vision, mission, values

Worship is at the center of our life together ~ a rich feast grounded in Scripture and the sacramental Lutheran tradition. Here the God of grace forms us into a community of hope and forgiveness, and equips us to be Christ’s body in the world. The liturgy, music, and preaching of our heritage inform and animate our life in Christ. Talented musicians contribute to each week’s experience.

Faith formation is a life-long process in which the Holy Spirit sows and nurtures the seed of faith within the lives of believers, conforming them to Christ. Arenas for faith formation include: baptismal preparation, Sunday School, confirmation, Vacation Bible School, youth ministry, adult education and catechesis, and other contexts which support study of the Word, integration of Christian practices, and spiritual growth.

Caring for each other is a hallmark of our community. Through trusting relationships, careful listening, compassionate acts, shared prayers, and other expressions of support we show our caring for each other as for Christ. We are committed to a life together that builds trust, faith, and confidence in our common mission and that values the differences among us.

From the beginning God has entrusted the human community with tending and caring for Earth—our common home. In this time of unprecedented threats to the planetary systems that sustain life, we commit ourselves to the vocation of creation care. We recognize the interconnectivity and worth of all of God’s glorious creation and commit ourselves to care for the land, the air, the water, and the fellow creatures with whom we share this home. In and through our worship life, policy decisions, education offerings, actions, and ecumenical relationships (e.g. Earth Ministry) we commit ourselves to sustaining Earth and seeking justice and compassion for all that God has made.

God’s wide embrace in Christ Jesus compels us to invite and welcome others to share in our life and mission. “Open Hearts ~ Open Doors” means we understand that the doors to our building and the doors to our hearts swing both ways. Not only is our ministry about offering hospitality to those who come to us as guests, it is about the doors swinging the other way—becoming a “servants entrance” into the community God calls us to serve.

The Gospel calls us to reach beyond ourselves and our needs and into the world. Building on our roots as a neighborhood church, we reach beyond our geographic boundaries to the diverse populations of our city, extending our mission support to many local community-based organizations as well as to international ministries. Combining our resources with other congregations of the ELCA allows us to reach people and communities throughout our state, nation, and world.