About Our Church

OUR FAITH

The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod believes Jesus is exactly who He said He is. Along with the ancient Church, we confess that Jesus is true God and true man in one person. He is the Son of God who was crucified and raised from the dead for the salvation of all who trust in Him.

The Bible is the true and trustworthy Word of God that records God’s love for the world through His Son Jesus.

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. … And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. John 1:1–5, 14 (ESV)

BEING "LUTHERAN"

Our congregation accepts and preaches the Bible-based teachings of Martin Luther that inspired the reformation of the Christian Church in the 16th century. The teaching of Luther and the reformers can be summarized in three phrases:

Grace Alone, Faith Alone, Scripture Alone.

Grace Alone

God loves the people of the world, even though they are sinful, rebel against Him and do not deserve His love. He sent Jesus, His Son, to love the unlovable and save the ungodly.

Faith Alone

By His suffering and death as the substitute for all people of all time, Jesus purchased and won forgiveness and eternal life for them. Those who hear this Good News and believe it have the eternal life that it offers. God creates faith in Christ and gives people forgiveness through Him.

Scripture Alone

The Bible is God’s inerrant and infallible Word, in which He reveals His Law and His Gospel of salvation in Jesus Christ. It is the sole rule and norm for Christian doctrine.

The Sacraments

As Lutherans, we celebrate two Sacraments, and they are the very heart of our community. A Sacrament is something we do, which is commanded by God, and which promises the receipt of God’s grace.

Baptism and Holy Communion are the two rites which fit both those categories.

Baptism

We Baptize because it’s what Jesus has commanded us to do! In Baptism, God has chosen us, and we believe that through the waters of Baptism we receive the gift of the Holy Spirit, which grants us faith in Jesus Christ. This gift is eternal and provides forgiveness of sins and a new birth as a child of God.

In the Scriptures it is clear that entire households were baptized—including children—so, we welcome and encourage parents to have their children baptized in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. As they grow in years, it is our privilege as parents to help our children learn what it means to have been “marked with the cross of Christ and sealed with the Holy Spirit.”

Be not afraid! You are not alone in this. The church also takes great joy in helping you raise your child in the faith. We have a wonderful Sunday School program to help your child grow spiritually.

Whether you are an adult seeking Baptism, or have a child you wish to have baptized, the first step is to contact Pastor Anthony. We are confident you will find this to be a very welcoming and accessible journey, filled with great joy!

Holy Communion

At Calvary, we celebrate Communion as often as we can, because we believe that the very true presence of Christ is in the meal. When Jesus held up the bread and wine, He said, “This is my body … This is my blood.” We take His word for it! We celebrate communion and believe Christ is truly present in the meal because that’s what He said.

Holy Communion is offered at all of our services and is for all baptized Christians who share our belief that Christ himself is truly present. (Note: The small cups contain red wine or white grape juice.)

When we receive Communion, we believe that we receive Christ and all He offers to us: forgiveness, life, and salvation. This strengthens our faith and builds up the body of Christ. Receiving Communion is God sitting with us at the table while providing us with all that we need to live in this world and the next. If you believe this too, please come to the table and receive. If you are unsure or choose not to commune, please come up for a blessing.