What's in a name?

The full name of our congregation is quite a mouth full, and we realize that it may raise some questions - especially that first word. We put together a description of what we mean when we say that we are the: Evangelical Lutheran Church of the Atonement.

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  • The word “evangelical” typically raises the most questions about who we are. Recently the term has gained more widespread usage in media, describing more specific groups of Christians in America like Jerry Fallwell, Jr. and Franklin Graham. Take a look at our welcome statement. You might notice that we are a little different than many evangelicals mentioned in the media. Looking around our Page or our website will reinforce this.

    So why do we use it?

    The word has a global and historical usage as another generic term for Lutherans and Protestants in Europe. We inherited it from that usage through time - long predating the Evangelicals in America who use the word now.

    For us, the most important reason we use the term is this: “Evangelical” literally means having to do with the Gospel, which means Good News.

    We believe this good news is found in Jesus Christ’s life, teaching, death, and resurrection. We believe this is the gospel truth: God loves you, whoever you are - and we want you to know that. So, we continue to use Evangelical in our name to relay that all are welcome. For us, this has nothing to do with American political discourse and everything to do with God’s radical love for you.

  • This term is a short cut description of what we believe, and an indication of how we try to embody being Church. You do not have to be Lutheran to be participate in our community; however, our theology (how we talk about God) will be flavored as Lutheran.

    So what do Lutherans talk about?

    We are not trying to find God; God comes to us. 

    God meets us even in the margins, edges and broken parts of our lives.

    We think God has a vision of how we ought to live. Jesus summed this up as loving God and loving our neighbor as ourselves.  We think that God not only wants us to do these things, but equips us to do them.

  • Church is a curious word. Originally it was an ancient term for a civic assembly (Greek: ecclesia). "Church" for us is a way of describing what kind of community we are and what we strive to be. Like the ancients, we assemble. On Sunday we typically follow the historic pattern of worship which seeks to embody participation by the whole assembly and centered on 4 principle parts:

    Gathering - we are brought together, remembering our baptism and hearing the pronouncement of God's forgiveness and renewal.

    Word - we hear from the Scriptures; the ancient stories that the people of God have held so near and dear to them.

    Meal - we celebrate the meal of the baptized through which God is again in our presence to shape us as God's own people.

    Sending - we are sent forth from the assembly to be witnesses of what God has done, is doing, and promises yet to do in the world. 

  • "Atonement" literally means the state of being at one: At-One-Ment. The point of  God becoming a human being (God comes to us) in Jesus Christ is to also make us one with God. The Nicene Creed says, "For us and for our salvation he came down from heaven." The Gospel of John says, "Indeed, God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. " To talk about the Atonement is to talk about how we are made friends with God. That's more of that good news we talked about above. And that's what we are all about.