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...and what it means.
As Lutherans, we
understand that we belong to the Christian Church that exists beyond the
boundaries of time, geography or denominational distinctions. We share a
faith in Jesus Christ with billions of others. We find that faith most
understandable to us when we view it through a Lutheran theological lens.
Formally, that means
we believe in the Gospel of Jesus Christ, revealed to us in the Bible,
expressed in the Church's historic Creeds (Apostles', Nicene, and Athanasian)
and witnessed to by the Lutheran Confessions.
That faith includes
belief in:
- The Trinitarian God: Father, Son, and
Holy Spirit
- The crucifixion, death, and resurrection
of Jesus Christ as the means of our salvation from sin and death
- The Old and New Testaments as God's Word,
witnessing to God's actions through time and God's promises to believers
- The possibility of our salvation:
- by grace alone - God's free and
undeserved gift
- through faith alone - apart from any
work or worth on our part
- in the Word of God alone - Jesus Christ,
whom we know through Scripture
- Baptism as a sacrament, the means of
grace whereby God claims us in a relationship of lifelong growth in
faith and discipleship; and as the sign of each person's vocation or
"calling," his or her role in the world for the sake of God
- Holy Communion as a sacrament, the means
of grace whereby the believer encounters the very presence of Jesus
Christ through bread and wine, receiving forgiveness and the assurance
of everlasting life as surely as he or she sees, smells, feels, and
tastes the food and drink
- The Priesthood of All Believers; the
understanding that all Christians are called to ministry within the
Church and throughout their daily lives
What this means is that we live as a people with identity (as the
children of God), value (redeemed at the cost of Jesus' life), and purpose
(living to make God's presence known in all we do).
We are drawn to
experience God in worship, engage one another in fellowship, grow in faith
through lifelong learning, and serve those in need. Or as Martin Luther so
simply put it, we believe that we are "to see Christ in our neighbor,
and be Christ to our neighbor."
To learn more about
what we believe and what it means, click here to visit the "What We Believe" section of Evangelical Lutheran Church in America's
website.
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The first visit to any
new community means encountering the new, the different or the unexpected.
Whether you're a lifelong Lutheran or have never set foot in a Lutheran
church before, we want you to be comfortable, so we offer these few notes.
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Lutherans are a
"liturgical" bunch. That means our worship has the same general
outline used by Christians since the earliest days of the Church. While
there are variations each week, the general order is the same: we Gather
(sing and pray together), hear the Word (Scripture readings and sermon),
come to the Table (to receive Holy Communion), and are Sent (blessed to go
into the world as disciples). "Liturgy" means "the work of
the people." There are no spectators in worship - all are
participants.
Music is essential
to worship (hymns, parts of the liturgy, special music sung or played by
individuals/groups), but you don't have to be a musician to join in. Our
postures - standing, sitting, kneeling, turning, walking - reflect the
action going on in worship at the moment. Our worship space is filled with
visual symbols of the faith - banners, robes, candles, crosses.
The entire order of
worship is laid out in the worship folder and is easy to follow. Expect to
be greeted during the "passing of the peace" in the middle of the
service, and don't be afraid to ask the ushers (or anyone else) for
information or assistance.
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... before
and after worship
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Some have joked
that coffee is a sacrament in the Lutheran church. In truth, we're less
interested in the coffee - or tea, lemonade, etc. - than in the
conversation that develops when people share refreshments. Stop in the Commons
area outside the worship space to grab a snack and strike up a
conversation. And check out the Welcome Center to see what information
might be of interest to you.
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... in
Christian Education
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Sunday mornings at
9:30 a.m. (September through June) there are learning opportunities for
all ages, including a nursery for those under age 3, Sunday School
classes for children, youth, and adults, and short-term study/discussion
series.
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First Lutheran is
a place where all are welcome and grace is the guiding principle. We are
drawn by Christ's love and strive to share it with others. We invite and
encourage you to be our guest. We look forward to meeting you.
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What is the "Exchange of Peace?" First be reconciled to your brother or sister. . .
For some people, the moments in the liturgy following the prayers of the
church are awkward ones. The presiding minister offers these words: "The peace
of Christ be with you always." The congregation responds "And also with you."
The members of the congregation are then invited to "share the peace" with one
another. What does that really mean? Sharing God’s peace is not simply offering a friendly hello to those
sitting around you. Sharing God’s peace is not a time for catching up on
news with your neighbor or for reminding someone about an upcoming meeting.
Sharing God’s peace does not require each worshiper to offer a sign of
God’s peace to every other worshiper present. Sharing God’s peace with one another is an act of reconciliation. It is an
opportunity for God’s people to be reconciled with one another as they offer
their gifts to God and before they receive the gift of Holy Communion. Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount, as recorded in Matthew’s Gospel, lays a
foundation for the practice of sharing God’s peace. "So when you are offering
your gift at the altar, if you remember that your brother or sister has
something against you, leave your gift there before the altar and go; first be
reconciled to your brother or sister, and then come and offer your gift"
(Matthew 5:23-24). Other sources from the early church confirm the practice of sharing the gift
of peace. In the Didache, an early Christian writing nearly as old as
many of the New Testament writings, the Christian community is encouraged to
"come together on the Lord’s day, having first confessed your sins so that your
sacrifice may be pure. Anyone who has a quarrel with his fellow should not
gather with you until he has been reconciled, lest your sacrifice be
profaned." This passage from the Didache confirms that the pattern Jesus spoke
about in the Sermon on the Mount became a regular weekly occurrence in the early
Christians’ practice of Holy Communion. Over centuries, the exchange of peace sometimes came later in the service,
after the Lord’s Prayer and before the distribution of Communion. Some
congregations still exchange the peace at this point, though the preferred
placement in Evangelical Lutheran Worship is following the intercessory
prayers and before the offering (quite likely the more ancient pattern). That the sharing of the peace follows the prayers of the church is not
accidental. Having been forged into a common people in Holy Baptism, the
congregation prays for peace in the Church, peace in the world, and peace for
all those in need. Then the congregation follows through with the people
offering peace and reconciliation to one another. This is not human peace alone,
but the peace which is possible only through Christ. Then, after the exchange of
peace, material gifts are offered to God, for the well-being and peace of the
Church, the world, and its people. Finally, having prayed for and enacted the
peace, we receive the Holy Communion. Seen in context, it is clear why the exchange of Christ’s peace is not a time
for saying "Good morning," or for commenting on a neighbor’s new outfit, or for
reminding someone about next week’s potluck supper. It is, rather, a time to set
aside our human differences and to recognize and enact our baptismal unity as
children of God. What can the exchange of peace teach us for daily living? Christians are a
people who seek reconciliation with one another. Making peace is a daily action
in our lives. We do not need to wait to come to church on Sunday morning in
order to make peace with our neighbors and our family members. Sharing God's peace is a daily opportunity.
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