Our Life Together

Called, Gathered, Equipped & Sent

This is the pattern of congregational life. We are called individually by God to himself and then into a community of other Christians with whom we regularly gather. In our congregational life we are equipped for the ministry which each of us performs in some unique way. And then we are sent out into the world as the Lord’s active disciples.

Word & Sacrament Worship

Worship is the center of our life together. Worship is “cross shaped,” that is, in the act of worship we are united vertically with God and horizontally with each other. Worship is also two-way action. We offer up our praise and thanksgiving to God, while he nourishes our faith through Word and Sacrament.

Growing in Christ

Nothing seems to come naturally to the believer. God is always re-training us and “conforming us to the image of his Son.” So we are constantly learning more about our Lord, ourselves, and our purpose in his scheme of things. Christian education is essential for our children, but is perhaps even more necessary for adults who have so much more doubt to overcome and guilt to be relieved.

Servanthood

Scripture says that the Holy Spirit has given various gifts to each of us for God’s use in and through the Church. Congregational life helps us to discover and use those gifts to the fullest. Our life together also gives us opportunities to meet needs in the world around us that we might otherwise ignore or not know what to do about as individuals. Working together we can make a big impact. Service also often moves us “out of our comfort zones” into dramatic displays of compassion we wouldn’t have attempted on our own, without the support of fellow Christians.