Our Beliefs
Our beliefs and the beliefs of the Lutheran Church -- Missouri Synod are centered around the three "ecumenical" or universal creeds shared by Christians worldwide:
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Holy Communion Practice
The Lord’s Supper is celebrated at this congregation in the confession and glad confidence that our Lord gives into our mouths His very Body and Blood to eat and drink for the forgiveness of sins and strengthen our union with him. Communicants at this altar are to be in full confessional fellowship with the Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod. Any not instructed, in doubt, or hold a confession differing from that of this congregation and that of the LCMS are asked out of Christian responsibility to not participate in the Lord’s Supper.
If you have any questions, please speak with the pastor. |
Now as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and after blessing it broke it and gave it to the disciples, and said, “Take, eat; this is my body.” And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he gave it to them, saying, “Drink of it, all of you, for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins."
(Matthew 26:26-28, ESV)
What is The Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod?
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For more information on the LCMS, please visit:
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What is the Holy Bible?
The Holy Bible is not one book but a collection of books and sacred texts compiled together by various authors and scribes guided by God the Father Himself and through the Holy Spirit these writings had been recorded in purity. If you have ever taken a language course you will then understand why there are numerous renditions and translations of the Bible. Despite this, the Bible still holds the truth without error as the texts have been translated from their original Hebrew and Greek sources in good faith as guided by the Holy Spirit.
The Bible continues to be translated all across the world in missionary endeavors to help spread the good news that is the Gospel of our lord Jesus Christ. The numerous translations empower the faithful Christian disciple across all over the world, divided only by a language barrier, with being able to read from, speak of, and understand the Bible for themselves. Martin Luther himself began this endeavor by translating the Bible into German for the general population during the infancy of the Reformation. No longer would those needing God's blessings the most be separated from God through the shroud of a Latin mass but would then be preached and taught to in a common tongue to glorify God together.
The Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod currently uses the English Standard Version (ESV) of the bible which is a modernized adaptation of the King James Version (KJV) translated from the original texts. Because the KJV is archaic in respect to it being Old English it can be difficult at times to follow along for an ordinary individual and especially youth and is why we at Hope Lutheran Church read from both the ESV and the New International Version (NIV) versions (depending on the speaker present), but still provide the KJV in our pews. The Sunday readings however are always provided in the printed worship folder to enable you to follow along and here God's truth without any barriers between you and Him.
The Bible is divided into the Old Testament and the New Testament. The Old Testament is the story of creation of not just the entire universe and man but also the creation and history of the chosen people led under Moses and their descendants. Found in Genesis and the fall of man is God's promise of Christ's salvation and is continuous throughout later Old Testament prophecy a promise of coming redemption through a savior.
The Bible continues to be translated all across the world in missionary endeavors to help spread the good news that is the Gospel of our lord Jesus Christ. The numerous translations empower the faithful Christian disciple across all over the world, divided only by a language barrier, with being able to read from, speak of, and understand the Bible for themselves. Martin Luther himself began this endeavor by translating the Bible into German for the general population during the infancy of the Reformation. No longer would those needing God's blessings the most be separated from God through the shroud of a Latin mass but would then be preached and taught to in a common tongue to glorify God together.
The Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod currently uses the English Standard Version (ESV) of the bible which is a modernized adaptation of the King James Version (KJV) translated from the original texts. Because the KJV is archaic in respect to it being Old English it can be difficult at times to follow along for an ordinary individual and especially youth and is why we at Hope Lutheran Church read from both the ESV and the New International Version (NIV) versions (depending on the speaker present), but still provide the KJV in our pews. The Sunday readings however are always provided in the printed worship folder to enable you to follow along and here God's truth without any barriers between you and Him.
The Bible is divided into the Old Testament and the New Testament. The Old Testament is the story of creation of not just the entire universe and man but also the creation and history of the chosen people led under Moses and their descendants. Found in Genesis and the fall of man is God's promise of Christ's salvation and is continuous throughout later Old Testament prophecy a promise of coming redemption through a savior.
The Lord God said to the serpent, "Because you have done this, cursed are you above all livestock and above all beasts of the field; on your belly you shall go, and dust you shall eat all the days of your life. I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring; he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel.”
(Genesis 3:14-15, ESV; the serpent is Satan and he that will bruise Satan is none other than Christ Jesus the one who defeats sin and death)
Since the fall into sin, humanity has no chance to redeem himself nor can he fulfill the laws laid out by God without the grace of a savior. The New Testament is indeed where the good news is found as it is where the story of Jesus Christ our savior is witnessed and documented by the Apostles and their scribes.
What are the Ecumenical Creeds?
Ecumenical means that these creeds are common beliefs rooted in the Holy Bible that bond Christians all over the world under one God--the Father (our Creator), the Son (Jesus Christ the Redeemer), and the Holy Spirit (the Sanctifier)--i.e. these Christian creeds are "Catholic" or universal. When we say I believe in one holy Catholic and Apostolic church, by Catholic we mean in this case a universal Christian church under one triune god. This is not to be confused with the Holy Roman Catholic Church which is a denomination of Christianity seated in Rome, Italy. To make the distinction more clear however, most denominations have substituted the word Catholic with Christian in the creeds.
Hope Lutheran Church recites the Apostles' Creed during Morning Worship services and the Nicene Creed during Holy Communion Worship services. The Athanasian Creed--the longest and most broken down and detailed declaration of our faith--is read together typically once a year in anniversary of the reformation--around the month of October.
Hope Lutheran Church recites the Apostles' Creed during Morning Worship services and the Nicene Creed during Holy Communion Worship services. The Athanasian Creed--the longest and most broken down and detailed declaration of our faith--is read together typically once a year in anniversary of the reformation--around the month of October.
