Theme Passage
"For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith - and this not of yourselves, it is a gift of God - not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do." (Ephesians 2: 8-10)

Mission/Vision Statement
In order to glorify the Triune God, the members of Christ Our Savior Church resolve to teach and preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ that all may be saved.

Objectives:

1. To coach believers in lives of Christian service through daily personal and family devotions, regular worship, faithful use of the Sacraments and active participation in Sunday Family Bible School. "They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. All the believers were together and had everything in common." (Acts 2: 42,44)

2. To win souls by joyfully proclaiming the Gospel in our community and the world by our words and actions. "Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation." (Mark 16:15)

3. To do all to the glory of God and encourage the use of individual talents
for the benefit of the Lord's work. "So whether you eat or drink or whatever
you do; do it all to the glory of God." (1 Corinthians 10:31)

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FAQS:

What's the worst that can happen if I come and visit Christ Our Savior?

What should I wear when I come to Christ Our Savior?

What about the offering?

Why do you practice close (or closed) Communion?

How Large is Christ Our Savior?

What's the worst that can happen if I come and visit Christ Our Savior? top^
Attending church somewhere for the first time can be intimidating. Here are some common worries:

"I would just die if they made me stand up and say something." We assure you, we won't embarrass you in this or any other way. We want you to feel comfortable and at home with us. Church should be an enjoyable and uplifting experience. We hope to do all we can so you can learn about your Savior.

"I know my child is going to be too noisy." We offer a nursery during our 10:00AM service for young children staffed by church volunteers. Feel free to take your child to the nursery anytime during the service.

"I know I will feel out of place." We hope that this description will ease your mind, but if you have a question, please ask someone for help. Don't hesitate to say, "I'm new. What is this about?"

"I am afraid I will say or do something wrong." All of us have felt this way when in a new situation. But we hope you see our family at Christ Our Savior is full of ordinary people. We're not perfect, that's why we rejoice in the wonderful news of grace through Jesus Christ.

"I just want to watch at first and I know that they will try to involve me or sign me up." It is unpleasant to be pressured or to be part of a "membership drive" as though we were heads of cattle, isn't it? We believe that church membership is a voluntary thing, and that the most important thing is to trust in the Lord Jesus Christ for forgiveness and salvation. It takes time for this to be cultivated. People need time to evaluate and pray for guidance if they want to get further involved.

"I don't know that much about the Bible." There are no "super-Christians" at Christ Our Savior. None of us have our Bibles completely memorized (at least not yet!). If we did, we might feel that church was unnecessary. Worship and Bible study are opportunities to grow in our knowledge of the Bible and faith in Jesus. You won't have to answer any questions you don't want to answer. And remember, sometimes the wisest words we say are, "I don't know."

"Most churches I've been to are filled with 'hypocrites." This is a common complaint about many types of organizations, whether public organizations or religious ones. People expect to enter a church and find "perfect people" there. We make no such claims about ourselves. People who would make statements like the above one need to realize that the church is a spiritual hospital. It's not for healthy people; it's for sick people. Jesus himself said: "It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick" (Mt 9:12). Jesus is the Great Physician of our souls. So don't come to Christ Our Savior expecting to find perfect people. We're far from perfect! As the bumper sticker says: "Christians aren't perfect, just forgiven."

We believe that we are not saved because of our faith. We are saved by faith (Ephesians 2:8,9). The Holy Spirit is the one who creates faith (trust) in our hearts through the hearing of God's Word and partaking in the Sacraments of Holy Baptism and Holy Communion (Romans 10:17). Just as God gives us our physical life as a free gift (we do nothing to earn or deserve it), so also he gives us our new spiritual life as a free gift (we do nothing to earn or deserve it). In other words, we do not make "our decision for Jesus." Jesus chooses us simply by his grace (undeserved love).

What should I wear when I come to Christ Our Savior? top^
Sometimes people wonder how they are expected to dress at a church they've never visited before. Since the Bible presents no dress code, aside from simple modesty, we don't make any rules either. Like most people, our members try to make their worship time at church a special time. This is often reflected in the way they dress.

