Our Beliefs
Listen, Serve, and Spread God's Word
That is the mission statement of Peace Lutheran Church. For 50 years the people of Peace have come together to worship and praise God for our many blessings--especially the free gift of salvation and new life in Christ--and then turned outward toward a troubled world, to share God's love in word and action. Peace is particularly known for our inspiring music, fun and lively hospitality, and deep devotion to caring for those in need. We are a congregation of do-ers, "for we are what he has made us, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand to be our way of life." (Ephesians 2:10)
Peace is a member of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA)
The ELCA is the largest Lutheran body in America, with more than 10,300 congregations across the U.S., Puerto Rico and Virgin Islands, and 4.5 million members. It is an inclusive, confessional community of faith that shares a passion for making positive changes in the world. Our faith is built around a belief in God's immeasurable love as made known to us in Jesus Christ and revealed through both Holy Scripture and the world around us. Through worship, service, fellowship and education, we share our faith, grow our relationship with Christ and experience God's grace in our lives. We also work hard to put our faith into action. In today’s complex world, we strive to make a difference in practical, realistic ways: by feeding the hungry, housing the homeless, curing the sick, visiting the isolated, comforting those who mourn, and speaking out for justice and peace. The ELCA motto is "God's Work, Our Hands." These four words capture the essence of the mission of the ELCA.
Peace is also a member of the Minneapolis Area Synod, which consists of 155 missions, ministries and congregations of the ELCA. The synod (a word which means "meeting together") includes urban, suburban, and rural communities in the greater metropolitan Minneapolis area. We are the largest of the ELCA's synods and home to some of the largest Lutheran congregations in the world.
What is a Lutheran?
The Lutheran Church is named after Martin Luther, who was a monk in Germany during the 16th Century. Luther was a leader in the Reformation of the Catholic Church of his time. He translated the Bible into German so that everyone could read it, he wrote many hymns, and he extended Christian education to all people. Most importantly, he taught that salvation is a gift from God that comes by grace through faith alone. Because of Jesus Christ, we are justified--considered righteous in God's eyes--even though we are sinful and broken people. Although we can't earn God's love and acceptance, through Christ we simply receive it as a gift. That good news, which is proclaimed for us in the Bible, is the foundation of our church.
Do Lutherans have Sacraments?That is the mission statement of Peace Lutheran Church. For 50 years the people of Peace have come together to worship and praise God for our many blessings--especially the free gift of salvation and new life in Christ--and then turned outward toward a troubled world, to share God's love in word and action. Peace is particularly known for our inspiring music, fun and lively hospitality, and deep devotion to caring for those in need. We are a congregation of do-ers, "for we are what he has made us, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand to be our way of life." (Ephesians 2:10)
Peace is a member of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA)
The ELCA is the largest Lutheran body in America, with more than 10,300 congregations across the U.S., Puerto Rico and Virgin Islands, and 4.5 million members. It is an inclusive, confessional community of faith that shares a passion for making positive changes in the world. Our faith is built around a belief in God's immeasurable love as made known to us in Jesus Christ and revealed through both Holy Scripture and the world around us. Through worship, service, fellowship and education, we share our faith, grow our relationship with Christ and experience God's grace in our lives. We also work hard to put our faith into action. In today’s complex world, we strive to make a difference in practical, realistic ways: by feeding the hungry, housing the homeless, curing the sick, visiting the isolated, comforting those who mourn, and speaking out for justice and peace. The ELCA motto is "God's Work, Our Hands." These four words capture the essence of the mission of the ELCA.
Peace is also a member of the Minneapolis Area Synod, which consists of 155 missions, ministries and congregations of the ELCA. The synod (a word which means "meeting together") includes urban, suburban, and rural communities in the greater metropolitan Minneapolis area. We are the largest of the ELCA's synods and home to some of the largest Lutheran congregations in the world.
What is a Lutheran?
