Mission Statement Vision Statement Lutheran Identity Affirmation of Welcome
Called by God through Christ, Living Waters Lutheran Church is a growing family of God’s people who, empowered by the Spirit:
Gather to Grow in Faith
Welcome all to Worship, Learn, and Fellowship
Serve and Comfort Those in Need
· Gather to Grow in Faith
We do so through God's grace offered in scripture, preaching, Baptism and Holy Communion. A spirit of acceptance and inclusion is essential. Each person is affirmed and cared for. Integral to our growth in faith is continued growth in sharing of our time, talents and treasure for the sake of others. We commit ourselves to the construction of a building to house our ministry as soon as possible.
· Welcome all
We are a family of God who celebrates the diversity of God’s creation. Each person is an essential part of God’s family. Living Waters is a place to come and be accepted as you are. Participation in the life of this Christian community, at whatever level one desires, is open to all who come.
· Worship
We are a Christian assembly, gathered to worship God. Regular participation is essential for the spiritual growth and well being of the congregation and its individual members. We provide a variety of opportunities for participation in our worship life. We strive to honor our Lutheran tradition while remaining flexible in how we worship.
· Learn
All of our learning is guided by the study of God’s written word, the Bible. We provide a variety of learning opportunities for all ages in various formats and venues. Lifelong learning is emphasized as we periodically study the basics of the faith, the sacraments and our worship practices, as well as current events and social issues.
· Fellowship
We celebrate life together and offer each other friendship and mutual support. Even as we commit to work together, we will regularly take time to relax and enjoy each other’s company. All our fellowship events are open to the community. Upon completion of our Church building, we will seek to serve the wider community by opening our doors to a variety of groups and events.
· Serve and Comfort Those in Need
We are called to love God by actively loving our neighbor – sharing our blessings with those who suffer in body, mind and spirit. We will speak up and speak out as advocates for those whose voices are not heard. We will share our resources to feed the hungry and to shelter the homeless.
Priorities for ministry at Living Waters will continuously be evaluated according to their ability to advance the mission of the Gospel in this place.
Statement of Lutheran Identity
As a Lutheran congregation, we participate in the mission and ministry of the wider Church through our membership in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America and the New Jersey Synod of that body.
As Lutherans, we confess faith in the Triune God – Father, Son and Holy Spirit. We accept and acknowledge theology and teachings that include the belief that our faith is rooted in the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Through grace God brings us to faith, and by that faith alone we are saved. That faith is then expressed in our daily lives as we demonstrate our love of God through active love for others.
Lutheran worship centers around the Word of God, read and proclaimed, and the Sacraments, Baptism and Holy Communion. Our weekly worship includes a collective prayer of confession and absolution, reading and preaching of God’s Word, public profession of our faith using the Apostles’ or Nicene Creed, prayer and the Lord’s Supper. An emphasis on liturgy and music invites active participation of all who gather.
The Lutheran tradition includes an emphasis on lifelong learning for all as they grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
At Living Waters Lutheran Church, we welcome all who seek to know the saving love of God in the crucified and risen Christ.
As a community of the people of God, we are called to minister to all people of the world, knowing that our world can be an unloving place; a place of alienation and brokenness. Christ calls us to reconciliation and wholeness. We are challenged by the Gospel to be agents of healing within our society.
We affirm with the apostle Paul that in Christ "there is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female" (Galatian 3:28). We acknowledge that the spirit of this admonition extends also to those whose affectional orientation is toward a person of the same gender. Christ has made us one.
Because gay and lesbian persons are often scorned by society and alienated from the Church, we wish to make known our caring and concern. It is for this purpose that we affirm the following:
that people of all sexual orientations share with all others the worth that comes from being unique individuals created by God;
that gay and lesbian people are welcome within the membership of this congregation upon making the same affirmation of faith that all members and those desiring membership make; and
that all members of this congregation, regardless of sexual orientation, are encouraged to share in all aspects of the congregation's life including the sacraments and fellowship.
Be it resolved therefore, this 18th day of November, 2001, that the Congregation of Living Waters Lutheran Church, Flemington, NJ in prayerful assembly, adopts this Affirmation of Welcome by affixing hereto the signature of its' Pastor and each member of its' Council, and the Seal of the Church.
The above Mission Statement, Vision Statement and Statement of Lutheran Identity were revised and then adopted by the congregation of June 27, 2004.