Vision Statement

Trinity Lutheran Church is a congregation of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), and we share its message: “This is Christ’s church. There is a place for you here. We are the church that shares a living, daring confidence in God’s grace. Liberated by our faith, we embrace you as a whole person—questions, complexities, and all. Join us as we do God’s work in Christ’s name for the life of the world.”

Centering our church around the ministry, teachings, death, and resurrection of Jesus and the free and undeserved gift of grace through Christ, we will fashion our response upon welcoming, connectedness, and engagement in our community, country, and world. Jesus himself welcomed all: He connected with the poor, the sick, the criminal, and the outsider as well as the wealthy, the healthy, the upstanding, and the insider, along with everyone in between. He engaged people with acts of healing and called others to account. He directed us to “love God with all your heart, soul, and mind—and your neighbor as yourself.”

Welcoming

Being a welcoming church means creating an atmosphere of relational hospitality. We will work to ensure that Trinity is a safe and supportive place for all people. Acquired and inherited traits, preferences, appearances, life choices, addictions, physical and mental health, disabilities, difficult times, and disasters create unique challenges and circumstances for all people. We will work to overcome some past practices—intentional or unintentional—to judge and perhaps exclude those who appear and act differently. Indeed, we will strive to include ALL people who desire to know and walk with Jesus Christ in response to God’s love.

Connecting

This is Christ’s church. We are connected to God and one another. It takes interaction, partnership, and trust to create a sense of acceptance and belonging. With the Holy Spirit’s help, we make acquaintances, develop friendships, and enhance relationships in a variety of ways, such as worship, coffee hour, small-group discussions, Sunday school, youth activities, music ministries, mission projects, pancake suppers, potlucks, s’mores around a campfire, a beer at Luther’s Tap, and more. Within Trinity’s community of faith, God’s people can join existing ministries and create new ways to connect and support each other.

Engaging

The needs and suffering in this community and world are deep. We as members of the body of Christ are called to find meaningful ways to respond with God’s healing work. Our community has resources that can help us attend to these needs; setting priorities and collaborating with community partners is necessary. We believe we can especially help and heal by focusing on mental health; homelessness and affordable housing; local, national, and global mission work; and relationship-building that mends divisions through deeper understanding.