Worship Relocated!

For the months of May-July we are worshiping at Westminster Presbyterian Church, 1285 3rd Ave SE, due to our renovations.  Discover more here.

What to Expect at Weekend Worship

Every weekend we offer two worship services every Sunday with a time of learning for adults and children in between.  We continue to offer our Saturday evening service as well. We made this change to make an investment in the faith life of children, an investment in the faith life of adults, and to display radical hospitality to gather us all in together to worship God.  Please join us this weekend at any of the times below!

Saturday 5 p.m.

Piano-led traditional worship with modified liturgy, and special music primarily through vocal and instrumental solos. Our pastors give the message and wear traditional vestments, or robes. Holy Communion is celebrated every week and is open to all. There is use of our cry room during this service.

Sunday 9 a.m.

Organ-led traditional worship with modified liturgy, and vocal and bell choirs and occasional solo music. Our pastors give the message and wear traditional vestments, or robes. Holy Communion is celebrated every week and is open to all. Childcare is available during this service.

Sunday 11:15 a.m.

Celebration Worship. A contemporary style praise team led service with music from popular Christian recording artists along with familiar congregational songs of our Lutheran heritage. Our pastors give a weekly message with Holy Communion celebrated and open to all. Childcare is available during this service.

Communion

At First Lutheran Church we celebrate open communion of the Lord's Supper at nearly every worship service and all are welcome to participate. In addition to traditional bread and wine, we also offer the option of grace juice and/or gluten free wafers. While most children of our members go through first communion in 1st grade, we place no age restriction on communion. In the mystery of God, we believe that Christ is actually present in, with, and under the bread and wine at communion.  All believers in Christ are welcome to join us! 

If you'd like to know more about the theology of communion, please visit the E.L.C.A.'s website on Holy Communion.

Those with Special Physical Needs

Our facility has handicap parking near the entrances on the north side of our building. We have a push-button entrance and accessible elevator. We also have wheelchairs and walkers available on-site. For our worship services we make available assisted hearing devices and large print worship materials.

Please Bring Your Children to Worship!

We make an investment in the faith life of children by helping families worship together. Sunday worship features a special time for children during the sermon, called Children’s Chat. Children ages 3-8 are invited to go with staff during the sermon time for an age appropriate message. They return to their parents after the sermon for the rest of the service. Be sure to ask an usher on your way in for Children's Bulletins and activity bags next to the center doors.

Nursery and Cry Room

Our nursery is available from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. every Sunday for children age 6 months to 4 years-old. It's located in the lower level halfway down the hallway. Our nursery staff will be happy to help get you and your child(ren) situated so that everyone can enjoy their morning!

Our cry room is an awesome space with worship audio piped in and a view of the front. Plus it's connected to our children's library if your little ones need a little extra attention during worship. The cry room is located on the left of the sanctuary (as you face the front).

Care Center Worship Services Off Site

First Lutheran is committed to extending the hand of Christian fellowship to those who are unable to attend worship and Bible study at our building. Pastor Leroy and a team of committed volunteers currently lead six worship services each month at various locations around the city.

Location                              Day                     Time
Cottage Grove Place           2nd Thursday     4:00 p.m.
Living Center West              1st Tuesday        3:00 p.m.
The Meadows Apartments   4th Thursday      1:00 p.m.
Higley Mansion Care Ctr.     3rd Sunday        9:30 a.m.
Living Center East               3rd Thursday      3:00 p.m.

Blue Christmas

A service for Sorrowful Hearts
Sunday, December 4, 2:00 p.m.

Blue Christmas is a worship service for anyone for whom the Christmas Holidays are not an occasion for joy because of a significant loss in their lives.

At Christmas time, our culture says that we are supposed to be happy, but there many times people, events or circumstances in our lives can hurt us or bring sorrow. How can we feel happy in the light of all these things? We can’t, but we can turn to God for his strength and comfort to help us deal with our pain and grief in the midst of this season.

On December 4 we will gather in a special service in which we will participate in the early church’s practice of the Laying On of Hands and Anointing with Oil, participating in a powerful way with the healing, wholeness bestowing Spirit of God at work in our lives. We will gather to experience Emmanuel – God with us! Our hearts may not be full of joy, but they can be filled with God’s presence and peace.