Foundational Statements
Commission
Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always to the very end of the age.”
Matthew 28:18-20
Mission
Lutheran Church of the Resurrection exists to:
welcome people to faith;
nurture people in faith;
equip people with a faith that works in everyday life;
send people into the world to serve in Jesus’ name.
N - spiritual growth, faith development
E - ministry, leadership, training
W - invite, worship
S - service, care
Vision
Lutheran Church of the Resurrection is a vibrant congregation which exists to give glory and praise to God in Jesus Christ. In friendship, trust and respect, we see ourselves as a center for Christian growth, renewal and mission in the lives of individuals and families.
We are committed to:
Worship as a dynamic experience of the presence of God through Word and Sacrament, music and Christian fellowship;
Welcome everyone to meet Jesus Christ no matter where they are on their spiritual journey of life;
Empower and assist individuals, couples, and families to discover the power of the Holy Spirit through faith active in daily life; and
Grow in providing opportunities for individuals to increase their knowledge, confidence, and joy in Jesus Christ through prayer and Bible study, fellowship groups and active service in our congregation and community.
VALUES
Lutheran Church of the Resurrection values:
Faith in Jesus Christ
Passion for the Gospel
Respect for all people
Kindness and compassion
Honesty and integrity
Spiritual growth
Worship as a privilege and way of meeting God with other believers
Friendship and community (family, belonging, fellowship)
TEACHES
Lutheran Church of the Resurrection teaches that our God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit:
1. has created and is sustaining all that exists and whose truth is revealed to us
in the Holy Bible;
2. has entered human history in the crucified and risen Savior, Jesus of Nazareth, that we might know we are loved, forgiven, restored, and empowered by God’s grace alone;
3. works through the Christian church, the body of Christ, for the redemption of creation by the power of the Holy Spirit;
4. changes lives through the Gospel of Jesus Christ calling all people to lives of:
a. continuing renewal
b. discovery of new ways to communicate and live out the Gospel
of Jesus Christ before the world
c. welcome and witness to all no matter where they are on life’s journey of faith
d. practicing compassion and justice as signs of Christ’s presence in the world;
5. has provided a foundation for ministry in the historical witness of the Christian church - especially in the three ecumenical creeds and the Lutheran Confessions.
MARKS OF DISCIPLESHIP
Discipleship is the Christian’s intentional journey of grace. Jesus commanded the church to “go and make disciples” (Matthew 28:18). The goal of a disciple is maturity in Jesus Christ...”to grow into the maturity of the full stature of Christ.” (Ephesians 4:13)
Being disciples of Jesus Christ is what Lutheran Church of the Resurrection is all about. The marks of discipleship are significant components of our spiritual growth.
1. Personal faith demonstrated in scripture reading; Psalm 119:105
2. Personal faith demonstrated in prayer; 1 Thessalonians 5:16-19
3. Regular worship attendance at Lutheran Church of the Resurrection; Psalm 122:1 and Hebrews 10:23-25
4. Active Christian giving through
a. serving in a inistry of Lutheran Church of the Resurrection;
1 Corinthians 12:4-13
b. tithing, or a commitment to move to tithing;
Malachi 3:10 and 2 Corinthians 8:12
c. involvement in community projects outside of Lutheran Church of the Resurrection; Matthew 25:31-46
5. Commitment to ministry through personal relationships; Mark 6:7
6. Involvement in a personal spiritual growth program; Ephesians 4: 11-16
7. Commitment to the discipleship of others; Romans 15: 1,2 (3-6)
At Lutheran Church of the Resurrection we lift these marks of discipleship up as clarifiers. They help us know and experience the joy and the responsibilities of our faith. The marks of discipleship are the benchmarks for our leaders in the ministry. We invite you to come and grow with us!
What is Stephen Ministry? Through one-to-one caring relationships, those who are hurting receive the love and care they need to support them. Stephen Ministry is grounded in Jesus’ command to love one another. Everyone goes through difficult times. Having someone to care, to listen, to share God’s love with you can help you get through the confusion, stress, or loneliness you may be experiencing.
- Is life more than you can handle alone right now?
- Are your health, your attitude, or your relationships suffering?
- Are you adjusting to a new job, change in marital status, a serious illness, the death of a loved one, a recent move?
- Would you like to have someone in your life who really cares?
A Stephen Minister is...
- a child of God who walks beside a hurting person;
- a caring Christian friend who really listens;
- a lay person who has received 50 hours of training in how
to provide distinctively Christian care.
A Stephen Minister is NOT...
- a counselor or therapist;
- a problem-solver;
-a casual visitor.
Stephen Ministry helps meet the needs of individuals who are...
- hospitalized;
- terminally ill;
- bereaved;
- in a job crisis;
- new members of the church;
- disabled;
- homebound;
- lonely;
- in a spiritual crisis;
- looking for a caring, Christian friend.
Consider allowing a Stephen Minister to walk with you on your journey to wholeness. For further information, contact the Pastor at 415-479-1334 or via e-mail at lcotr@pacbell.net.
Local Social Ministries/Programs (Top of Page)
In addition to contributing to Mission Funds of the LCMS on a District and National level, Lutheran Church of the Resurrection has made a commitment to the following ministries in our community. Assistance includes financial support as well as hands-on involvement and interaction with various organizations.
