What We Believe

At Calvary, we teach the traditional Lutheran pattern of the use of two sacraments:
- Holy Baptism and Holy Communion.

A sacrament has three parts: 

- Commanded by Christ:
(“Go into all nations baptizing in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.”
In Holy Communion, “do this in remembrance of me.”) 

- The use of an earthly element:
Water, bread and wine, all gifts of abundance from God’s creation. 

- Containing a promise from God:
The forgiveness of sins.

Holy Baptism

Holy Baptism is offered to all who seek a new life in the grace of God through Jesus Christ. In Holy Baptism a person is forgiven and welcomed into the family of believers who are then anointed with the Holy Spirit and sent to live all of life teaching, feeding and showing the love of God by letting your “Light so shine and giving glory to God, your Father in Heaven”.

Holy Communion

Holy Communion, also called the Sacrament of the Lord’s Supper, is the part of our worship life we believe sustains followers of Jesus Christ on his or her faith journey. God’s gifts of grace, forgiveness, and new life received through faith, come in this meal.

Calvary invites all who believe in Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior to participate as his guest at his table. Those who do not yet commune are welcome to come forward and receive a blessing. Gluten free bread and alcohol-free juice are always available.

Holy Communion is celebrated every Sunday of every month.

Holy Communion at Calvary is currently received as follows:

Our COVID-19 protocol involves the use of pre-packaged communion elements. You will be able to pick up the elements as you enter the worship space.  After the Pastor has blessed the elements you will self-commune at your seat.

The Trinity

This is a way of speaking of and experiencing God in a multitude of ways. Traditionally, God as Father is spoken of as the God of all creation.

The Son, is the embodiment of God in the person of Jesus. Jesus is referred to as the Redeemer. The one who makes us Holy by giving himself as a sacrifice for the forgiveness of our sins.

The Holy Spirit is often experienced as the Wind and the Breath of God that Sanctifies us and makes us Holy inspiring us to live for the well-being of others.

The Trinity is also expressed in the ancient words of the Apostle’s Creed.

The Scriptures

The scriptures are the Holy Word of God- commonly referred to as the Bible. The scriptures are the source and norm of our faith found in word and explored, studied, and experienced through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. In the Lutheran Church we speak of the “Living Word” that gives us life and witness to God’s actions and presence in all of Creation. This Living Word speaks to our hearts and actions as it is new each and every time we hear it, read it or proclaim it.

Eternal Salvation

In John Chapter three it is written; “Indeed, God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.” We believe that since God created the heavens and the earth it is God’s intent that we relish in the abundance of God’s love and life. Even in death, we will not be separated from God and through Christ, we will live, always in God’s home.

The Church

We teach that the living, breathing body of Christ is found in the church. We, as God’s people gather for prayer, praise and thanksgiving and then we send one another into each day to serve the Lord with joy and thanksgiving. We believe that whatever we do to the least of all people we do to Christ. And whatever we leave undone we have left undone with Christ. (Matthew 25) Our common reminder of our mission comes from Micah chapter 6: We do justice, love kindness and walk humbly before God.

God's relationship with humans

We take our cues from the Old Testament prophet Isaiah. In chapter 41, verse 10 it is written: “do not fear, for I am with you, do not be afraid, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my victorious right hand”.

And again, in Jeremiah 23, it is written: “Am I a God nearby, says the Lord, and not a God far off? Who can hide in secret places so that I cannot see them? says the Lord. Do I not fill heaven and earth?"

We teach and believe that God continues to be intimately involved in creation and connected to our lives. We stand in wonderment how God loves us and finds us just where we are.