Yes, the Pastor and I had some conversations and he knew that I came from a Reformed background so he understood. We never got into any indepth discussions.
I eventually partnered with a Memoralist church that, though I disagree with their thinking on the Lord’s Supper, I happiliy partake.
I think there is a huge difference in partaking with a church that believes communion to be a true sacrament and one that believes it to be merely a rememberance. If a church believes communion to be a true sacrament one ought to think twice about what they are participating in and the ramifications of that participation. I think here of Paul’s instruction that having sex with a prostitute is essentially being married to a prostitute (This is to be taken as a metaphor not that I’m claiming the LCMS is equal to a prostitute). For those churches that believe it is merely a remembrance I think one can still participate even if he believes it to be a true sacrament because I believe one receives the Sacrament by faith even if the other participants do not.
I would have been happy to continue with the LCMS church but it was that one issue that lead me to find another church to affiliate with.
I think your metaphor using Paul's reference to sex with prostitutes is apt. The LCMS does consider the Lord's Supper to be a sacrament as well as Baptism; both means of grace.
I believe one receives the Sacrament by faith even if the other participants do not.
Again, I would disagree but I applaud your discernment on the issue.