What We Believe
As Christians and a congregation of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, we trust in one God with three distinctive roles: the “Father” or “Creator” of life and all that exists; the “Son” or “Redeemer” of life who lived, died, and rose again to reveal God’s heart and mind; and the “Holy Spirit”--the Active Presence of God--who counsels us, gathers us, moves us, and empowers us to be the Church—Christ’s Body on Earth. We believe the Bible is God’s Word, trusted to guide our lives and inspire our faith. We believe that all the baptized are blessed with unique gifts and a ministry to do for the betterment of all and that we are woven together in a fellowship of love and support as we follow Jesus. Our Faith We join Christians of all times and places, confessing our Christian faith in the Apostles’ Creed: |
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I believe in God the Father Almighty, creator of heaven and earth. I believe in Jesus Christ, his only son, our Lord. He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary. He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried. He descended to the dead. On the third day he rose again. He ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again to judge the living and the dead. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic (universal) Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen. Our Mission We, the baptized and gathered community of Christ at Emmanuel Lutheran Church, called, guided and empowered by the Holy Spirit, seek to equip and enable all people to confidently and faithfully proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ to each other and the world. Our Values A Disciple of Jesus Christ.... Prays daily, Studies regularly, Worships weekly, Invites confidently, Encourages frequently, Serves consistently, Gives thankfully. Our Doctrine In the 16th Century, as the German priest Martin Luther worked to reform the Christian Church of his day, he summarized church doctrine with three phrases: “Word Alone, Grace Alone, Faith Alone.” We believe or practice nothing that is not in the Bible or that would be contrary to the Bible. We trust the Holy Spirit to open our hearts and minds to embrace God’s Word and that Word Alone. We also believe that despite our best efforts, we fall short of the good lives God intends us to live. We are, therefore, saved not by good works but by God’s Grace Alone. Finally, we respond to God’s love with our Faith Alone. Faith is trust…and we trust God’s promises. We trust that living with our baptisms daily, we receive forgiveness and new beginnings to follow Jesus. We trust that Jesus joins his body, blood, and Spirit to us as we share the Bread and Cup of Holy Communion. Our Vision Emmanuel Lutheran Church is a thriving community where everyone is a disciple of Jesus Christ. |
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