About

Serving the World in Jesus Name

Welcome to Spirit of Joy Lutheran Church! We are a part of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) and have approximately 4 million members worldwide who actively participate in God’s work in the world through word and deed.

We believe that we are freed in Christ to serve and love our neighbor.

With our hands, we do God’s work of restoring and reconciling communities in Jesus Christ’s name throughout the world. We are a church that belongs to Christ. There is a place for you here. We live in many different communities, span all ages, cultures and races and bring to this church unique life experiences and perspectives. Seek answers to your questions and discover what God is calling you to in life.

Our Misson

To be Gathered by God, Fed by God’s word and Sent to serve.

Together in Jesus Christ we are freed by grace to live faithfully, witness boldly and serve joyfully.

Our Vision

To be disciples (followers) of Jesus Christ who are freed by God’s grace to live faithfully in service, making God known, sharing and inviting others to know God’s amazing grace and love.

WHAT WE BELIEVE

Our Values

Our values are grounded in faith, in our biblical and Lutheran confessional sources and our love of God and neighbor. They speak to the way this church lives and practices our faith, and they will guide how we journey forward in Christ as church together

Forgiveness and Reconciliation

We are reconciled to God by God’s forgiving mercy. Forgiveness and reconciliation flow from what God has made us to be in Jesus Christ and what God is doing with us in the world. As a people of God, we embody forgiveness in speech, action and relationships, and our ministry in reconciliation is foundational.

Dignity, Compassion and Justice

Each person is created in God’s image. We respect this God-given right to dignity and, inspired by the life of Jesus, show love and compassion for all people. Through proclamation of the gospel, through worship and as servants of God working for healing and justice in the world, we uphold and seek to protect the dignity and human rights of all people.

Inclusion and Diversity

As Christ’s church, we value the richness of God’s creation and offer a radical welcome to all people, appreciating our common humanity and our differences. We are a church that does not view diversity as a barrier to unity. We recognize and will challenge dynamics of power and privilege that create barriers to participation and equity in this church and society – for women, people of color, minority ethnic groups, people with disabilities, people who are marginalized or living in poverty, and the LGBTQ community

Courage and Openness to Change

Because we trust in God’s promise and understand faith to be a living, daring confidence in God’s grace, we are emboldened to embrace learning and change in our spiritual and institutional journey as church. This means we are open to new ways and willing to take risks to discover God’s plan for this church.

Faithful Stewardship of God’s Creation and Gifts

As church together, faithful stewardship is about holding to God’s purpose and ensuring the responsibilities and resources that God has entrusted to us are used with great care and with accountability to God, to each other and those served by this church.