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What do we value? (printer
friendly version)
- Our relationship with the Triune
God – Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
Scriptural Basis:
Philippians 3:8a “More than that, I regard
everything as loss because of the surpassing value of knowing Christ
Jesus my Lord.”
What does this mean for us?
We will work together to help each person grow into a meaningful relationship
with God the Father who has created us, with God the Son who has saved
us from our sins, and with God the Holy Spirit who works to make us
more like Christ.
- The divinely inspired and authoritative
Word of God.
Scriptural Basis:
Psalm 119:105 “Your Word is a lamp to my feet
and a light to my path.”
What does this mean for us?
We will diligently study God’s Word and strive to teach it faithfully
in all of our educational endeavors.
- Worshipping our awesome God.
Scriptural Basis:
Psalm 95:6 “O come, let us worship and bow
down, let us kneel before the Lord, our Maker!”
What does this mean for us?
We will strive to provide a variety of meaningful worship experiences
for all those who are part of our congregation and for those who do
not yet know Christ or have a church home.
- Prayer and the power it provides
for living.
Scriptural Basis:
1 Thessalonians 5:17 “Pray without ceasing.”
What does this mean for us?
We will make prayer a part of all we do as a congregation and foster
opportunities for individual and communal prayer in our life together.
- Every member of our congregation
from youngest to oldest.
Scriptural Basis:
1 Corinthians 12:24b-26 But God has so arranged
the body, giving the greater honor to the inferior member, that there
may be no dissension within the body, but the members may have the
same care for one another. If one member suffers, all suffer together
with it; if one member is honored, all rejoice together with it.
What does this mean for us?
We will work together to provide meaningful opportunities for fellowship,
study and Christian growth for all segments of our congregation–
women and men, children, youth and adults and other groups we identify
within our fellowship.
- Those who do not know Jesus.
Scriptural Basis:
John 1:40-41 One of the two who heard John speak
and followed him was Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother. He first
found his brother Simon and said to him, “We have found the
Messiah” (which is translated Anointed). He brought Simon to
Jesus, who looked at him and said, "You
are Simon son of John. You are to be called “Cephas"
(which is translated Peter).
What does this mean for us?
The primary mission of the church is to be outwardly focused. We will
work together to reach out to all in our community and beyond who
have not come into a faith relationship with Jesus Christ.
- Ministering to the poor and disadvantaged.
Scriptural Basis:
Matthew 25:37-40 "Then
the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when was it that we saw
you hungry and gave you food, or thirsty and gave you something to
drink? And when was it that we saw you a stranger and welcomed you,
or naked and gave you clothing? And when was it that we saw you sick
or in prison and visited you?’ And the king will answer them,
‘Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of
these who are members of my family, you did it to me.’ "
What does this mean for us?
We will take seriously God’s call to reach out to those who
are experiencing the difficult challenges of life.
- Being and making disciples of Christ.
Scriptural Basis:
Matthew 28:19 "Go therefore
and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the
Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to
obey everything that I have commanded you. And remember, I am with
you always, to the end of the age."
What does this mean for us?
We will open ourselves up to the power of God that molds us and shapes
us into fully devoted followers of Jesus and we will encourage others
to do the same.
- Forgiving one another as we have
been forgiven.
Scriptural Basis:
Colossians 3:13 Bear with one another and, if anyone
has a complaint against another, forgive each other; just as the Lord
has forgiven you, so you also must forgive.
What does this mean for us?
Forgiveness is the glue that holds the body of Christ together. We
will remember that each of us is a forgiven sinner and we will strive
to forgive others as each of us has been forgiven by Christ.
- Being witnesses in word and deed
of what Christ has done for us.
Scriptural Basis:
1 John 3:18 My children, we should love people
not only with words and talk, but by our actions and true caring.
What does this mean for us?
We will remember that love is what you do. When God wanted to show
us love he sent Christ to die for us. We will strive to show God’s
love for others by giving of ourselves, our time, and our treasure.
- Word and Sacrament ministry.
Scriptural Basis:
Romans 10:17 So faith comes from what is heard, and what
is heard comes through the Word of Christ.
Romans 6:4 Therefore we have been buried with him by baptism
into death, so that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the
glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.
Matthew 26:26-28 While they were eating, Jesus took bread,
gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to his disciples, saying, "Take
and eat; this is my body." Then He took the cup, gave
thanks and offered it to them, saying, "Drink
from it, all of you. This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured
out for many for the forgiveness of sins.”
What does this mean for us?
Lutheran Christians lift up the Word of God and the Sacraments of
Baptism and Holy Communion as the primary means by which God shows
us his grace. We will keep the Word and the Sacraments at the center
of our life together.
- The priesthood of all believers.
Scriptural Basis:
1 Peter 2:9 “But you are a chosen race, a royal
priesthood, a holy nation, God’s own people, in order that you
may proclaim the mighty acts of him who called you out of darkness
into his marvelous light.”
What does this mean for us?
We believe that each member of the congregation is a minister with
spiritual gifts to share so that we might fulfill our mission. We
will work to help each member of our congregation find their spiritual
gifts and fill their place of service in the body of Christ.
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