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To understand our beliefs here at
L.W.L.C. we might first start with some background. All Christian
faith begins with understanding who Jesus is..
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Jesus is God's son, sent by God to become human like us. In his life and being he broke through the prison of sinfulness and thus restored the relationship of love and trust that God intended to exist between himself and his children. Though he is eternal, with God at the beginning of time, he was born on earth of a virgin, by the power of the Holy Spirit. Jesus was at once truly God and truly human. The man, Jesus of Nazareth, lived and died in Palestine during the governorship of the Roman administrator, Pontius Pilate; we believe him to be the Messiah chosen by God to show his love for the world. He is God, yet with all the limitations of being human. His relationship to God, however, was not one of sin but rather of perfect obedience to the Father's will. For the sake of a sinful world, Jesus was condemned to death on the cross. But death could not contain him. On the third day after his execution, the day Christians observe as Easter, Jesus appeared among his followers as the risen, living Lord. By this great victory God has declared the Good News of reconciliation. The gap between all that separates us from our Creator has been bridged. Thus, Christ lives today wherever there are people who faithfully believe in him and wherever the Good News of reconciliation is preached and the Sacraments administered. |
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The Christian church is made up of those who have been baptized and thus have received Christ as the Son of God and Savior of the world. Sometimes it is referred to as "the Body of Christ." Lutherans believe that they are a part of a community of faith that began with the gift of the Holy Spirit, God's presence with his people, on the day of Pentecost. The church regardless of the external form it takes, is the fellowship of those who have been restored to God by Christ. Indeed, to be called into fellowship with Christ is also to be called into community with other believers. The church is essential to Christian life and growth. Its members are all sinners in need of God's grace. It has no claim on human perfection. The church exists solely for the hearing and doing of God's Word. If can justify its existence only when it proclaims the living Word of Christ, administers the Sacraments and gives itself to the world in deeds of service and love. Most Lutherans recognize a wider fellowship of churches and are eager to work alongside them in ecumenical ministries and projects. |
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Martin Luther (b. November 10, 1483, in Eisleben, Germany, d. February 19, 1546 in Eisleben) is known for the Father of Protestantism. He had studied to become a lawyer before becoming an Augustinian monk in 1505, and was ordained a priest in 1507. While continuing his studies in pursuit of a Doctor of Theology degree, he discovered significant differences between what he read in the Bible and the theology and practices of the church. On October 31,1517, he posted a challenge on the church door at Wittenberg university to debate 95 theological issues. Luther's hope was that the church would reform its practice and preaching to be more consistent with the Word of God as contained in the Bible. What started as an academic debate escalated to a religious war, fueled by fiery temperamemts mad violent language on both sides. As a result, there was not a reformation of the church but a separation. "Lutheran" was a name applied to Luther and his followers as an insult but adopted as a badge of honor by them instead. Lutherans still celebrate the Reformation on October 31 and still hold to the basic principles of theology and practice espoused by Luther, such as Sola Gratia, Sola Fide, Sola Scripture:
Another of Luther's principles was that Scriptures and worship need to be done in the language of the people. Many Lutherans still consider themselves as a reforming movement within the Church catholic, rather than a separatist movement, and Lutherans have engaged in ecumenical dialogue with other church bodies for decades. Luther's Small Catechism, which contains teachings on the Ten Commandments, the Apostles' Creed, the Lord's Prayer, Holy Baptism, Confession and Absolution, Holy Communion and Morning and Evening Prayers, is still used to introduce people to the Lutheran faith, as is the Augsburg Confession. These and other Lutheran confessional documents included in the Book of Concord may be ordered from the ELCA Publishing House at (800) 328-4648 |
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Living Water Lutheran Church began when a group of folks got together with the dream to form a congregation on Kent Island affiliated with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. On December 6, 1996, they began worshiping in the historic Christ Episcopal Church building in Stevensville, Md. For the next two years they met for worship, education and planning under the leadership of a variety of lay persons and clergy. During that time a great deal of effort was expended to determine the need and viability of a new congregation in the area. It was determined that the growth of the population in the western end of Queen Anne's County, Md., was significant and continuing at a level that would merit a new Christian mission. On August 1, 1999, Pastor Thomas Miller began serving as the first, full-time, mission-developer and pastor of Living Water. In October 2003, Pastor F. Mark Walters became the Pastor of Living Water Lutheran Church. The name of the congregation, Living Water, was taken from the Gospel of John, where Jesus has a conversation with a Samaritan woman at a well. As a Samaritan and as a woman, she was among the outsiders of her time. Jesus, however took the time to talk to her and offered her a gift. That gift was "living water,"-- water that would never leave you thirsty. Jesus identifies himself as the living water, the messiah, the anointed one sent from God. The woman goes back home to invite her family and neighbors to come and see the one she has met. (John 4:1-42) At Living Water Lutheran Church, we have
been refreshed by the gifts that Jesus gives and invite our friends
and neighbors to come and see what God has to
offer. |
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Jesus said, " Those who believe in me, even though they die, will live, and everyone who lives and believes in me will never die." (John 11:25-26) |
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To become a Lutheran, only Baptism and instruction in the Christian faith is required. If you are already baptized in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, it will be necessary only to attend a membership class in a Lutheran congregation and thus signify your desire to become a part of its community. Active members of other Lutheran congregations usually need only to transfer their membership. |
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You can find out more about what Lutherans believe by attending Living Water Lutheran Church, by contacting us by phone, mail or email (livingwaterlc@yahoo.com), or by going to the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America website www.elca.org |
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Living Water
Lutheran Church |