Our Beliefs
We believe The Bible (the entire Old and New Testaments) is the inspired Word of God. It doesn't simply contain God's Word, but actually is God's Word and the only source of revealed truth concerning Christ, faith and salvation. This means, clearly, that the Bible contains no errors or contradictions.
We believe God is the Triune God of the Bible: Father, Son and Holy Spirit, who has created, redeemed and sanctified all His children. The Triune God may not be understood in terms that indicate something other than the fact that there are three Persons who are Father, Son and Holy Spirit in one God. (For example, the Triune God may not be confessed as the Mother, the Daughter, and the Spirit of the believing community.)
We believe man was created holy and innocent, but of his own free choice he fell into sin, thus separating himself from God.
We believe sin is every transgression of God's Law and has made man deserving of death and eternal damnation. Man is conceived and born in sin and therefore does not have any powers to make himself right with God. Neither can man, because of his sin, make a decision for his Lord in order to become saved.
We believe redemption is the act of God revealed in the Bible and proclaimed by the Church by which Jesus Christ the Son of God, born of the Virgin Mary, died for the sins of the world and rose again from the dead to prove our redemption.
We believe faith in Jesus Christ is the gift of God through which man is declared righteous before God and forgiven all his sins.
We believe The Sacraments of the Church include Holy Baptism and the Lord's Supper. Holy Baptism, intended for infants and adults, is the means by which the Holy Spirit gives believers forgiveness of sins, life and salvation. In this sacrament, the Holy Spirit creates and sustains our faith in Jesus Christ. Holy Communion* (the Lord's Supper) gives to us in, with, and under the bread and wine the true body and blood of Christ. Those who commune, eat with their mouths the same body of Jesus which hung on the cross for their redemption. We drink the same blood which dripped from the wounds of our Lord Jesus. Those who commune with faith and proper understanding are forgiven through the Supper and are strengthened in their faith in Christ.
Our Practice of Closed Communion
According to God's Word, the Lord's Supper is both God's gift and our confession. God gives into the mouths of all who partake of this sacrament Christ's true body and blood under real bread and wine. He gives to those who believe Christ's teaching concerning His Supper, forgiveness, life and salvation. Those who do not believe, eat and drink Christ's body and blood to their spiritually harm (1 Corinthians 11:29).
The disciples of our Lord taught, furthermore, and we believe, that the Lord's Supper signifies a oneness in faith, that is, Christ's doctrine in all its articles. Participation in the Holy Communion at this altar by Christians not fully united with us in this same faith would imply a oneness which does not exist, and for which we all pray.
We therefore invite all who are confirmed members in good standing of a congregation in full doctrinal fellowship with the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod (LCMS) to partake of Christ's Supper with us after announcing their desire to the pastor or an elder.
Those who are not members of a congregation of the LCMS or of a congregation in fellowship with us or who are not yet instructed in this faith, may speak to the pastor after the service about the opportunity to commune with us in the future.
We thank you for respecting our position of love in this matter of pastoral care.