LIVING CONNECTED TO GOD & OUR NEIGHBOR
Frequently Asked Questions
Safe, Welcoming, Faith-Filled
First Lutheran Staff are committed to creating a safe, welcoming, and faith-filled community through servant leadership modeled by Jesus Christ.
We’ve learned a lot in the 500 years since Martin Luther left the medieval Catholic Church. We are a local church of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), more than 4 million strong. We work in partnership with other denominations and Lutheran world organizations. Visit elca.org for more information about our teachings, beliefs and social statements.
Lutherans love music, and we sing hymns and songs that give thanks and praise to God, and encourage us in daily life. We celebrate the musical gifts of our congregation, and have excellent musical instruments. Worship styles vary week to week, and may be accompanied by organ, piano, guitar, and/or brass and wind instruments, etc.
Sanctuary - the room where we worship, seated in pews. It carries this name as a place of safety, a place to let go of daily cares, and to seek God’s guidance for our lives.
Commons - where the community gathers before and after other events at church, for coffee, or as a primary place to meet and connect with others. Sometimes called the Narthex in other churches.
Martin Luther Hall - Our reception hall with a full commercial kitchen and seating for 200 people.
Chapel - An intimate, quiet space for our first Sunday morning service, technology for education and presentations, or a small wedding or memorial service.
We commit as members to value communal worship, studying God’s Word, to strive for justice and peace in the world, and to serve our neighbors in need. We preach and teach ELCA Lutheran doctrine, but understand that all people come to church with some combination of faith and doubt. We value questions and conversation about many topics of faith.
Accessibility
Our main entrance is off 40th Avenue between Polk and Tyler. Our building consists of two large two-story brick buildings, with the entrance near the parking lot between the buildings.
We have gendered, parent and child-friendly restrooms on the main floor, as well as non-gendered, single-stall restrooms on the 2nd floor.
Yes.
Yes. Special needs children are welcome to join in all church events and all our rooms are wheelchair accessible. Please contact Rachel James, rachel@flcch.org for children and youth accommodations.
Hearing assistance devices are available in the Sanctuary for use during worship services. An usher can help you find a device to use.
Children, with their wiggles, giggles and joyful noises, are welcome here! If at any point during the service your child needs to stretch their legs, you may also listen to the service in the Commons, where you’ll find restrooms and a Nursery Nook for quiet play. There is a Nursery Nook in the Commons for children to use with adult supervision at any time. Busy Bags have quiet activities for children. Ask one of the ushers to help you find them.
Inclusion
Yes! We invite individuals and families to attend as you are. Feel free to let us know your name and pronouns so we can properly address you.
We work to celebrate diverse cultural and racial backgrounds. Our members include people of European descent, as well as people who are South Asian, Central American, West African and others. We are historically a Norwegian immigrant church and still have some traditions of that heritage (organ-led worship, and annual lutefisk dinner, for example).
You are welcome, and we encourage you to attend services and join in as you are comfortable. You are also welcome to join us for any of our community events to get to know us better.
Yes! About 20% of the people who attend our meal are from the wider community.
You are not alone! Our pastors and staff are open to all questions to help you be more comfortable at church. Our bulletins are “narrated” with helpful background about various parts of the service. You will likely recognize some aspects of your childhood church, and discover that other things have changed.