Hope Lutheran and Riverdale Lutheran congregations.  This gathering celebrated the historical recognition that Lutheran & United Methodist churches are now united in open communion with each another. 

Our Sunday evening the celebration of communion started with fellowship and light supper of salads, sandwiches and great home made cookies!  Pastor Monte Stevens, pastor of Riverdale Lutheran, offered a interesting and often humorous discussion of the historal background which culuminated in this partial theological 'marriage' between the two denominations.  Pastors Monte and Barbara Wiechel offered communion to the gathering, equally represented by all three congregations.  

The hope is that future years can bring more union between church efforts to witness and communion in Christian love.  Praise the Lord for this wonderful occasion and thanks to all the UMW women working behind the scenes in gathering the delightful food and creating a welcoming atmosphere for this joyous occasion!     .

- Photos courtesy of Elaine Umstead & Judy Golovcsenko 

 

Lutherans OK full communion with United Methodists

By Linda Bloom*
August 20, 2009 | MINNEAPOLIS (United Methodist News Service)

 Celebrating with a Charles Wesley hymn, the largest Lutheran body in the United States entered into full communion with The United Methodist Church.   Delegates to the churchwide assembly of the 4.7 million-member Evangelical Lutheran Church in America sang “O, For a Thousand Tongues to Sing” Aug. 20 after voting 958-51 in support of the historic agreement.  After the vote, Presiding Bishop Mark Hanson hugged Bishop Gregory Palmer, president of the United Methodist Council of Bishops, and thanked all who had labored in dialogue between the religious traditions founded by towering figures in Christian history – Martin Luther and John Wesley.