All Are Welcome!
First Time or Already a Lutheran?
Whether it is your first time at a Lutheran church, or you’ve been attending for your whole life, our goal is for everyone to feel comfortable from the moment they walk through the Sanctuary doors. Usher teams are posted at the door to answer any questions and provide a paper bulletin that will walk you through the service and provide information about the church.
Children and Families
For families with children, we have a fully staffed nursery available for children under 4. Children are welcome to accompany their parents to the service and “quiet busy bags” with activities are provided at each door. During the service, the children are invited up to the front steps for the “Children’s Chat”: a brief discussion with the pastor about the message for that day. Children who have not been through First Communion class are welcome to come up during communion for a pastoral blessing.
Communion
Anyone who has been baptized (into any denomination) is welcome to take communion. Rows are dismissed individually by the ushers. The pastors will give a wafer to be eaten, then a communion assistant will present a tray with wine (light color) or grape juice (dark color) options. The used communion cups are then deposited in a basket held by an usher and the communed return to their seats.
Confession
In the Lutheran church, we practice a group Confession at the beginning of each service. Confession has two parts. First, that we confess our sins, and second, that we receive absolution (forgiveness) from the Pastor as from God Himself, not doubting, but firmly believing that by it our sins are forgiven before God in Heaven.
Before God we should plead guilty of all sins, even those we are not aware of, as we do in the Lord’s Prayer; but before the pastor we should confess only those sins which we know and feel in our hearts.
- Are you a father, mother, son, daughter, husband, wife, or worker?
- Have you been disobedient, unfaithful, or lazy?
- Have you been hot-tempered, rude, or quarrelsome?
- Have you hurt someone by your words or deeds?
- Have you stolen, been negligent, wasted anything, or done any harm?
The Sacrament
It is the true body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ under the bread and wine, instituted by Christ Himself for us Christian to eat and to drink.
The holy Evangelists Matthew, Mark, Luke, and Saint Paul write:
Our Lord Jesus Christ, on the night when He was betrayed, took bread, and when He had given thanks, He broke it and gave it to His disciples and said: “Take, eat: this is My body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of Me.” In the same way also He took the cup after supper, and when He had given thanks, He gave it to His disciples, say: “Drink of it, all of you; this cup is the new testament in My blood, which is shed for you for the forgiveness of sins. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.”
These words, “Given and shed for you for the forgiveness of sins” show us that in the Sacrament forgiveness of sins, life, and salvation are given us through these words. For where there is forgiveness of sins, there is also life and salvation.
The Apostles' Creed
First Article
I believe in God, the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth.
Second Article
I believe in Jesus Christ, God’s 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 decended to the dead. On the third day, He rose again. He ascended into heaven. He is seated at the right hand of the Father and will come to judge the living and the dead.
Third Article
I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Holy Catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen
The Lord's Prayer
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 the power, and the glory,
Forever and ever. Amen.
Nicene Creed
We believe in one God,
the Father, the Almighty,
maker of heaven and earth,
of all that is, seen and unseen.
We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ,
the only Son of God,
eternally begotten of the Father,
God from God, Light from Light,
true God from true God,
begotten, not made,
of one Being with the Father;
through him all things were made.
For us and for our salvation
he came down from heaven,
was incarnate of the Holy Spirit and the virgin Mary
and became truly human.
For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate;
he suffered death and was buried.
On the third day he rose again
in accordance with the scriptures;
he ascended into heaven
and is seated at the right hand of the Father.
He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead,
and his kingdom will have no end.
We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life,
who proceeds from the Father and the Son,*
who with the Father and the Son is worshiped and glorified,
who has spoken through the prophets.
We believe in one holy catholic and apostolic church.
We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins.
We look for the resurrection of the dead,
and the life of the world to come. Amen.
*Or, “who proceeds from the Father.” The phrase “and the Son” is a later addition to the creed.
Rev. Andrew Berdahl