The Lutheran Church is named after Martin Luther, who was a monk in Germany during the 16th Century. Luther was a leader in the Reformation of the Catholic Church of his time. He translated the Bible into German so that everyone could read it, he wrote many hymns, and he extended Christian education to all people. Most importantly, he taught that salvation is a gift from God that comes by grace through faith alone. Because of Jesus Christ, we are justified--considered righteous in God's eyes--even though we are sinful and broken people. Although we can't earn God's love and acceptance, through Christ we simply receive it as a gift. That good news, which is proclaimed for us in the Bible, is the foundation of our church.
Yes. A sacrament is an outward sign that makes God's love and forgiveness visible. There are two sacraments in the Lutheran church: Baptism and Holy Communion. Both of these are commanded by Jesus Christ in the Bible and use common, everyday elements to give us God's gifts. Through the water of Baptism, we are washed clean of our sins and are born again as members of the body of Christ, the church. Through the bread and wine of Holy Communion, we receive forgiveness and are nourished and strengthened in faith. There's nothing special about the water, bread, and wine we use in these sacraments, nor are they magically changed into something else during the ritual. Instead, the sacraments are holy and important for our lives as Christians because we experience the real presence of Jesus Christ "in, with, and under" these ordinary elements.
Why and how do Lutherans worship?
There are many reasons to participate in weekly worship. It is important for Christians to come together as a caring community to help, support and pray for one another. During the service, our faith is nurtured, as we hear God's promises for our lives through sermons, scripture, music, prayers, and receiving the sacraments. But most importantly, worship is a transformative experience: it inspires and strengthens us to be the people God is calling us to be. Worship energizes us for mission and then sends us out to love and serve other people throughout our world.
Lutherans believe that as long as the good news of salvation in Christ is rightly proclaimed and the sacraments are duly administered, worship can and should take many different forms. At Peace, we offer three different worship formats on Sunday monrnings to meet the needs of our diverse worshiping community. Our Heritage service (8:30am) is most traditional, with organ, hymns, liturgy, and vested clergy. Our Essence service (9:45am) is a simple, non-liturgical format featuring acoustic contemporary music by the Infusion choir. At the Essence service we explore the relationship between Christ and culture by including secular songs that resonate with the theme of the day, performed by Music Hall of Fame member Greg Inhofer. The ReNew! service (11:00am) turns up the energy with rock 'n soul music by PLC, Peace's renown praise band. All three services are designed around the same theme, lessons and sermon, and include Holy Communion nearly every week. Two or three times a year we have blended services that feature all our amazing musicians performing together in new and creative ways.
Want to find out more about Lutherans?
Go to these important links:
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America: www.elca.org
Minneapolis Area Synod: www.mpls-synod.org
Luther Seminary: www.luthersem.edu
Pastor Nancy experiences the joy of
welcoming two new members into the body of Christ, the church, through Holy Baptism.
FUN FACTS
ABOUT OUR SYNOD
•Baptized membership: 214,003
•Weekly average worship attendance: 58,478
•Church school weekly attendance average: 38,776
•Number of rostered leaders: 700 pastors, associates in ministry deaconesses and diaconal ministers
Minneapolis Area Synod Bishop Craig Johnson with our pastors on "Undie Sunday" at Peace.
A portrait of Martin Luther by
Lucas Cranach the Elder, 1529.
Martin Luther designed the “Luther Rose," seen here in a stained-glass
window, in 1530. Lutherans around the world still proudly claim the symbol today. Here's how Luther explained it:
The black cross in a red heart reminds us that faith in the Crucified Christ saves us.
The heart stands in the middle of a white rose, to show that faith gives joy, comfort, and peace.
The sky-blue field symbolizes that such joy in spirit and faith is a beginning of the heavenly future joy.
Around this field is a golden ring, symbolizing that such blessedness in Heaven lasts forever and has no end.
The sky-blue field symbolizes that such joy in spirit and faith is a beginning of the heavenly future joy.
Around this field is a golden ring, symbolizing that such blessedness in Heaven lasts forever and has no end.
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