Who We Are
Biblical
We are Biblical because we believe that the canonical books of the prophetic and apostolic Scriptures are inspired by the Holy Spirit and that Holy Scripture is the only inerrant and infallible rule of faith and practice.
"All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work." (2 Timothy 3:16-17)
"For men indeed swear by the greater, and an oath for confirmation is for them an end of all dispute. Thus God, determining to show more abundantly to the heirs of promise the immutability of His counsel, confirmed it by an oath, that by two immutable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we might have strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold of the hope set before us." (Hebrews 6:16-18)
Confessional
We are Confessional because we proclaim together a definite body of revealed truth, which God has made known to his Church through the divinely inspired Scriptures, and which is summarized and explained in the Church's historic Confessions (the three "Ecumenical Creeds" and the Lutheran Confessions of the sixteenth century). We hold to the confessional writings of the 1580 Book of Concord because (quia) they are in accord with the Word of God. Through these Confessions we humbly and joyfully declare our faith in the Triune God, and in what he has done and continues to do for our salvation.
"Remember those who rule over you, who have spoken the word of God to you, whose faith follow, considering the outcome of their conduct. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever. Do not be carried about with various and strange doctrines." (Hebrews 13:7-9)
"God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. Now I plead with you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment." (1 Corinthians 1:9-10)
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Evangelical
We are Evangelical because we believe that the central message of Scripture is the "Good News" that our sins are freely and fully forgiven for the sake of Jesus Christ, the eternal Son of the Father in human flesh. In Christ we are not condemned (as our sins would deserve) but are at peace with God, because Jesus has redeemed us by his atoning death, and in his resurrection has opened for us the way to everlasting life.
"For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God." (John 3:16-18)
"Then [Jesus] said to them, “Thus it is written, and thus it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead the third day, and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem." (Luke 24:46-47)
Sacramental
We are Sacramental because we acknowledge from Scripture that Christ has instituted certain external means through which God's grace is brought to humanity, and through which the Holy Spirit creates and strengthens the faith that receives his forgiveness and salvation. These divinely appointed Means of Grace are the Word of God and the Sacraments of Holy Baptism and the Lord's Supper. Living in Baptismal grace and coming together to hear the preached Word and receive the Holy Sacrament are the very center of our life together as a congregation.
"Then Peter said to them, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is to you and to your children, and to all who are afar off, as many as the Lord our God will call.” (Acts 2:38-39)
"And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to the disciples and said, “Take, eat; this is My body.” Then He took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you. For this is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many for the remission of sins." (Matthew 26:26-28)
"The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ? For we, though many, are one bread and one body; for we all partake of that one bread." (1 Corinthians 10:16-17)
Liturgical
We are Liturgical because we recognize in Scripture the Lord's will to bring the Means of Grace to his Church regularly and in an orderly manner, and by his Word to guide the Church in a discipline of Christ-centered, reverent devotion. These Biblical standards for worship are well served by the time-tested liturgical forms and hymns that are employed among us. We appreciate the historic Liturgy also as a witness to the sacred heritage of the one Church of Christ to which all true believers belong, and as a living testimony to the faithfulness of Christ in preserving his beloved Church throughout the ages. We follow the historic liturgy of the Divine Service (Gottesdienst) as it is handed down to us today in the Lutheran Hymnal (TLH) and the Lutheran Service Book (LSB).
"Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord." (Colossians 3:16)
"Therefore, brethren, having boldness to enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way which He consecrated for us, through the veil, that is, His flesh, and having a High Priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful. And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching." (Hebrews 10:19-25)