in Church
Audio/Streaming
Bible Readings
Devotions
Contact Us
Prayer Request
Prayer Request
Welcome Video Test
test text
Church, Sunday School times
Worship is at 11:00 a.m. Sundays. Sunday School and Adult Bible Class are at 9:45.
About Martini Lutheran Church
Situated among the Baltimore rowhouses, walking distance from the Inner Harbor, Martini [Latin word meaning, ["of Martin"] Lutheran Church has preached the Gospel and served in the neighborhood for nearly 150 years . Our affiliation with the Lutheran Church -- Missouri Synod http://(lcms.org) extends our preaching and service to others world-wide. We gather -- neighbors and commuters -- to hear a message which may be reassuring or provocative, but always true to Scripture. We seek the Savior who came to offer Himself for the forgiveness of our sins, that we might, in turn, show mercy to others in His Name. We preach a strong Law, and a sweet Gospel. We want all to enjoy a believing, baptized life with God through repentance and forgiveness -- a relationship only He can create. Then, whether in worship and fellowship on Sunday, or learning in weekly Bible Study, or going into the world to serve near or far, we, our homes, daily work, friendships, citizenship, and all of life become richer, more purposeful, and a way to walk with and glorify God. We hope you'll come for a visit.
What We Believe
So many people choose a church, saying, “Does this church believe what I believe?” Maybe the better question is, “Does this church believe what the Bible teaches?” Here at Martini Lutheran Church, we believe the Bible to be the Written Word of God. Jesus Christ and especially His cross, is the heart and center of the Bible.
What to Expect..del me
Where do I park? We are a pleasant walk from anywhere in Federal Hill, Otterbein, and Sharp Leadenhall. We also have a large parking lot next to the preschool playground on Henrietta St. What’s the best entrance to the building? Any double door with a sidewalk going up to it will get you into the building on Sunday morning. Even though our parking lot is on the side and rear of the building, some folks like to walk around to the Henrietta St. side and enter through the big wooden double doors. Most use the parking lot doors, especially if attending Sunday School before worship. Once in the building… Rest rooms are in the main hallway across from the drinking fountain. Signs will point the way to the worship area The building is accessible and air conditioned. Where do I sit to worship? Pick a pew – any pew! Pastor likes you to sit in further forward than the back two pews. You’ll hear the church bells, and the organist will play some pre-service music. Pastor will welcome us and make announcements, and then we’ll sing the opening hymn. The People We want to appreciate you and honor God for bringing you here. We want to be true to God, genuine in living our lives, and warm in our welcome to you. Our ushers will hand you a worship bulletin. We hope you’ll sign our guest book, and include contact info if you’d like to be contacted. If you come with a special burden or need, ask that usher to point you to the prayer table, and you can make your request there, which is taken to the altar at prayer time later in the service. What to wear? No worries. You’ll see that our people wear the entire spectrum of fairly relaxed to fairly formal. We sometimes refer to the church building as “the church,” for short. But the church is, according to the Bible, the people whom God has brought together. The people at Martini are from all walks of life, and most have a personal or generational history rooted in South or Southwest Baltimore, no matter where they live today. They represent the stories of the nearby neighborhoods across many decades and scores of years. When here, you’ll add your story to theirs. Our oneness is in the faith we profess and by which we live. Martini church is a Christian church which calls itself Lutheran. Think of “Lutheran” as an adverb, telling how we’re Christian: Lutheran style reflects practices of the historic church, set in the present. Lutheran teaching is based solely on Scripture, the written Word of God. (See “What We Believe”) Our affiliation of churches works together to coordinate world and regional outreach, and the training of church workers. This affililation is called The Lutheran Church – Missouri Synod, with headquarters in St. Louis, Missouri. We are congregational. Our decisions are made here, giving us, under God, a distinct ownership in what we do. The Worship What’s the worship like? Worship is from the burgundy colored Lutheran Service Book. While it’s true that we worship from a book, be sure to let it also be from the heart. Navigating the worship The usher will have handed you a bulletin, which will guide you through the worship. Pay attention to the line in your bulletin’s right hand column which says, “Bookmark,” and mark the pages so you can navigate the worship most easily once we’ve started. The titles of the parts of the service are printed in the bulletin, with page numbers, so you can easily find your way through what may be a new way of worship. Oh – and if you get lost, don’t worry, most of the people around you did, too, when they first came to Martini, but they came back because they found it spoke to every area of their life. The heart and center of the worship Lutheran worship centers on Christ, and His death on the cross to pay for our sins. The reading and preaching of God’s Word as it relates to Christ and to our lives is its high point. Everything prior to the readings and the preaching are leading up to it. Everything after is a response