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Membership
Who We Are
We are a congregation of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. We are baptized children of God, called together into the community of faith for worship and ministry in the name of the Father, Son, and the Holy Spirit.
We are a Christian church ("church" meaning the body of Christ in the world) who believe in the love and grace of God which is most clearly revealed to us through Jesus Christ, God's Son and Word made flesh (having come into our world as a human). God directly showed this love for us as Jesus went to the cross and was crucified so that the world (humanity) might be saved from permanent separation from God. There Jesus became victorious over the devil, evil, death, and all that would separate us from the love of God and the outpouring of God's grace through God's Holy Spirit. In the resurrection of Jesus, those who believe that God raised him from the dead are given the now living promise of God with us forever in the risen Christ.
We are a sacramental church, which means we believe that Holy Baptism and Holy Communion are visible signs of the presence of God and the new life that comes with the forgiveness of sins (sin being that which separates us from God) offered in those sacraments. We are joined with Christ in Holy Baptism so that our Lord permanently disables the reality that death will have the last word. As St. Paul writes in Romans 6, "...we have been buried with Christ by baptism into death, so that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life. For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we will certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his" (Romans 6:3-11). Holy Communion is a regular part of worship in the Lutheran Church, because we beieve that Christ is present for the forgiveness of sins, which is a regular part of our lives. Yes, we are all sinners gathered at the table of Christ. We are, however, forgiven sinners who are reminded of God's grace and love, and the restoring/healing power of the living Word among us, who has given life "for you" (these words are spoken to each person at Communion) so that you might live!
We are also a liturgical church, which means that our worship is based on the liturgy - which is literally "the work of the people." So everybody participates in the worship services of the Lutheran Church. Prayers, hymns, scripture reading, responsive reading and singing are all part of our worship experience. As Martin Luther reminds us, we are a "priesthood of all believers." The pastor leads worship and gives a message (sermon, homily) based on the scriptures for the day. So through word and sacrament, we are equipped to go back out into our family, work, and community lives as ambassadors for God, who has created us, redeemed us, and continuously gives us new life to live out in love. As we read in 1 John 4:19, "We love God because God first loved us."
We are a servant church. That is, we express the love that God poured out for us and placed in us by serving and loving one another with humility, as Christ loved and served those with whom he lived in his ministry and mission on earth.
How We Grow
Engage in prayer daily, including prayers for the church, the world, and each other. The weekly bulletin is an excellent resource.
Take 10 minutes each day to study the written word of God. The daily lectionary listed in the Sunday bulletin is a good beginning outline and a wonderful way to promote unity in our reading.
Attend worship every Sunday unless you are ill or out of town. We miss several things when we miss worship: the needs of the gathered community, the presence of Christ among us in the gift of the sacraments, and the opportunity to praise God for "ourselves, our time, and our posessions," signs of his gracious love.
Participate in weekly Christian Education either through Bible Study, Sunday School, or an on-going Lutheran study group. We grow spiritually when we share our faith with others.
Volunteer for one of the ministries at Calvary Lutheran (choir, committee member, teacher, etc.). If there does not seem to be an area of ministry where you can share your God given talents and special gifts, speak with a member of council. We are called in Baptism to minister. Being commissioned by the congregation to be in ministry beyond the the congregation is our blessing to the community.
Take your annual financial pledge seriously. Voluntary tithing- disciplined giving by choice- should be prayerfully considered. A way to grow is to add 1% of total income each year, working progressively toward and beyond the tithe (10%).
Read the Sunday bulletin, newsletter, and the Lutheran magazine from cover to cover.
Honestly take some risks. Don't be afraid to speak the truth in love. What are your hopes for your congregation? Share your ideas with the pastor or a member of the church council.
Embrace differences of opinion as a healthy road to understanding. We can not expect great strides unless we are honest, loving listeners. We are also people with opinions. The trick is to state your feelings, and then open your ears.
Be open to the energy and presence of the Holy Spirit in your own life. Regularly ask: What is God calling me to do with my life? How might I share my gifts with those who need me? How does my job (outside or within the home) relate to my Baptism and the daily ministry to which I have been called?
Give some prayerful thought as to how you might say "thanks" to God, that all might know the joy attached to the name of "Christian."
In return, God blesses us with a lifetime of fulfilling service in the name of the one who graces us with life and salvation.
For more information about membership, contact us!
Text from the 2006 edition of the "Membership - Calvary Lutheran Church" pamphlet.
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