However, on any given Sunday you may see running shoes and high heels, jeans and suits, open collars and ties. When a person dresses out of love for God, the choice of dress (casual or more formal) is acceptable to God . . . and to us.

What about the offering?
"When will they take the offering?" "How will it be collected?" "How much am I expected to give?" "Do they want visitors to contribute too?" These are typical worries about church offerings.

Scripture teaches that our offerings to God should reflect our belief that everything we have is a gift of God. He does not compel us to give "a tithe" as he did the Old Testament believer. Instead St. Paul tells us that "God loves a cheerful giver" (2 Co. 9:7). In other words, don't feel compelled by guilt or embarrassment to give an offering. All offerings should be made freely and with joy.

Like most Christians, our members bring offerings to God through their church. Since offerings are gifts of love for God, no one dictates what each person is to give.

We pass an offering plate after the sermon so our worship may include bringing gifts to God. Offering envelopes are available to members to keep their gifts a private matter.

A child may bring the quarters and dimes his parents give him. Someone older may write a check. Both are remembering Jesus and giving their gift out of love for him.

You may wish at first to learn more about our ministry before bringing your offerings to God through our church. But you are welcome to participate as the Holy Spirit leads you to give.

Why do you practice close (or closed) Communion? top^
A common question that people have about worship at Christ Our Savior is our practice of close or closed Communion. First of all, a disclaimer: we do not practice close Communion to be exclusive or judgmental. Nor is it out of a "holier than thou" attitude. Our greatest desire is that all people might be able to join us for this heavenly banquet. So please don't think that we want to exclude you or relish it. Nothing could be further from the truth.

That being said, Scripture does have some very definite things to say about who is to be invited to the Lord's table. In his first letter to the Corinthians, St. Paul gives us some very specific "provisions" concerning communicants at the Lord's Supper.

First of all, St. Paul says, "A man ought to examine himself before he eats of the bread and drinks of the cup" (1 Co 11:28). In other words, the Lord's Supper is only for those who realize and confess all their sins before God.

Secondly, St. Paul writes: "Therefore, whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of sinning against the body and blood of the Lord" (1 Co 11:27). What does Paul mean: "in an unworthy manner"? The Christian church has traditionally understood Paul to be writing about someone who is living in impenitence or denying some clear word of Scripture. The Lord's Supper is only for those who accept all the teachings of Scripture, nothing more and nothing less.

Thirdly, St. Paul writes: "For anyone who eats and drinks without recognizing the body of the Lord eats and drinks judgment on himself" (1 Co 11:29). One specific belief of the Christian church that Paul mentions is the belief that in the Lord's Supper all communicants - whether believer or unbeliever - receive Jesus' very own body and blood. The Christian receives it for his benefit; the unbeliever receives it to his judgment. Many in the Christian church deny this central Christian truth, however. For such a person Paul has a stern warning: that he "eats and drinks judgment on himself."

Dr. Martin Luther summarized these three points in his Small Catechism, writing: "… he is properly prepared who believe these words: 'Given' and 'poured out for you for the forgiveness of sins.' But whoever does not believe these words or doubts them is not prepared, because the words 'for you' require nothing but hearts that believe."

Now, what if you agree with all these "provisions" set down in Scripture? What if you confess all your sins, believe that Jesus has freely forgiven all your sins, accept all the teachings of Scripture and believe that in the Lord's Supper you are truly receiving Jesus' very own body and blood? Are you welcome to commune at Christ Our Savior, even if you're a member of another Christian church body? In such a case we would ask you - out of love for your fellow Christians at Christ Our Savior- to refrain from receiving the Lord's Supper until being received into membership at Christ Our Savior or another WELS congregation. However, this decision rests with the individual communicant. Church membership is a confession of faith. Needless to say, holding membership in one church body while communing in another is a confusing and a potentially unloving action. That's why we ask even Christians who are not members of our congregation to refrain from the Lord's table until they have been educated about the Holy Scriptures, their Savior, our church body, and until the pastor has been educated about their beliefs.

How Large is Christ Our Savior? top^
After helping start on a "daughter" church in western Virginia, and developing another in Maryland, Christ Our Savior currently has a total membership of 90 and a communicant membership of 65. We average 40-45 people in Continuing Education & Sunday School