Woodlake Lutheran Church is a part of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA). Our beliefs are centered around the free grace of Jesus Christ offered to the world through his life, death, and resurrection. As God loves and welcomes all people, so do we! At Woodlake you'll experience that love and grace in community, worship, and service to our neighbors.
God's Free Gift of Grace through Jesus Christ
Woodlake believes that God's grace is a free gift given to all! Romans 3:23-24 says, "since all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God; 24they are now justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus". This is our central understanding of God and our reason to gather in worship.
Baptism and Holy Communion
In baptism, we're given the promise of a new life. Romans 6:4 says, "Therefore we have been buried with him by baptism into death, so that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life." As Lutherans, we baptize little babies and adults alike because we believe that baptism is not our work, but the work of God in our lives.
At Woodlake we practice an open table for holy communion, meaning all are welcome to participate. We believe that through communion we recieve God's grace, his real presence. Matthew 26:26-28 says, "While they were eating, Jesus took a loaf of bread, and after blessing it he broke it, gave it to the disciples, and said, ‘Take, eat; this is my body.’ Then he took a cup, and after giving thanks he gave it to them, saying, ‘Drink from it, all of you; for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins." As you'll hear us say on Sundays, "All are welcome to the table."
Scripture and Creeds
Woodlake believes the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments (commonly called the Bible); the Apostles’, Nicene and Athanasian Creeds; and the Lutheran confessional writings in the Book of Concord are the basis of our understanding of faith. More on these documents can be found on the ELCA's (our governing body) webpage.
Beloved Community
At Woodlake we believe that all are equally cherished and welcomed in the eyes of God. Galatians 3:28 says, "There is no longer Jew or Greek, there is no longer slave or free, there is no longer male and female; for all of you are one in Christ Jesus." God loves us despite differences in race, gender, age, nationality, etc. All are welcome! All are loved!