Redeemer

Redeemer Lutheran Church was established in 1935 by the American Lutheran Church (ALC), but is now a congregation of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), and has been since 1988. We believe that we are freed in Christ to serve and love our neighbor. With our hands, we do God's work of restoring and reconciling communities in Christ's name throughout all nations. We are an affirming, loving, and inclusive congregation that confesses that everyone is welcome with open arms and shouts of joy!

Lutheranism

Lutheranism was created by an Augustinian monk named Martin Luther during the Protestant Reformation (1517-1648). Luther confronted the Roman Catholic Papacy and their clergy by creating the 95 Theses, which challenged their popular beliefs, doctrine, and foundation. After this, Luther created an assortment of confessions that are now held in the Book of Concord, which to this day remains the true witness to the gospel in the Lutheran Church (meaning, completely in accordance with the Holy Gospel).

Lutheranism emphasizes the centrality of the Holy Gospel, in which Christ's words, testimonies, and ministry are kept. For in our creation, the gospel was being trampled on. Now we make sure that it stays pure, protected, and doctrinally obeyed.

We believe in the Ecumenical Creeds to be the baseline summary of Holy Scripture, and we faithfully recite them.

The Holy Trinity is the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Of which are all one, omniscient, omnipresent, and omnipotent God.

We believe that the sacraments (Holy Communion and Holy Baptism) are gifts from God, rather than being things that we do for or take from God.

We believe that salvation is given by grace from God through Faith in Christ Alone (not works).

We believe that the Bible is the inspired Word of God and the only doctrinal source for the Christian faith and Church. Our writings (e.g., the Book of Concord) are simply coherent and in accordance with the Holy Scripture.

The Liturgy

Our liturgy is based on the Lutheran Book of Worship (1978). At the beginning of a normal service, we begin our Confession and Forgiveness, in which we call upon God in the name of the Father, and of the ✠ Son, and of the Holy Spirit. After this, we start our Opening Hymn, then the Greeting, Kyrie, Hymn of Praise, and Prayer of the Day. After this, we begin the First and Second Reading of the Holy Scripture. And then, the minister reads the Gospel, which will be based on the Sermon of that day. After all of this, we confess our common Christian faith by the words of the Apostles' Creed. Proceeded by congregational Prayers, the Offertory (Prayer), and finally, the Holy prayer of the communion takes place. After this, the Lord's Prayer is recited, and the Invitation to the Holy Communion is given to the congregation. After the Communion of the Faithful and the Post-Communion Canticle, the congregation is given a Blessing. Then the Closing Hymn is sung, and the congregation is dismissed, free to join our Coffee Hour after the service!