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Who We Are |
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Our Evangelical Lutheran proclamation The purpose of Salem Evangelical Lutheran Church is to preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ and to administer His Sacraments faithfully and regularly. “For through the Word and the Sacraments... the Holy Spirit is given (John 20:22), and the Holy Spirit produces faith, where and when it pleases God (John 3:8), in those who hear the Gospel. That is to say, it is not on account of our own merits but on account of Christ that God justifies [declared not guilty] those who believe that they are received in favor for Christ's sake." (Article 5, Augsburg Confession) We offer three opportunities to gather to be served by Jesus Christ with His Word and Sacraments — Thursday at 7 p.m., Sunday at 8 a.m., and Sunday at 10:30 a.m. We invite you to come and hear how Jesus Christ, the Son of God, has saved you with His perfect life on earth (Hebrews 4:14-15), innocent death on the cross (Mark 10:45), and glorious resurrection from the dead (Romans 4:25). We confess that we are saved by Jesus Christ alone, not by any other means (John 14:6). We confess that we are saved by faith in Christ alone, not by our good works (Ephesians 2:8-9). We confess that we are saved by grace alone, not by our merit (Romans 3:22-24). We confess that we are saved by Scripture alone, not by our feelings or human reason or church traditions (Galatians 1:8). We are the home of the Owosso Lutheran Hour, broadcasting the Gospel to mid-Michigan, on 92.5 FM from 10 to 11 every Sunday morning. The Owosso Lutheran Hour broadcasts our 8 a.m. service for that Sunday two hours later at 10 a.m.
Our God-given confession of faith Salem is an evangelical Lutheran congregation. To be evangelical is to be centered in full and free Gospel news about our Lord Jesus Christ’s completed work of salvation. Salem confesses the divine truth and mystery of the triune God—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit—three Persons in one God.
The Nicene Creed We believe in one God, the Father, the Almighty, maker of heaven and earth, of all that is, seen and unseen. We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the only Son of God, eternally begotten of the Father, God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not made, of one being with the Father. Through Him all things were made. For us and for our salvation, He came down from heaven, was incarnate of the Holy Spirit and the virgin Mary, and became fully human. For our sake He was crucified under Pontius Pilate. He suffered death and was buried. On the third day He rose again in accordance with the Scriptures. He ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead, and His kingdom will have no end. We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son, who in unity with the Father and the Son is worshiped and glorified, who has spoken through the prophets. We believe in one holy Christian and apostolic Church. We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins. We look for the resurrection of the dead and the life of the world to come. Amen.
We confess the three ecumenical Creeds of the Christian Faith.
We also believe, teach, and confess the statements of faith in the Book of Concord, without reservation, not insofar as, but because they are the presentation and explanation of the pure teaching of the Bible. 3. A Treatise on the Power and Primacy of the Pope 5. Defense of the Augsburg Confession 8. Formula of Concord In-Depth
Since the year 1580 when the Lutheran Confessions were gathered into one book called the Book of Concord, modern attacks and compromises have been launched against the Gospel. Our church body publicly confesses our faith in a document called This We Believe. |
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Our Christ-centered history in Owosso Salem Evangelical Lutheran Church was incorporated in 1869. Our congregation has been served by over twenty pastors throughout its history. Currently Salem’s family of approximately 1200 baptized souls is served by two pastors. Salem Lutheran School was opened in 1894. Hundreds of Christian children have been educated by our dedicated staff of Lutheran school teachers. We currently staff our school with five experienced Christian educators. We belong to the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod, founded in 1850. Our church body is comprised of about 400,000 souls. The purpose of our synod is to train future pastors, teachers, and missionaries; to support missionaries in our domestic and foreign mission fields; and to publish Christian literature based on the Bible and the Lutheran Confessions. Click here to read our Synod President’s blog. Check out this insightful book: The Theology of the Cross
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Salem Lutheran Church in 1906 |
