New Lutheran Quote of the Day

Sacrament and sacrifice are not mutually exclusive. The same action can have several ends or purposes. The Holy Communion can free the conscience from its fears and create faith, its sacramental purpose, and then the celebration can be used for the praise of God, obediently to express gratitude and to witness that it magnifies the gifts of God. Thus the ceremony becomes a sacrifice of praise. -- A.C. Piepkorn, *The Church* p. 238