What We Believe
Grace Alone
God loves the people of the world, even though we are sinful, rebel against Him, and do not deserve His love. He sent Jesus, His Son, to love the unlovable and save the ungodly.
Scripture Alone
The Bible is God’s inspired, 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.
Faith Alone
By Christ’s suffering and death as the substitute for all people of all time (Universal Justification), Jesus purchased and won forgiveness and eternal life for all people by His precious blood and innocent death in our place. Those who hear this Good News and believe it have the eternal life that it gives. God creates faith in Christ and gives people forgiveness through Him.
The Lutheran Confessions
Our congregation adheres to, or more properly, confesses, the Book of Concord, which is the doctrinal standard of the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod, and was first published in the 16th century A.D. It consists of a collection of texts which explain, among other things, what the Holy Scriptures teach about salvation and justification.
Holy Communion
If you are not a member of First Lutheran Church or another congregation of the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod, please speak with Pastor or an elder before communing.
The Lord Jesus gives his holy Body and Blood to be received in doctrinal unity, Acts 2:42, teaching that His people are not to commune with those who teach differing teachings about Him and His holy gifts, 1 Cor. 10:21. Rather, He desires that all those who commune at His table receive His holy gifts in oneness with Him and one another, 1 Cor. 10:16-17, and in faith for the forgiveness of every sin, Matt. 26:28.
Therefore, all the congregations and pastors of the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod have promised to practice doctrinal fellowship, i.e. closed communion, for the benefit and blessing of our Lord’s holy people. (As we confess in the Large Catechism, all Christians admitted to the Sacrament will have learned the Catechism.)
In His gift of Holy Communion, the crucified Christ is both the Giver and the Gift. The same Body and Blood given over to death on the cross is now brought into our lives and given over to the sinner at the holy Altar. Jesus is always the Steward handing out His gifts, Luke 22:27. By His Word, He establishes us in oneness with Himself and His Father, John 17:17-20 According to His Word, He truly gives His actual Body and Blood into us, Luke 22:19-20; thereby we are truly joined to His saving cross.
Additional Information and Organizations
If you are not able to join us in person, we live stream the Divine Service every Sunday at 10:15 am. A copy of the bulletin is available on our Facebook page or via email.