Sacrament

Sacraments are those practices which are both commanded by Christ and offered as gracious reminders and means of active grace in believers’ lives. They are means of grace through faith, tokens of our profession of Christian faith, and signs of God’s gracious ministry toward us.  By them, He works within us to quicken, strengthen, and confirm our faith.

In following most protestant tradition, WFMC receives water baptism and the Lord’s Supper as sacraments of the church.

Water baptism is a sacrament of the church, commanded by our Lord, signifying acceptance of the benefits of the atonement of Jesus Christ to be administered to believers, as declaration of their faith in Jesus Christ as Savior.  Baptism is a symbol of the new covenant of grace as circumcision was the symbol of the old covenant; and, since infants are recognized as being included in the atonement, they may be baptized upon the request of parents or guardians who shall give assurance for them of necessary Christian training.  They shall be required to affirm the vow for themselves before being accepted into church membership.

The Lord’s Supper is a sacrament of our redemption by Christ’s death. To those who rightly, worthily, and with faith receive it, the bread which we break is a partaking of the body of Christ; and likewise the cup of blessing is a partaking of the blood of Christ.  The supper is also a sign of the love and unity that Christians have among themselves.

Christ, according to His promise, is really present in the sacrament. But His body is given, taken, and eaten only after a heavenly and spiritual manner.  No change is effected in the element; the bread and wine are not literally the body and blood of Christ.  Nor is the body and blood of Christ literally present with the elements.  The elements are never to be considered objects of worship. The body of Christ is received and eaten in faith.

WFMC participates together in the sacrament of the Lord’s Supper on the first Sunday morning of each month and on most third Sunday evenings.