Holy Baptism

We believe all people are beloved children of God; baptism makes us members of the body of Christ; that is, Christians. We baptize people of any age including infants.  We baptize infants because they model what is true:  there is nothing we can or need to do to earn the love of God – God’s love is freely poured out on us.  There’s a wideness to God’s mercy that bathes us in grace from the start.

Baptism is one of two Lutheran sacraments (the other is Holy Communion).  God takes the ordinary stuff of life and hooks it up in baptism with Christ’s promises of forgiveness and life both now and forever.  We cannot be separated from the love of God.  In these waters we are gathered into Christ’s community and given the power of the Spirit to live like it.

Scheduling a baptism at First Lutheran
Since baptism is about becoming part of Christian community, we baptize when we are gathered together as community.  The community along with the family’s chosen sponsors promise to pray for and support the one being baptized in a life of faith.  The family meets with the pastor and sometimes, other families to prepare for the baptism.

Weddings

Congratulations!
We are a community that celebrates the beauty of God’s world together in multi-generational community. We believe marriage is rooted in the steadfast love of God and supported through a loving community.  First Lutheran supports couples who choose to be married here with premarital counseling, worship planning, and community prayer. The pastors, organist, wedding coordinator and other members of the First Lutheran community will assist you in the preparation of your wedding service.

A wedding at First Lutheran is a worship service with its primary focus on God. We follow a liturgy in which music and Scripture readings lend focus to the public vows you will make, trusting that God and those gathered will bless and support you as you work to fulfill your vows.

For more information, click here for the wedding handbook. We look forward to connecting with you in person!

Funerals

“Now you let your servant go in peace….”

People of God know we are created in the image of God and born in physical bodies that will one day die. While we mourn the loss of those whom we love, we also trust that death is a normal part of creation, and that no matter when it comes, our death ushers us into eternal union with God.

Whenever possible, it is beneficial for each person to plan his or her own funeral service. The church has materials available to help you indicate your plans or consider ways you’d like to be remembered. This can be done at any age, whether or not you are sick or expecting to die soon. The church office can keep your plans on file, and you can edit or update them at any time. You can email the church office or for the End of Life Planning.

If a loved one is dying, we encourage you to let the church know so we can provide pastoral care for both the one who is dying and for their loved ones. Call the church office, 218-728-3668, at the time of death, too.  Our pastor or pastoral associate  will contact you to begin to make arrangements.

Whether or not you require our help in planning a funeral service, we encourage you to let us know so that we can support and pray for you when you are grieving.  For more information, click here for the funeral planning guide.

“Here on earth we have no abiding city but we seek one that is to come.”