What We Believe
Loving Others As We Are Loved
Lutherans are followers of Jesus influenced by Martin Luther, a 16th century theologian who had this key insight: We can’t “qualify for” love or blessings through worthiness or conformity. God blesses us just because God loves us. Grounded in this love, we are called to love and serve others—just because!
It Starts with Grace
“Grace” is a church-word that gets thrown around a lot, but here’s what it means in real life: We don’t have to earn belonging.
We don’t have to believe the right things, wear the right clothes, drive the right car, follow the right people on Twitter, have the right politics, or do everything perfectly. Heck, we openly admit that we can and will mess up horribly at times.
Yet God loves us perfectly and unconditionally, not because of anything we do or don’t do, but because that’s Who God is. Period.
We’ve discovered that really trusting this perfect love changes absolutely everything.
Core Beliefs and Practices that Help Us Live from God's Grace
Beliefs and practices are ways of articulating what is most important to us and habits that help us practice what we preach. If you’re not sure what you believe or if you want to participate in these practices, that’s okay! You are welcome with us and your belonging is never on the line. This is here to help you understand what’s behind our preaching, worship, and engagement in our community.
The Trinity
The Trinity is the One God made known in three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Sounds complex, but for all its mystery, the Trinity teaches us that God's nature is love, as each Person of the Trinity loves and is beloved by one another—a love so powerful it forms the very fabric of the universe!
Jesus
Jesus Christ died so that we might live. We proclaim, against all odds, that he was raised from the dead in order to draw us into a new kind of life with him. Life with Jesus isn't always easy. He asks us to be radically merciful, caring, and just. But he is with us every step of the way.
The Bible
The Bible is the Word of God. It's a collection of stories, poems, prayers, histories, letters, and other writings that help us get to know God. While we have questions about the Bible and aren't afraid to wrestle with it, we've found that as we dig deeper into its pages, our hopes, prayers, and lives become more rich and meaningful—and, ultimately, we find Jesus there.
The Sacraments
Baptism and Holy Communion are God's way of infusing us with grace. In baptism, we are claimed by God forever as a beloved child. In communion, Jesus' presence and forgiveness are given to us in ordinary bread and wine. Shaped by these profound gifts, what Luther called "the means of grace," we are energized and ready to serve.
Spiritual Disciplines
Simple spiritual disciplines like prayer, journaling, and reading Scripture help us connect with God. God wants to be close to us and guide our lives. But sometimes it's hard to pay attention! Spiritual disciplines don't make God love us any more or less, but they can help us stay more aware of God's presence and peace in the midst of a distracting world.
Works of Justice and Mercy
Christians are to love our neighbors because we are recipients of God's love for us. We do this by caring for others, advocating for justice, listening to and loving people we disagree with, forgiving, and asking for forgiveness. We aren't just waiting for a distant heaven—all Christians are called to be actively engaged in making the world better, right here and now!