WHAT WE BELIEVE

WHO IS WELCOME?
‍We welcome all people at St. John’s, because we believe God loves and welcomes all people.
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STATEMENT OF FAITH
We believe in the Triune God—God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. We acknowledge one God in these three persons.

We believe that God the Father created the universe. He is loving, compassionate, just and kind. His deepest desire is to live in an intimate relationship with all people.

We believe that, because of His desire to live in a relationship with us, God became a human being. Jesus Christ, born of a virgin, is fully God and fully man. Through His death and resurrection, Jesus made it possible for all people to live in a relationship with God.

We believe that Jesus Christ is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. Through Him and Him alone can people enter into a relationship with God.

We believe that the Holy Spirit is the presence of Jesus Christ among us. Through Him God loves us, empowers us and lives in us. The Spirit gives gifts to all believers. We believe in all the gifts of the Spirit and encourage their use.

We believe that the Bible is the Word of God. Through it, God reveals Himself to us. The entire Bible is God-breathed and God-inspired. The Old and New Testaments are the norm and guide upon which we base our faith.

We believe that the church, be it a local congregation or the worldwide fellowship of believers, is the body of Christ. As His Body, we are called to worship Him, serve Him and be the vehicle through which the Good News in its fullness is shared with the world.

We affirm and identify with the confessions of the Lutheran Church, especially the following: The Apostolic, the Nicene, and the Athanasian Creeds; the Unaltered Augusburg Confession; Luther’s Small Catechism; and the Book of Concord of 1580. We affirm the centrality of grace alone, faith alone, and Word alone.

We believe in and practice the Sacraments of Baptism and Holy Communion. We believe that through the waters of Baptism, God comes to us to adopt us as His children. Through Baptism, God gives the gift of new life. We affirm the baptism of infants.

We believe that through the Lord’s Supper, God comes to love us and forgive us. It is a meal of renewal. Jesus is really present in the meal.

We believe in the worth and value of the human being. Created in God’s image, humans have dignity. Their worth is dependent not on accomplishments, but on God’s love. Because God sees humanity as worth dying for, we affirm and acknowledge the dignity of humans.

At the same time we acknowledge that humanity is separated from God because of sin. We joyfully proclaim the Good News that because of Jesus Christ, forgiveness is a possibility. It is that forgiveness that restores fallen humanity’s worth.

We believe in and anticipate the return of Jesus Christ. Though we don’t know the day or hour, we joyfully proclaim His soon return to inspire all people to make the most of life today.

HOLY COMMUNION–ALL ARE WELCOME!
All Christ followers, regardless of denomination or church affiliation, you are welcome to receive Holy Communion at St. John’s. Children of all ages are also welcome to receive Holy Communion if they have been explained its meaning by an adult. First Communion classes (not required) are held yearly.

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AFFILIATION
St. John’s is a “Christian church in the Lutheran tradition”. We partner with several churches and organizations in our common mission to share the love and hope of Christ with all people. Some of our affiliations include:
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•Lutheran Congregations in Mission for Christ – An association of congregations who are free in Christ, accountable to one another and rooted in the scriptures and the Lutheran confessions.

•Refresh –  A network of churches from a variety of different backgrounds throughout Walworth County.

•Christian Alliance For Orphans – CAFO unites 190+ respected organizations and over 650 church members. We labor together in shared initiatives that inspire and equip Christians for effective orphan care, family preservation, adoption and foster care. We work to see the local church in every nation known as the primary answer for the needs of vulnerable children in their midst.

•Safe Families for Children – Safe Families for Children is a movement fueled by compassion to keep children safe and families intact. St. John’s provided free office space to the SE Wisconsin field office for this movement until they moved to their current location. We continue to support the organization through volunteers, Christmas giving tree gifts, and in other ways.

• Good News Kenya – Good news community Centre is a Christ centered non-profit organization that seeks to bring transformation in Kenyan communities through a threefold approach of practical outreach, evangelism and discipleship.

• Walworth County Food Pantry and Diaper Bank – The Walworth County Food Pantry and Diaper Bank, located in Elkhorn, serves over 400 families and distributes over 60,000 pounds of food each month throughout the region.