At Christ the King, our mission is “to love and serve God by proclaiming Christ’s Gospel, strengthening worship, deepening discipleship, and serving our congregation, community and world.”
Rooted in Grace. Equipping for Action.
The first half of this description harkens back to Martin Luther’s revolutionary assertion that God freely gives us grace, and there is nothing we need to do (or can do) to earn it. Faith is all we need in order to be accepted into God’s family.
The second half reflects that God’s love drives us to be servants, to reach out to others, and to make a difference in our world.
(For more information, read “What Do Lutherans Believe?” at the website of our parent organization, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.)
The Gospel
Here’s a bare-bones summary:
“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”
John 3:16
“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”
John 3:16
(Lutherans don’t usually like quoting a verse, or even a chapter, of the Bible without putting it in context, but John 3:16 is an exception. The entire New Testament expands on this sentence.)
Here’s a more complete explanation from the Glossary page of the ELCA website:
“Gospel, which is a translation of the Greek word for “good news,” tells us of God who created and sustains everything; of Jesus Christ who lived, died and was raised from death to give us life and salvation; and of the Holy Spirit who gives us faith and makes us holy. The four gospels are books in the New Testament that document the life and teachings of Jesus Christ. You can learn more about the gospel by visiting the Bible.”
“They let anyone go to that church!”
What was once said as an insult gladdens our hearts at CtK, because we want everybody to know that they are wanted here. This is a place where all visitors are welcome, and quirkiness is appreciated.
Christ the King Lutheran Church is also known in the area as the place where local non-profit organizations hold their meetings. There is something going on here every day of the week, from regular worship services, to Al-Anon groups, to meetings of Durango’s ham radio club.
CtK’s PRAISE Acronym
Lutherans believe that the ultimate purpose of everything in our lives is to help us know and love Christ. Thus, church membership is not an end in itself, but an important way that we can grow closer to God. Service to each other is Christ-like, and our commitment to reach out beyond our church is obedience to Christ’s great commission to “go and make disciples of all nations.”
This means it is important that we attend worship services, and that we are active in other ways as well. The PRAISE acronym is a handy summary of the ways each of us can participate in Christ’s mission:
• Pray daily
• Read the Bible
• Attend weekly worship
• Invest time, talents, and resources
• Serve at Christ the King and beyond
• Encourage others in this journey
We challenge all members of Christ’s Church to go out on a limb, take a chance, and PRAISE God!
