Our Faith
Welcome statement
All God's Children are welcome, wherever you are from, whatever your age, the contents of your wallet, how you speak, and whatever your abilities or disabilities.
We welcome all because Jesus welcomes all: Individuals and families of any race or culture, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, or relationship status.
All are one, reconciled to God in Christ Jesus.
You Are Welcome Here.
We're a part of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.
Find out more about our tradition on the denominational website.
We are a Reconciling in Christ church, which means we proudly welcome and affirm LGBTQ+ people.
Who are Lutherans, anyway?
The Lutheran Church is an expression of the faith of Jesus Christ which is found all over the world. We base our teachings on the witness of the Hebrew Bible and New Testament, the Nicene, Apostle's, and Athanasian Creeds, and the Lutheran Confessional writings in the Book of Concord.
The Lutheran expression of the Jesus movement emphasizes that God saves us and is full of grace and mercy, and that we are not saved by our own good works. We believe that the one Triune God loves all creation, unconditionally, and that all people are created in the image of God.
Scripture
From the ELCA's website: "The Scriptures tell about Jesus Christ. The Holy Spirit uses the Scriptures to present Jesus to all who listen to or read them. That is why Lutheran Christians say that the Scriptures are the “source and norm” of their teaching and practice. ...
Because these writings originate from a time period that spans about a thousand years and come to us in a variety of handwritten manuscripts and fragments, they have been studied carefully with all the tools of research that are available. This research continues to enrich understanding of the Scriptures and their message.
Despite the diversity of viewpoints and the complexity of the many narratives contained in the Scriptures, Lutheran Christians believe that the story of God’s steadfast love and mercy in Jesus is the heart and center of what the Scriptures have to say."
Sacraments
In the Lutheran Church, sacraments are physical things which communicate God's grace to us. We believe that there are two sacraments: Baptism and Holy Communion. We believe that God is truly present in baptism and communion.
"Lutherans refer to the sacraments as “means of grace”—ways in which God in Jesus Christ is present through the Spirit in the materials, words and human actions that offer us God’s grace. As we “taste and see” or “come to the water,” communion and baptism connect us not only to God... but also to the community, to the body of Christ, who share in these sacraments." (source)
At Christ Lutheran Church, we welcome all people - no matter their age or background - to the waters of baptism and to receive communion.
What do you mean by "evangelical"?
In Greek, the word "evangelical" means good news - and we believe that Jesus offers us good news, indeed! The good news is that salvation, peace, justice, mercy, love, compassion - all of these things are made known to us in the actions of God. And, this loving God has come to make a home among us in Emmanuel, the Word made flesh - Jesus Christ.
The word "evangelical" has strong connotations in the US with evangelicalism, a particular expression of Christianity, but Lutherans have been using the word since the 16th century.