Holy Family Lutheran Church
learning, living, and sharing God’s Word
What We Believe
Please click on the following links or scroll down to discover more about our beliefs...
What is Christianity?
New or Returning to Church?
Click on this website from our sister church in the U.S.
www.elca.org/What-We-Believe/New-or-Returning-to-Church.aspx
What do Lutheran Christians believe?
Click on this link to our Canadian website
www.elcic.ca/What-We-Believe/Luthers-Teaching.cfm
or this link to the American website
www.elca.org/What-We-Believe/New-or-Returning-to-Church/What-Lutherans-Believe.aspx
The Bible
is a collection of 66 different inspired writings and divided into two parts. The Old Testament is the story of God's relationship with the Hebrew people. The New Testament is the story of Jesus, God's son, and his teachings, death, and resurrection; it also tells about the first followers of Jesus. The Bible is the written Word of God. Through the work of the Holy Spirit, it creates and nurtures faith in us and points us to Jesus Christ who is the living Word and and the centre of our faith. The Bible invites us into a relationship with God that challenges us and promises us new life.
Justice
God loves us unconditionally. Inspired by that love, we try to do the same. Justice is an important aspect of our faith. Justice means addressing inequities in social, economic, and political systems. Justice is about restoring relationships between people, and calls us to care for the earth for the sake of present and future generations. Both the Old Testament prophets and Jesus spoke oten about justice issues and continue challenging us to align our actions with God's desires still today.
Sacraments
are actions of the church that communicate God's promises through words and physical means--actions and earthly elements. The Lutheran Church has two sacraments.
Baptism is the one-time saccrament that adopts us as children of God, delivers us from forces of evil, puts our sinful self to death, and gives us new birth. Baptism makes us members of the body of Christ, the church. We are baptized as Christians, not Lutherans. We baptize with water in the name of the triune God--Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Baptism begins a life of discipleship--following Jesus and continuing his ministry today. Baptism is received by faith in what God does for us first; therefore Lutherans baptize infants and adults and raise them in a community of faith, surrounded by other growing followers of Jesus. If you'd like to be baptized, contact Pastor Steve.
Holy Communion is our weekly meeting at the table of our Lord Jesus Christ, where God nourishes our faith, forgives sin, calls and strengthens us to live and share the good news of Jesus Christ. In this meal the crucified and risen Christ is present, giving his true body and blood in and with the bread and wine. Jesus comes to us, filling humble earthly elements with his presence and promises. This real presence of Christ is a mystery. Communion isn't a reward for being good, it's food to strengthen us for our walk with Christ. Holy Communion is also called the Lord's Supper and the Eucharist, from the Greek word for "thanksgiving." All baptized Christians are welcome at Holy Communion.
Office Address:
Northern United Place
5403 50th Avenue
Yellowknife
Northwest Territories