Walking in True Fellowship and Christian Unity
The LCMS's Wyoming District is a humble model of Godly order, Christian worship, and Synodical fellowship
Attending Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod (LCMS) congregations anywhere in Wyoming starkly contrasts with other Synod districts. Whether in Sheridan or Cheyenne, you know exactly what you'll get: Christian worship that aligns with Scripture and the Lutheran Confessions and connects you with the ancient church. Wyoming LCMS churches are so unapologetically and unambiguously Lutheran that you never feel lured into a camouflaged Pentecostal enterprise.
Wyoming pastors must know - from recall - Matins, Vespers, Compline, and Divine Service Three (DS III - notably, the only service not festooned with copyright claims and contingent litigation threats…). District congregations employ the Synod’s hymnals (Col. 3:16) and many will use several editions in the same service. Consequently, the congregations have an exceptionally healthy and salutary hymnody that visitors always mention.
These facts don’t make Wyoming perfect, but the unity of doctrine and praxis creates more peace than conflict. The pastors know Sunday is for service rather than performance, and their sheep don’t have to fear a wolf’s creeping innovation and unionistic infections that create doubt.
Parishioners want the basics because they are concerned about dying well—that they should have relief from nagging concerns about sins sending them to hell despite being baptized communicants. That’s the pastor’s whole job. It’s much easier when the pastor relies on the Divine Service to scaffold around the parishioner Sunday after Sunday and decade after decade.
Repetition builds confidence and conviction. Complication and innovation do the opposite.
Wyoming’s unity reflects Scripture’s requirement for order (1 Cor. 12-14) and reverence (Heb. 12:28-29) in our worship. Thus, the congregants may have confidence that their pastor is truly concerned with imparting pure doctrine (1 Tim. 1:3-7) and is sincere in hearing their confession (James 5:16) and forgiving their sins. The liturgy is a corral to ensure there will be teaching, admonition, exhortation, and singing of hymns and psalms (Col. 3:16). Likewise, it requires the reading of scripture (1 Tim. 4:13) and compels the pastor to preach Christ crucified instead of life applications and other trivial things (Rom. 10:14). Reinforced by the recitation of the creeds (Rom. 10:9-10), the parishioner arrives at the Lord’s Supper (1 Cor. 10:16-21) with great confidence and leaves the rail with joy. Ready for death.
Unity is possible. Walking in fellowship is possible. Wyoming shows us why and how.
