Our Beliefs

• God has created us and this creation and has called it good.
• God blesses what God creates.
• Science explains many of the “whats” and “hows” of creation, but God reveals to us the “why”.

• Jesus is God in human form, who came into this world to teach us the way, the truth and the life, save us from sin, die for us and rise again showing us the true power of God.
• Jesus is the source of our strength and hope. Learning from Jesus we find ways to live our lives with purpose.
• Jesus told us that the two most important commands are to love God and to love others.

• The Holy Spirit is in us, given to us in our baptism.
• The Holy Spirit is defined as a counselor, helper, advocate and guide.
• We believe the Holy Spirit calls us to a purpose, gathers us into community, and sends us out in service to the world.

• Jesus died for us. This is a gift of God’s love for us that is undeserved and overflowing.
• God’s grace is not earned or merited, but free to all of us.
• How we live our lives is a response to God’s grace already given.

• Jesus rose on the first Easter. We shall rise and live again. This is the source of our hope for all eternity.

• The Bible was inspired by God’s Spirit.
• It reveals God’s will and purpose for our lives and for all creation.

• These two sacraments were commanded by Jesus.
• These two sacraments are 2 very real ways (Water, bread and wine) in which we experience the real presence and grace of God.
• At Southwood, we baptize infants, as we believe that Baptism is God’s gift to us and we don’t have to do anything to deserve it.
• At Southwood, all baptized are welcome at the table to receive the wine and bread. In Holy Communion we believe we experience the real presence of Christ as well as the forgiveness of our sins.

• Living a life of faith is filled with a grateful heart for what God has already done for us.
• Our response to God’s grace is our form of worship.

• Southwood welcomes all people no matter their color, religious past, sexuality, gender identity, country of origin, or whether a person is identified as a “Lutheran” or not.
• Join our community to find a sense of belonging, healing, and wholeness.

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