Lutheran Beliefs

The holy scriptures reveal the heart of God for His creation, most clearly expressed in His living Word, Jesus Christ.  In this revelation, we learn of God's plan--His will--for us.  God's plan gives us our purpose as a people of God at St. John and helps set our priorities in this place and time (Jeremiah 29: 11-14).

We declare to "worship and serve God in love and obedience."  We do so in community, worshiping, serving, loving, and obeying the Lord together.

Our Priorities

God calls us to WORSHIP Him as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.  To please God is our first priority of worship (Psalm 95).  In response to God's plan for worship, we the people of St. John make the following priorities:

We will offer services of Word and Sacrament, in keeping with the biblical witness of Acts 2:42 and our Lutheran heritage.  In the services we will strive to blend the historic liturgical order of the Church with contemporary expressions of praise and worship. 

We will expect every member of the congregation to participate in worship on a regular basis.  We will also provide opportunities and encourage children, youth, and adults to take part in worship leadership through singing, reading, playing musical instruments, praying, serving at the altar, and other means.

We will provide classes on basics of Christianity and the Lutheran faith and expect that all members will participate in them.  In this way we will come to know the Living Christ and understand the importance of worshipping Him.

We will model a life of prayer in worship and daily life through personal and corporate prayer and will seek God in prayer each time we gather to do ministry.

God calls us to SERVE Him as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.  We serve God as we serve others in Mission, outreach, and witness in word and action (Matthew 25: 31-46).  In response to God's plan for serving, we the people of St. John make the following priorities:

We will reach out and serve others first and foremost for the sake of God's Kingdom.  Prayer will guide our every effort.

We will support ministry and mission through prayer and financial gifts.  We will strive to reach a goal of a double-tithe (20%) of our congregational budget designated for ministries and mission beyond our own needs.

We will establish, promote, and manage an endowment fund for the  purposes of education and mission.

We will offer opportunities for individuals and families to participate in local and global servant projects each year.

God calls us to LOVE Him as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.  One of the primary ways we love God is by embracing Jesus' New Commandment that we love one another as He loves us (John 13:34).  In response to God's plan for love, we the people of St. John make the following priorities:

We will equip and encourage members to witness to Christ's love through their daily lives and to invite others to know Him.  

We will establish and maintain ministries of love and care to every member of this congregation.  

We will both welcome the newcomer and reach out to those in our congregation who have become inactive in their participation.  

We will communicate clearly - both internally and outside the congregation - the goals and ministries of St. John.  

Sermon on the Mount Recitation

God calls us to OBEY Him as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.  We find the Lord's highest call to obedience in our commission to "make disciples of all nations" (Matthew 28:19).  In response to God's plan of obedience, we the people of St. John make the following priorities:

We will strive to discover the joy and responsibilities of following Jesus as His disciples. We commit to keep the Lord first in every aspect of our life and faith as we follow Jesus in moral obedience, witness, and sacrifice.  

We will make Bible study the central means of Christian education from preschoolers through adults. We expect every member to participate in at least one study or educational experience over the course of each year. We will actively train members of the congregation to teach God's Word.  

We will strive to live as faithful managers of all the gifts God has given us - our time, ourselves, and our possessions. We will encourage each member to move toward a tithe as one expression of this stewardship.  

We will make St. John a place where children and youth can develop their relationship with Jesus and others.  

We will promote the understanding of one's "spiritual gifts" as a means of incorporating every member into at least one facet of ministry in this Body of Christ.  

We will oversee our church facility to meet the growing needs of the congregation and the community.