Belief and Practice
Explore the rich tapestry of beliefs and practices that define our congregation, a member of The Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod (LCMS)
We Believe
We believe, teach, and confess without reservation that there is only one true God and that He has revealed Himself as three distinct Persons, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit; furthermore, this triune God is the Creator and Sustainer of all things, the Redeemer of mankind, and the One who calls, gathers, enlightens, and sanctifies the whole Christian church on earth, and keeps it in the one true faith.
We believe, teach, and confess without reservation that we and all people are born in bondage to sin, death, and the devil; furthermore, that no one can, through any merit, strength, or will of their own, make satisfaction for sin, save themselves, or, in any way, make themselves right with God.
We believe, teach, and confess without reservation that mankind’s only Saviour from sin, death, and hell is Christ Jesus, the eternal Son of God, begotten of the Father from eternity, who, in the fullness of time, was made man, being born of the Virgin Mary; furthermore, for man's salvation, He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, was buried, and arose from the grave on the Third Day; moreover, He ascended into heaven, where He sits at the Right Hand of the Father, and, on the Last Day, will come again as judge of both the living and the dead.
We believe, teach, and confess without reservation that the Holy Spirit calls us to repentance and faith in Christ Jesus by the Word of God; furthermore, that He delivers Christ’s forgiveness, life, and salvation to us, fully and freely, through the proclamation of the Word and through Holy Baptism, Holy Absolution, and the Holy Sacrament of the Altar.
We believe, teach, and confess without reservation that Holy Baptism is water included in God's command and combined with God's Word and that, by it, God freely imparts the forgiveness of sins, rescues from death and the devil, and bestows new life, and eternal salvation to all who believe; furthermore, according to Christ's Word, Holy Baptism is intended for all individuals, including infants.
We believe, teach, and confess without reservation that the Holy Sacrament of the Altar is the true body and blood of our Lord, Christ Jesus, in, with, and under the bread and wine, which Christ Himself instituted for us Christians to eat and to drink and that, by it, He freely imparts the forgiveness of sins and bestows life and everlasting salvation to all who believe; furthermore, we acknowledge that, while the Sacrament of the Altar is always a personal matter, it is never a private matter, as those who commune at the same altar are publicly declaring that they are united in all points of doctrine, as such, the Sacrament of the Altar is offered only to those who have received adequate instruction—and agree with—the teachings and practices of our confession.
We believe, teach, and confess without reservation that the prophetic and apostolic Scriptures of the Old and New Testament are the inspired and inerrant Word of God and that they are the only rule and norm according to which all teachings, together with all teachers, should be evaluated and judged; furthermore, other writings, no matter whose name they bear, must not be regarded as equal to them and are subject to them.
We believe, teach, and confess without reservation the Apostles’ Creed, the Nicene Creed, and the Athanasian Creed as the proper articulation of the faith; furthermore, we reject all heresies and teachings contrary to these ecumenical—or universal—creeds.
We believe, teach, and confess without reservation that the confessional documents of the Evangelical Lutheran Church—namely the unaltered Augsburg Confession of 1530 and its Apology, the Smalcald Articles of 1537, the Treatise on the Power and Primacy of the Pope, Dr. Luther’s Small and Large Catechisms, and both the Epitome and Solid Declaration of the Formula of Concord—because they are all drawn from the Word of God, are, therefore, a true statement and a binding exposition of the Word of God.
Our Practice
There's an old Latin axiom, lex orandi, lex credendi; it means "the law of prayer is the law of belief." Or, to put it another way, how one prays (or worships) affects and reflects what one believes. The reverse is also true: lex credendi, lex orandi, that is, what one believes affects and reflects how one worships.
As stated above, we believe, teach, and confess that mankind's only Saviour from sin, death, and hell is Christ Jesus, true God and true man, who, for us and for our salvation, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, was buried, and arose from the grave on the Third Day. As Christ Jesus is true God, we gather and come before Him as one would a king. Now, one does not come before a king in whatever manner they choose; there is an order. In the Church, the general term for such order is called liturgy; the liturgy may vary depending on the time and day, yet there is always an order we follow, and we do so in reverence, mindful that we are in the presence of Almighty God. The Divine Service is the specific name for the order—or liturgy—we follow on Sundays. As its name suggests, it is His Service; He gathers us before Himself and serves us, through His Holy Word and Blessed Sacraments, with the most precious gifts a Saviour could bestow upon sinners: the forgiveness of sins, life, and everlasting salvation. We, in turn, receive these tremendous gifts with thanksgiving and praise.
Luther's Small Catechism
The 10 Commandments
The Ten Commandments show us our sin and our need for a Savior.
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You shall have no other gods.
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You shall not misuse the name of the Lord your God.
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Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy.
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Honor your father and your mother.
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You shall not murder.
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You shall not commit adultery.
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You shall not steal.
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You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor.
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You shall not covet your neighbor'shouse.
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You shall not covet your neighbor's wife, or his manservant or maidservant, his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor.
The Creed
The Apostles' Creed helps us confess the God who has done everything to save us from sin through Jesus Christ and to make us members of His Church.
I believe in God, the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth. And in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died and was buried. He descended into hell. The third day He rose again from the dead. He ascended into heaven and sits at the right hand of God, the Father Almighty. From thence He will come to judge the living and the dead. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy Christian Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.
The Lord's Prayer
In the Lord's Prayer, we call updon God, the only source for all we need.
Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed by Thy name, Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us, and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For Thine is the kingdom and power and glory forever and ever. Amen.
Holy Baptism
In Holy Baptism, we are united with the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Through Baptism the Holy Spirit gives to us the forgiveness of sins, life, and salvation.
Baptism is not just plain water, but it is the water included with God's command and combined with God's Word.
Confession
Confession and Absolution daily returns us to the promises and hope given to us in our Baptism.
Jesus breathed on His disciples and said, "Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive anyone his sins, they are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven." (John 20:22-23)
The Lord's Supper
The Lord's Supper, also called the Sacrament of the Altar, is the true body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ under the bread and wine, instituted by Christ Himself for us Christians to eat and to drink to strengthen our faith against the temptations of the devil, the world, and our sinful flesh.
What About?
The former, now-sainted, Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod president, Rev. Dr. A.L. Barry, authored a series of twenty-nine pamphlets addressing doctrinal topics, moral issues, and concerns in the Church to help Christians grow in their understanding regarding such questions. These pamphlets are available for download.
The LCMS granted permission to copy any part of the "What About?" series as long as there is no sale of the copied material and no change in content.
Our congregation accepts and preaches the Bible-based teachings of Martin Luther that inspired the reformation of the Christian Church in the 16th century. The teachings of Luther and the reformers can be summarized in three phrases:
Grace alone. Faith alone. Scripture alone.