We know it can be intimidating to go to a church for the first time.
We've developed the Q&As below to help, based on questions we often get from guests.
Frequently Asked Questions
We know it can be intimidating to go to a church for the first time.
We've developed the Q&As below to help, based on questions we often get from guests.
People in our services dress in a variety of ways. At the 8am service, slacks and button downs, dresses, and blouses are common, while our 10:30 service is typically more casual. However, in the hot summer months, all bets are off!
We have weekly opportunities for kids of all ages:
Communion is a great and sacred gift to us, as we receive the body and blood of Jesus in, with, and under the bread and wine. In the early church some people did not respect the communion meal or others at the meal, and they had to be instructed about the miraculous gift and great grace that communion is. So, our typical practice is to educate our 7th-8th graders in our Sunday morning classes before they are confirmed and receive communion. But we defer to parents, and if they they have educated their children about communion we welcome them to receive it.
We are a Lutheran Christian church that believes God is always working to bring His restoring love into our world. We all have issues and failures, but the Bible shows us our ultimate hope is in the birth, life, death, and resurrection of Jesus. We hope to make this clear in everything we do from children’s events to adult studies and from worship services to community projects.
The hallmark of Lutheran faith is grace - the free forgiveness God gives us because of Jesus. In the 1500s, Martin Luther challenged the idea that people could buy a piece of paper from the church and be forgiven. He argued for a return to the original Christian teaching that grace comes to us freely through the gift of faith, not through what we do or earn ourselves. Martin Luther's reforms ended up changing western civilization as we know it, and if you want to learn more, a great next step is to join us for Breakfasts with Pastor (see below).
We are a membership-led church, which means that certain actions, like hiring a pastor, can only be done with approval from voting members. We expect our members to have been baptized and agree with the main teachings of Lutheranism as found in Luther's Small Catechism. If you are interested in being baptized, the first step is to fill out a baptism request and then meet with Pastor Luke.
Join us for Breakfasts with Pastor Luke. For three Sundays we have breakfast together and talk about who we are and what we believe, all while new people get to know each other. These are offered every March and October, and signups are available in the weeks leading up to them. You can also ask our office to transfer your active LCMS membership to St. Luke’s, but we still encourage you to attend the breakfasts.
A great next step is to try an adult Bible study at 9:30 on Sunday mornings. We also have studies during the week, including both a men and women’s study. You can also volunteer at our services on a weekend or at one of our upcoming Produce on Wheels events, or join us for the next church-wide meal event (School Kickoff, Oktoberfest, Love Our City BBQ, etc.). Ultimately the best way to connect is to join one of our small groups that meets in people’s homes for study and support. We talk about these more at the Breakfasts with Pastor Luke, but if you’d like to know more now, please contact our Adult Ministry Director, Paul Hoffmann.