What We Believe
Lutherans get their name from Martin Luther, a German priest who was excommunicated from the Roman Catholic Church in the early 1500s. Luther’s writing and teaching was a large part of what sparked the Protestant Reformation.
The teaching of Luther and the reformers can be summarized in three short phrases:
Grace Alone: God loves the people of the world, even though we are sinful, rebel against Him, and do not deserve His love.
Scripture Alone: The Bible is God’s Word, in which He reveals His Law and His Gospel of salvation in Jesus Christ.
Faith Alone: Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection is at the heart of our faith. God reaches out to us through the cross of Christ.
Portrait of Martin Luther by Lucas Cranach the Elder, 1529
Sacraments at St. Martin’s
_______________
Communion
We believe in the Biblical teaching that in communion we receive the true body and blood of Jesus Christ with the bread and wine for the forgiveness of sins. Our communion table is open to all.
Communion is offered at all worship services.
Baptism
Scripture and our Lutheran Confessions call Baptism a second birth, the creation of a brand-new life begun in Christ, and reaching its fullness on the day of resurrection. By preparing to bring your child to be baptized you are taking the most important step in raising your child in the Christian faith. Baptism is not just plain water, but it is the water with God’s Word.
St. Martin’s pastoral staff performs baptisms for both members and non-members of any age. Non-members are asked to meet with a pastor before the baptism takes place.
St. Martin’s is part of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.