What we Believe
Our Beliefs
Lutherans are heirs of the Western Christian tradition, and as such we are one with all Christians in our beliefs in God as Trinity, in the divine and human natures of Jesus Christ, and in the nature of the Church.
Our beliefs are lived out in our worship life. We accept the canonical Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments as the inspired Word of God and the authoritative source and norm of the Church's proclamation, faith, and life.
We also accept the Apostles', Nicene, and Athanasian Creeds, as well as the Unaltered Augsburg Confession and the other Lutheran Confessional Writings found in the Book of Concord.
Baptism
Baptism is the foundational sacrament which brings us in to the church. We are joined to the death and resurrection of Christ and made children of God. Lutherans baptize infants, as it is God who is the one who acts, not us. Various modes are employed for Baptism. Most often, the pastor or deacon will pour water over the person's head as she or he is baptized in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
"To put it most simply, the power, effect, benefit, fruit, and purpose of Baptism is to save."
— Martin Luther, "The Large Catechism"
The Eucharist
The Eucharist is at the very center of our worship. At Our Saviour's Lutheran Church, we celebrate Holy Communion at every Sunday morning service.
If Baptism is our holy bath, then the Eucharist is our holy meal. Lutherans did not depart from the ancient faith of the church in regard to our belief in Holy Communion.
We believe in the Real Presence of Christ in the Eucharist, which means that we belief that Christ is truly present in the elements of Holy Communion.
When we receive the consecrated (blessed) bread and wine, we are truly receiving the Body and Blood of Christ. Lutherans have never tried to define "the how" of Christ's presence. Rather, we say that it is a holy mystery. Christ is present under the form of bread and wine because he has promised to be. We therefore receive frequently and with great joy.
Confession
Confession is also central to our life as God's baptized people. Confession is closely related to Baptism.
There are various ways in which Lutherans partake of this means of grace. For the most part, there is the General Confession at the beginning of every service, in which the congregation prays together, and then the pastor announces God's words of forgiveness in the absolution.
Lutherans have, however, maintained the option of private confession, where one goes to the pastor and confesses sins privately and then receives the word of forgiveness. Either one is perfectly acceptable.
What is important is that we daily confess our sins to God and remember our Baptism! Private confession and absolution is offered several times per year, or you may contact the pastor for an appointment.
Other Holy Rites
Lutherans also celebrate other holy rites which are well-known to all Christians:
- Confirmation (Affirmation of Baptism),
- Marriage,
- Ordination,
- Anointing of the Sick
These rites, which show forth God's grace, are all celebrated in the Lutheran Church. God comes to us in many and various ways, and we celebrate milestones throughout our lives!
Want to Learn More?
Our congregation is part of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), a national community of faith committed to sharing the good news of Jesus Christ.
You can explore more about what ELCA Lutherans believe and teach by visiting:
Creeds and Lutheran Confessions
Creeds
Like the Scriptures, the three ecumenical creeds — the Apostles’ Creed, the Nicene Creed, and the Athanasian Creed — are written documents. They originate from the earliest centuries of the Christian church’s history, a time when theological and philosophical questions about the identity of Jesus were widely debated among Christians. All three creeds affirm that God is fully present in Jesus, that Jesus Christ is both God and human (not a semi-divine or superhuman creature that is neither). These three creeds are called ecumenical because they are all accepted and used by the overwhelming majority of the world’s Christians. All three are affirmed in the Lutheran confessional writings and in the ELCA’s governing documents.
Although these three creeds, like the Scriptures, are written, most Christians experience and use them spoken aloud with other Christians in worship. Along with many other Christians, Lutherans use the Apostles’ Creed at baptism; it is also the Creed most often used in basic Christian education (as in the Small Catechism). Lutheran Christians often use the Nicene Creed at festivals like Easter and Christmas and during seasons of the year related to those festivals. Some Lutheran congregations recite the Athanasian Creed on Trinity Sunday (the Sunday after Pentecost) because of its focus on the relationships between the persons of the Triune God.
The Nicene Creed
I believe in one God,
the Father almighty,
maker of heaven and earth,
of all things visible and invisible.
I believe in one Lord Jesus Christ,
the Only Begotten Son of God,
born of the Father before all ages.
God from God, Light from Light,
true God from true God,
begotten, not made, consubstantial with the Father;
through him all things were made.
For us men and for our salvation
he came down from heaven,
and by the Holy Spirit was incarnate of the Virgin Mary,
and became man.
For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate,
he suffered death and was buried,
and rose again on the third day
in accordance with the Scriptures.
He ascended into heaven
and is seated at the right hand of the Father.
He will come again in glory
to judge the living and the dead
and his kingdom will have no end.
I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life,
who proceeds from the Father and the Son,
who with the Father and the Son is adored and glorified,
who has spoken through the prophets.
I believe in one, holy, catholic and apostolic Church.
I confess one Baptism for the forgiveness of sins
and I look forward to the resurrection of the dead
and the life of the world to come. Amen.
Lutheran Confessions
On many occasions in the 16th century, Martin Luther and other evangelical reformers were asked to give an account of their teaching and practice. In response Philip Melanchthon, one of Luther’s colleagues, wrote, “We must see what Scripture attributes to the law and what it attributes to the promises. For it praises and teaches good works in such a way as not to abolish the free promise and not to eliminate Christ.” Although the writings that comprise the Book of Concord engage a range of issues regarding teaching and practice, they do not address every question or topic. Rather, they focus on the Scriptures’ purpose: to present Jesus Christ to faith.
The Book of Concord includes seven writings composed by Luther and others. Lutheran churches around the world have affirmed these writings, and the ELCA affirms them in its governing documents. Lutherans most often use them in teaching — for example, when the Small Catechism is used in basic Christian instruction, or when the Augsburg Confession is used to teach women and men preparing for ministry.
Our Saviour's Lutheran Durant
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