We are a confessional, liturgical congregation of the Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod. In our worship we observe the Historic Liturgy, notable for its dignity and reverence. Its Lutheran perspective is unmistakable.
The Historic Liturgy
Worship at SSLC, is formal, reverent, and distinctively Lutheran. We want to make a clear confession that worship is this congregation’s central feature. God’s love is most clearly demonstrated when He distributes His gifts of Word and Sacrament to the body of Christ in the Divine Service.
Formal (the liturgy not the clothing)
Some men may wear a suit and tie to our Sunday Morning Divine Service, most do not. Some women may even wear a dress. But the liturgy is not dependent upon what the people wear. Some people dress for our worship services in casual clothing. Whatever the attire of those gathered, the liturgy itself is formal. That means that it is planned and deliberate. It is not spontaneous. That also means that it is formal in its tone, rather than chatty, and that it takes up topics of the utmost importance and eternal consequence.
The sermons tend toward formality also. The Word of God is preached through Law and Gospel. Our pastor prepares all week for the sermons with deliberate study. He always seek to be relevant and preach sermons that are always aware of the needs of the people, taking note of what is going on in the culture around us.
Reverent
Our worship is not a show to be done in the sight of men. The point is not pomp and circumstance. Rather our ceremonies–standing, bowing, genuflecting by our pastor at specific points in the liturgy, and the like–are driven directly by our conviction that God, Himself, is present in His risen Body and Blood for us, that He speaks in His Word and the Absolution, and that He is paying close attention to our prayers.
Distinctively Lutheran
Some Lutherans in America have taken up the trappings of the dominant Protestant culture in America, or worse, the entertainment industry. We have resisted, not because we are just conservative and reject change for the sake of doing things the way they “have always been done,” but rather, we are fully committed to the Holy Scriptures, the Book of Concord, the study of the historic liturgy, and therefore receive our Lutheran heritage, including ceremonies, as grateful recipients.
Even so, you will find us to be a church that transcends ethnic, linguistic, and class barriers. The members of SSLC reflect a wide variety of backgrounds, interests, and talents. What unites us all is the saving Blood of Jesus Christ.
And in His name we welcome you to worship with us. To learn more about who we are, what we believe, and how we serve the Lord, please explore this website. Don’t hesitate to contact us with any questions you may have about any aspect of our faith and ministry. We would very much like the opportunity to talk with you and for us to get to know one another better. After all, it will have eternal benefits!