1. Jeannette Prandi Children’s Center: A Safe Haven for Kids. In 1999 and 2000, multiple Marin County agencies working with abused children were centralized at this center. The Center strives to provide a child-friendly atmosphere in which to interview and assist children and families who have become victims of abuse. The Center anticipates serving over 2,000 children annually.
2. Christmas in April: Together we are rebuilding America...one house at a time. This national organization is committed to providing volunterr home maintenance and repair to allow elderly and persons with disabilities to continue to live in warmth, safety, and independence. A “National Work Day” is held every year on the last Saturday of April. (www.christmasinapril.org)
3. Homeward Bound: Helping homeless adults and families move home for good. The only program serving the homeless in Marin. Current services include emergency food and shelter at five locations. Other support services offered include counseling, assistance with childcare and employment, mental health, and drug and alcohol recovery.
4. Marin Interfaith Youth Outreach. Programs at MIYO are designed and implemented to help youth (ages 12 - 18) with their social, spiritual, emotional, and intellectual development - in an environment that promotes fellowship, honors diversity, and enhances self-esteem. Programs/resources include:
job readiness interfaith events
recreation educational resources
prevention (conflict resolution) performance center
e-mail: miyoteens@aol.com
5. Meals of Marin. This volunteer organization provides nourishment, hope, and dignity for the homebound people in Marin with AIDS, cancer, and other life-threatening illnesses. Meals of Marin delivers two free nutritional meals to clients 365 days per year. (www.marin.org/npo/meals)
6. Senior Access: Caring professional services for independent living. Senior Access provides day treatment and home care management services for seniors and adults with ongoing health care needs. Services may include exercise, education, health care monitoring, Alzheimer’s care, support groups, or rehabilitation therapies. (www.SeniorAccess.org)
Church Affiliated Ministries ( Top of Page)
1. Lutheran Church Missouri Synod - Korean Ministry
This mission has congregations in both Tracy and Hayward, and is working on two more in the San Jose area.
2. Lutheran Church Missouri Synod - Ethiopian Ministry
A mission congregation was established in January 1999 for the Ethiopian community in Berkeley.
3. Lutheran Church Missouri Synod - Together in Mission
This is a program of the LCMS World Mission, which trains and sends lay missionaries to the global mission field. We are currently supporting Tim and Heidi Norton in their work among the people of Cote d’Ivoire, Africa. (http:\\mission.lcms.org)
Women in Mission (Top of Page)
Women in Mission is a women’s group. Meetings are held 4 times per year. There is time for personal sharing, Bible study, encouragement, planning, fellowship, and prayer. All women are welcome and encouraged to “Serve the Lord with Gladness” and be Women in Mission.
Our goal is to assist each woman of Lutheran Church of the Resurrection in affirming her relationship with the Triune God so that she is enabled to use her gifts in ministry to the people of the world. As affiliates and members of the Lutheran Women’s Missionary League (LWML) and Lutheran Women in Mission, the group actively supports a variety of local and world missions.
(See www.lwml.org and www.cnh-lcms.org/lwml for current information and mission goal progress.
Discussion Group/Helping Hands (Top of Page)
This group meets at the church for about an hour every week to study and discuss the Bible or related topics such as baptism or church relations. Following the study, some of the group stay to be “helping hands” for the church by collating the church bulletins for Sunday morning, helping with the Newsletter, or church mailings.
The Discussion Group meets at the church every Thursday at 9:30am. Helping Hands meets immediately afterward.
Missionary News... (Top of Page)
Through “Together in Mission” , a program of the LCMS World Mission, Lutheran Church of the Resurrection is currently sponsoring missionaries Tim and Heidi Norton. (http://mission.lcms.org/tim/index.htm)
Tim and Heidi have been serving God as His missionaries in Cote d’Ivoire since 1999, and have just recently learned that they will be reassigned to the neighboring country of Guinea. They will be working among the Malinke people and will be living in Kankan. In Kankan, they will have the support of the missionaries who live there permanently, and according to the Nortons, this is an ideal spot to learn the language of the Malinke.
In Cote d’Ivoire, Tim was a director of Christian education, serving in leadership training and church planting in the urban area of Abidjan. He also has previous experience as a volunteer missionary in Ghana, Togo, and Cameroon. Tim and Heidi host visitors and arriving volunteers, helping new workers get settled. Heidi has also worked with the children and women of Abidjan.
Tim and Heidi ask that you continue to pray for them as they await news on housing in Kankan and plan their move to Guinea. They also ask that you pray for their teammates, the Oettings and Heineys, as they go through much upheaval in their lives as well. Both families have learned that the homes they evacuated in Gueckedou have been looted, and they have lost everything. (The Oettings and Heineys, LCMS missionaries to Guinea, had been working out of Gueckedou, but were evacuated because of internal fighting between rebels and government soldiers.)
And as always, much prayer is needed as the Nortons and other members of the mission team seek to share the Gospel with the Malinke people in Guinea. Pray that the Holy Spirit would open the ears and hearts of the Malinke to the saving Gospel. Pray also that God will raise up inspired leaders to accept his call into positions of leadership in the developing church in Guinea.
To learn more about “Together in Mission” .....