We believe that the only true God is the Triune God; one God made of three distinct and separate persons.

• The Father, who creates, provides for, and sustains all things (Genesis 1:1; Psalm 145:15-16).

• The Son, who saves and has redeemed the world by His death and resurrection (John 3:16; Acts 4:12).

• The Holy Spirit, who brings us to and keeps us in saving faith in Jesus Christ (Psalm 51:10-12; 1 Corinthians 12:3).

The Bible is the infallible word of God, spoken through human writers that tells us the Christian story of everything. It is the sole authority, guide, and standard for all that we do (2 Peter 1:20-21; 2 Timothy 3:16-17).

We believe that God’s grace is for all. He desires all people to be saved and know the truth. God loves all people and wants them to come to love Him and each other. (Ezekiel 33:11; 1 Timothy 2:3-4; 2 Peter 3:9; 1 John 4:16)

Sin exists in every person. It is the cause of the bad things people do to each other and suffering in the world (Romans 5:12, 18-19). Everyone will have existence after death – either in with God in the New Creation he is making or without him in hell – forever and without end. Jesus will return soon, when He will judge everyone – both the living and the dead. (Matthew 25:31-46; Revelation 22:7)

• We are sinful at birth, alienated from God, and must be born again in faith. (John 3:1-8, Romans 3:23; Colossians 1:21; Ephesians 2:1-5)

God is loving and He offers forgiveness and eternal life as a free gift because of Jesus Christ. Salvation is a free gift.

• God loved the world, though we do not deserve His love. He sent His Son to save the ungodly (Ephesians 2:8-10).

We believe that no matter how hard we try, we cannot earn God’s forgiveness or a place in His New Creation. It is a free gift we receive only through faith in Jesus Christ (Galatians 2:15-21).

• Jesus has provided for our forgiveness and life; those who hear this promise and believe it, have what it offers. People don’t ‘get’ faith; God gives it as He gives us His promises (Romans 1:16-17).

The Bible is the only source that shows God’s will and the only basis for faith (2 Timothy 3:16-17).

Baptism starts with God. It is a sacred act and amazing gift in which He combines His life-giving Word and promise to water. Through baptism, God marks each of us as His son or daughter and we are united to Christ for eternity. A baptized individual begins a new relationship with God, receives forgiveness of sins, and is filled with the Holy Spirit to grasp His promises by faith.

• From Scripture we recognize that “whoever believes and is baptized will be saved,” (Mark 16:16).

• From our confessions “to be saved is to be delivered from sin, death and the devil, to enter into Christ’s Kingdom, and to live with Him forever.” (Large Catechism, Part 4, para. 25).

We believe God gives us Communion for the forgiveness of sins (Matthew 26:26-28) and the deepening of our relationship with Him and each other. We believe that when we partake in communion we are joined together in community proclaiming unity in our theological beliefs as well our confession of faith. As members of Peace, we ask ourselves these questions as we prepare our hearts to go to the table and receive this gift God offers us:

• Have I received a Christian Baptism (Acts 2:36-38)?

• Do I recognize and confess my sinfulness (Proverbs 28:13; 1 John 1:8-9)?

• Do I forgive others (Matthew 5:21-24; Matthew 6:12)?

• Do I believe the body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ are truly present, offered under forms of bread and wine (1 Corinthians 11:23-25)?

• Do I believe in the teachings here at Peace and am I a member of this community (1 Corinthians 10:16-17; 11:27-29)?

We believe that worship is the place where God gives us His gifts, and it is our response to God’s goodness and grace to us. We also believe that the liturgy (the words we say and things we do in worship) teaches us catechetical behaviors that equip us to live the Christian life. Worship can be seen in our:

• Hospitality

• Reconciliation

• Proclamation

• Intercession

• Generosity

• Praise and Thanksgiving

Each of our worship services are liturgical and follow the liturgy of the global Church in what is called the Ordo (five-fold shape of our worship).

1. Gathering (Invocation, Welcome, Sharing of the Peace, Opening song)

2. Word (Scripture, Sermon, Confession/Absolution, Creed)

3. Prayer (Prayers of the Church, Lord’s Prayer)

4. Sacrament (Communion)

5. Sending (Dismissal, Sending Song)

We are a community grounded in the ancient Christian teachings and traditions of those who came before us. We are a member congregation of The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod (LCMS) and one of the small extremities of a much larger Church body. We stand firmly in the reformation teaching of being saved by God’s grace, of God’s Word being the rule and norm for teaching, and of faith, not man’s actions, bringing us to God.