to it. On Communion Sundays, the Communion is a second high point, with its own lead-in, or Preface, and responses. The togetherness of worship Worship is participatory: You are a participant, not a spectator. For instance, instead of Pastor saying, “Our help is in the Name of the Lord, who made heaven and earth,” and the congregation just standing there, listening, he starts the verse: “Our help is in the Name of the Lord,…” And the congregation finishes it: “…who made heaven and earth.” It makes us all an active part of the worship. Our posture changes as we participate. We may stand, kneel, or sit. Generally, standing shows respect; kneeling demonstrates a humble surrender; and we sit to be taught. Make the worship yours. If you are in spiritual crisis, and you just want to sit and meditate, church is for that, too. If you’re joyous and you want to sing out during the hymns, go for it! That phrase, mentioned above, “Our help is in the Name of the Lord, who made heaven and earth.” is actually a Bible verse (Psalm 124:8). Much of the worship is Scripture verses, so we use God’s Word, rather than our own, for a significant portion of the worship. Once you get used to it, you start to know the words by heart, and suddenly you know a lot of Bible verses which help you relate to God! Holy Communion is celebrated on the first Sunday of the month. It is also celebrated on Ash Wednesday, Maundy Thursday, Easter, and New Year’s Eve. At Holy Communion time, most visitors come forward for a blessing when they visit, or remain in their seat for prayer, reflection, and singing the hymns at that time. Because you, as a visitor, are an answer to our prayers, and this page is about expectations, we want you to have an appropriate expectation on Holy Communion, as well. While most churches in the U.S. practice an “Open Communion,” where just about everybody comes forward and receives, most Christians throughout the world practice a “Close Communion,” as we do. It means that only the members present (and, by extension, members of our affiliated congregations) receive the sacrament when it is offered. This practice comes from an emphasis on the teaching that preparation of the head (right believing) and of the heart (scriptural repentance) are necessary preparation for this meal, because Holy Communion is the true Body and Blood of Jesus. As stewards of this mystery, the Pastor and congregation are to treat the holy things as “set apart,” which is the meaning of “holy.”
Holy Communion
he Lord’s Supper is celebrated at Martini Lutheran Church in the confession and glad confidence that, as he says, our Lord gives into our mouths not only bread and wine but his very body and blood to eat and to drink for the forgiveness of sins and to strengthen our union with him and with one another. Our Lord invites to his table those who trust his words, repent of all sin, and set aside any refusal to forgive and love as he forgives and loves us, that they may show forth his death until he comes. Because those who eat and drink our Lord’s body and blood unworthily do so to their great harm and because Holy Communion is a confession of the faith which is confessed at this altar, any who are not yet instructed, in doubt, or who hold a confession differing from that of this congregation and The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod, and yet desire to receive the sacrament, are asked first to speak with the pastor. For further study, see Matthew 5:23f.; 10:32f.; 18:15-35; 26:26-29; 1 Cor. 11:17-34.
Map and Directions
Martini Lutheran is located at 100 West Henrietta Street (at the corner of South Hanover Street) Baltimore, MD 21230-3610 Our office phone number is 410.752.7817 Our office Email address is http://secretary@martinilutheran.org Van Transportation is available in a limited area. Please call ahead.
Preliminaries
Parking: is on our large, free lot. Which door?: Use the big wooden doors out front, or the blue door from the parking lot. Then where?: Everything is on one level. Signs will point you to the sanctuary. Pick any pew to be seated. Have a silent prayer. Bookmark your hymnal, using your bulletin's side panel, which will guide you through the worship. Fashion?: We run the spectrum. Do what you do to honor the Lord.
In the Worship
In the worship, God talks to us through His written Word, the Bible, and we respond to God, often using words of the Bible once spoken by Prophets, Apostles, Saints and Angels. The worship uses the historic liturgy, which is designed to speak to every area of daily life. (BTW, No one worries if you don't get it perfectly the first time; they didn't, either!) Just make the worship yours, for whatever reason you came, and you'll find God's blessing as you do, along with something to take with you through the week from the worship.
Holy Communion
For various reasons, not everyone receives. It's meant for all, and toward that goal, the Bible talks about a preparation which involves head and heart. So please call ahead and talk with the Pastor before receiving this holy Sacrament. If there wasn't time, here's the short version: ➢ We welcome all people for worship. ➢ We welcome you for a blessing at the altar if you feel this need. ➢ If you are already a confirmed member of Martini Lutheran Church or of one of our congregations of the Lutheran Church -- Missouri Synod, then we welcome you as properly prepared for Holy Communion. On a given Communion Sunday, you'll see some people meditating, singing, or praying at their seat; some at the altar for a blessing; and some receiving Holy Communion. Holy Communion is celebrated in worship on the first Sunday of every month.
