What we believe ...

 

Central to our beliefs is that God is present in Word and Sacrament.  Lutherans believe that there are two Sacraments:  Holy Communion and Baptism.

 

Baptism is NOT water only, but water used together with God’s word and by His command: Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. (Matthew 28:19).

 

In Baptism, God announces a Divine “YES! You are my beloved child.” Baptism is one of two sacraments in the Lutheran church, instituted by God’s command. Baptism is a gift that God wants to freely give; it is a gift of God that creates new life. Luther’s Large Catechism says that “baptism is not a work that we do, but it is a treasure that God gives us and that faith grasps.”

 

Baptism is one of the great joys of a worshipping community, celebrating baptisms from infants to adults. We commemorate this gift in daily remembrance of our baptism, in that we recall that through daily repentance and forgiveness we are free to live abundantly in Christ.

 

Our beliefs of Communion are this: All who believe that Jesus Christ is their Lord and Savior are welcome to come to the Lord’s Supper. Communion or the Eucharist is one of two sacraments in Lutheran theology. This sacrament, as described in Luther’s Large Catechism, is “the true body and blood of the Lord Christ, in and under the bread and wine, which we Christians are commanded by Christ’s words to eat and drink.” God’s forgiveness is offered to us in the bread and wine so we come to the table recognizing our shortcomings and leave the table fully forgiven.