WHAT KIND OF CHURCH IS SAINT PAUL'S?

Saint Paul's Lutheran Church is a member congregation of the Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod, a body of Christian believers that numbers 2.5 million members.  Our church is named in honor of the great apostle, missionary, and preacher of the gospel, Paul of Tarsus (pictured above).  We are called Lutheran after the 16th century reformer, Dr. Martin Luther.  But what kind of church is the Lutheran church?  And what kind of congregation is Saint Paul's?  Here are a few short answers.

SAINT PAUL'S IS AN EVANGELICAL CHURCH
The Lutheran reformers of the 16th century were the first evangelicals and we here at Saint Paul's are their spiritual descendants.  To be evangelical is to be Christ-centered, not man-centered.  Everything we do at Saint Paul's is focused on Jesus Christ and the good news of our forgiveness and salvation through His life, death, and resurrection. 

SAINT PAUL'S IS A WORD AND SACRAMENT CHURCH
Our Triune God offers and gives us His undeserved love and forgiveness through the preached Word and the sacraments of Holy Baptism and Holy Communion.  These wonderful means of grace are the foundation and hub of our worship life at Saint Paul's.

SAINT PAUL'S IS A BIBLICAL CHURCH
The Holy Scriptures are God's inspired, inerrant, and infallible Word, the only source and norm of Christian doctrine.  In an age and society where no truth is considered to be absolute, we at Saint Paul's, by the power of the Holy Spirit, confess and believe all the divine truths revealed in the Bible.

SAINT PAUL'S IS A CONFESSIONAL CHURCH
The people of Saint Paul's are confessional Lutherans.  We subscribe to the Lutheran Confessions contained in the Book of Concord because they are a true, faithful, and unambiguous exposition of the doctrines taught in Holy Scripture.

SAINT PAUL'S IS A CATHOLIC CHURCH
Saint Paul's Lutheran Church is catholic in the original and best sense of the word:  whole or universal.  We are part of the fellowship of all who trust in Christ alone for salvation, a fellowship that has existed throughout the whole world from the time of the patriarchs, prophets, and apostles all the way up to the present day.

SAINT PAUL'S IS A LITURGICAL CHURCH
Our congregation is deeply committed to the use of the historic liturgy -- the Christian legacy that includes the traditional orders of worship as well as the liturgical calendar and lectionary, hymnody, church music, ceremonies and rites, visual arts, and architecture -- because for centuries it has faithfully and beautifully conveyed to the church the Lord's precious means of grace.

SAINT PAUL'S IS A JOYFUL CHURCH
The members of Saint Paul's continually give thanks and praise to our Father in heaven for the gift of His salvation to us through the merits of His Son Jesus Christ and the strengthening of our faith through Word and Sacrament.  We are eager to share this joy with others.

SAINT PAUL'S IS A CHURCH FOR YOU
Because Saint Paul's is an evangelical, word and sacrament, biblical, confessional, catholic, liturgical, and joyful church, we earnestly pray for all people to come to know Jesus Christ and to grow in the true faith.  If you're looking for a church to call your own, please come visit and worship with us.  We believe that Saint Paul's is a church for you!

Here's a short check list of links that contain more information about Saint Paul's:

CLICK HERE to learn more about our Lutheran beliefs.

CLICK HERE to find out how and when we worship.

CLICK HERE to read about our practice of closed communion.

CLICK HERE for a brief history of our parish.

CLICK HERE to read an overview of the liturgical calendar.

CLICK HERE for directions to our church.

If you have additional questions, please don't hesitate to call our office at 410-592-8100 or send us an e-mail.