First Lutheran Family of Faith,

On May 21, 2023, immediately following First Lutheran’s 9am combined worship service, we will call to order a congregational meeting so that we may consider and endorse a welcome statement as recommended by your elected Vision & Leadership Team. 

All voting members are strongly encouraged to review the statement printed below as soon as possible so that questions and concerns may be addressed before the meeting. Your pastors and elected leadership have unanimously recommended the welcome statement for your consideration and are open to whatever conversation you would like to have. Please use the days before May 21 to bring questions so that they may be faithfully answered in full. You may also find posts on YouTube and our Facebook page that address ten questions that were raised at the Faith Alive! U in January, such as, “What will becoming a ‘Reconciling in Christ’ congregation mean to me?” 

As always, congregational meetings require your in-person attendance. In our constitution, C10.05 says, “Voting by proxy or by absentee ballot shall not be permitted.” If you are unable to attend, and would like to have a conversation regarding the welcome statement, please contact one of your pastors or a member of the Vision & Leadership Team. 

My May newsletter provides more detail about the process that has led to this meeting, and the importance of this statement for both our present and our future. If you didn’t have the opportunity to read it yet, you can read it here.

I hope to see you for a special worship service and an important moment in the life of our Family of Faith at 9am on May 21. 

In Christ,

Pastor Jason Stanton 

FIRST LUTHERAN CHURCH WELCOME STATEMENT

We Welcome All. God DELIGHTS in the beautiful diversity of humankind and UNITES us through the love, grace, and forgiveness of Jesus. We CELEBRATE God’s creation in all its forms and the inherent worth, dignity and giftedness of people of all abilities, ages, cultures, classes, races, sexual orientations, gender identities and expressions.

We Build Community. The Holy Spirit EMPOWERS us to be a community of disciples COMMITTED to individual and communal practices of listening, learning, forgiveness, and reconciliation. Together, we work for the restoration of relationships, pursue racial equity, and affirm those who have known the pain of exclusion and discrimination. 

We Serve our Neighbor. Jesus GUIDES us in ways of nonviolence, healing, and peacemaking. We PROCLAIM God’s relentless, widening welcome and deepening love for all. We INVITE you to join us as we walk with Jesus toward greater love, understanding, and mutual respect. 

ALL are welcome here. ALL are loved here.