Apostles' Creed
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Nicene Creed
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I believe in God, the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth.
And in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died and was buried. He descended into hell. The third day He rose again from the dead. He ascended into heaven and sits at the right hand of God the Father Almighty. From thence He will come to judge the living and the dead. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy Christian Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen. Christian: the ancient text reads “catholic,” meaning the whole Church as it confesses the wholeness of Christian doctrine. |
I believe in one God, the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth and of all things visible and invisible.
And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only‐begotten Son of God, begotten of His Father before all worlds, God of God, Light of Light, very God of very God, begotten, not made, being of one substance with the Father, by whom all things were made; who for us men and for our salvation came down from heaven and was incarnate by the Holy Spirit of the virgin Mary and was made man; and was crucified also for us under Pontius Pilate. He suffered and was buried. And the third day He rose again according to the Scriptures and ascended into heaven and sits at the right hand of the Father. And He will come again with glory to judge both the living and the dead, whose kingdom will have no end. And I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord and giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son, who with the Father and the Son together is worshiped and glorified, who spoke by the prophets. And I believe in one holy Christian and apostolic Church. I acknowledge one Baptism for the remission of sins, and I look for the resurrection of the dead and the life of the world to come. Amen. "Us men" means all people. Christian: the ancient text reads “catholic,” meaning the whole Church as it confesses the wholeness of Christian doctrine. |
What is the Book of Concord And Lutheran Confessions?
The Book of Concord is the Lutheran confessions that make of the doctrine of the Lutheran Church began at the time of Martin Luther and his followers in Christ at the time of the Holy Roman Empire in Germany in response to the man-made errors taking hold the Roman Catholic Church. These confessions are rooted in the biblical scriptures that liberate us from the trappings of man-made tradition and the sin of man that time and time again we fall victim to--from the Jerusalem temple priesthood during Jesus' time on Earth to Catholic priesthood focusing more on Mass ritual and constructing great Roman buildings that lead to monetary Indulgences to buy one's way to salvation. (http://www.lcms.org/lutheranconfessions)
The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod accepts the Scriptures as the inspired and inerrant Word of God, and the LCMS subscribes unconditionally to all the symbolical books of the Evangelical Lutheran Church as a true and unadulterated statement and exposition of the Word of God. We accept the Lutheran Confessions as articulated in the Book of Concord of 1580 because they are drawn from the Word of God, and on that account we regard their doctrinal content as a true and binding exposition of Holy Scripture and as authoritative for all pastors, congregations and other rostered church workers of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod.
The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod accepts the Scriptures as the inspired and inerrant Word of God, and the LCMS subscribes unconditionally to all the symbolical books of the Evangelical Lutheran Church as a true and unadulterated statement and exposition of the Word of God. We accept the Lutheran Confessions as articulated in the Book of Concord of 1580 because they are drawn from the Word of God, and on that account we regard their doctrinal content as a true and binding exposition of Holy Scripture and as authoritative for all pastors, congregations and other rostered church workers of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod.
Martin Luther defending his writings at the Diet of Worms (1521):
[a diet is an assembly; it is pronounced "Virms"]
"Your Imperial Majesty and Your Lordships demand a simple answer. Here it is, plain and unvarnished. Unless I am convicted [convinced] of error by the testimony of Scripture or (since I put no trust in the unsupported authority of Pope or councils, since it is plain that they have often erred and often contradicted themselves) by manifest reasoning, I stand convicted [convinced] by the Scriptures to which I have appealed, and my conscience is taken captive by God's word, I cannot and will not recant anything, for to act against our conscience is neither safe for us, nor open to us. On this I take my stand. I can do no other. God help me. Amen."
(http://www-personal.ksu.edu/~lyman/english233/Luther-Diet_of_Worms.htm)
The Five Solas Together is Truth reuniting us With God Once Again, Separating us from Reliance on Imperfect Man-Made Traditions Due to Our Sinful Nature
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What is Catechism?
To further one's discipleship and understanding of what it means to be a Christian, Martin Luther wrote both the Small and Large Catechisms that the Lutheran churches continue to use to this day. At the time of Luther, both the priesthood and the congregations did not fully understand all the principles taught throughout the Bible nor did they own a complete collection of the Holy Bible in its entirety in their parishes, which is why Rev. Luther wrote and translated the Bible in its entirety for publication.
Catechism itself is a summary of the principles of Christian religion in the form of questions and answers, used for the instruction of Christians. The Catechism is simply put a study guide to understanding the Holy Bible and the key principles and doctrines found throughout the sacred writings. The Luther's Small Catechism is for the congregation and those seeking confirmation while the Luther's Large Catechism was written more toward the teachers and ministry.
Through the Catechism and Confirmation you will learn to understand what it means to be a Lutheran and to receive the gifts of God through his scriptures and through receiving His true body and blood within the bread and wine at Holy Communion.
Catechism itself is a summary of the principles of Christian religion in the form of questions and answers, used for the instruction of Christians. The Catechism is simply put a study guide to understanding the Holy Bible and the key principles and doctrines found throughout the sacred writings. The Luther's Small Catechism is for the congregation and those seeking confirmation while the Luther's Large Catechism was written more toward the teachers and ministry.
Through the Catechism and Confirmation you will learn to understand what it means to be a Lutheran and to receive the gifts of God through his scriptures and through receiving His true body and blood within the bread and wine at Holy Communion.
Services
Sundays: 10:30am |
Office
810-434-5787 |
Email
Church: hope@hopegoodells-lcms.org Pastor Wm Otten: wotten@hopegoodells-lcms.org Deacon Wm Warsinski: 10wfwars@gmail.com Mr Dave Rochlitz, Lay Minister: drochlitz@hopegoodells-lcms.org |