Mt Calvary Lutheran Church

Phoenix, Arizona

Community Page

A little about what Lutherans believe...with thanks to Fr. Larry Peters, Grace Lutheran Church, Clarksville, TN

Lutheran Christians look like people everywhere -- they are found throughout the world!  They represent the world's third largest block of Christians and are the oldest Protestants.  There are nearly 70 million Lutherans living on every continent, speaking hundreds of languages.  In the USA alone there are more than 12 million who identify themselves as Lutheran Christians.

Lutherans believe in Jesus Christ, the only Son of God, and perfect man, who died for all and rose to grant all who believe in Him eternal life.  Lutherans joyfully celebrate the gifts of forgiveness, peace, hope, and eternal life won by Jesus on the cross and freely given to all who believe in Him.
     

Lutheran Christians hold the faith of the Bible and of the Apostles.  We believe: We believe in ONE God who has revealed Himself in THREE persons:  The Father who created and sustains all things; the Son, Jesus Christ, who came in human flesh and blood to suffer, die, and rise from the dead for our salvation; and the Holy Spirit who teaches us faith, leads and guides the Church and works out God's saving will in the world. We believe that the BIBLE is God's inspired Word spoken through human writers to teach us of Jesus Christ.  We believe that the Bible is without error and speaks truthfully in all matters. We believe that sin is both a condition that has affected the whole of creation and all people as well as the wrongful thoughts, words, and deeds of individual people.  We believe that sin is the cause of death and all the bad things in this world -- including the bad things people do to each other. We believe that there is an existence after death -- either in heaven or in hell forever.  We believe that God wishes to condemn no one to eternal suffering but desires that all people would know the saving Truth of Jesus Christ. We believe that Jesus Christ is God's Son come in human flesh and blood, to fulfill the promise given of old and deliver us and all believers to eternal life through His cross and resurrection. We believe that the Church is the community of God's baptized and believing people, called by the Gospel, gathered by His Spirit, around the Word of God, Baptism, Absolution, and the Holy Communion.  We believe that the Church exists to worship Him with grateful praise for what He has done for us and to call the whole world to know the good news of what He has done to make His own in Jesus Christ.

Lutheran Christians got their name from Father Martin Luther, a German priest of the Augustinian Order, and a Doctor of Theology in the Roman Catholic Church, who issued a call of renewal to the Church of His day.  When that call was rejected, the Protestant Reformation was born.  Those who sided with Luther were called Lutherans and the name stuck.  We do not worship Luther nor do we hold Luther's writings above or even equal to the Bible.  We believe that the Reformation was a tragic necessity through which the Church rediscovered the primacy of the Bible, the truth of God's love, forgiveness, and gift of eternal life in Jesus Christ, and that salvation is by God's gift (not something we earn or merit).
     

Lutherans are conservative Christians.  We look very much like the Roman Catholic Church because of the common heritage we share.  Lutherans only changed those things which conflicted with the Bible and the clear teaching of the Gospel (God's free gift of forgiveness and salvation in Christ).  Lutherans baptize infants as the Church has in unbroken succession from the time of Christ Himself.  Lutheran worship rests upon the twin pillars of the Word and Table of the Lord (Holy Communion).  Lutheran pastors are theologically trained, called, and set apart for the ministry of the Church through ordination.  
     

There are several Lutheran bodies in America.  Though some of the division is due to ethnic backgrounds dating back to the earliest history of the United States, some of that division is also due to the different ways Lutherans adapted to the culture and social changes in America.  Other more significant differences are due to different conclusions about what the Bible teaches about such issues as gay/lesbian sexuality, how much agreement is required before church bodies can declare unity, the role of modern, critical methods of Bible interpretation, among others.

Mt. Calvary Lutheran Church is part of the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod (LC-MS).  Founded in 1847 by immigrant Germans, the LC-MS counts 2.46 million members and is considered one of the more conservative Lutheran bodies in the USA.  Some of the marks of the LC-MS include a commitment to parochial education, outreach, the use of media, and a congregationally based structure.  Well over 2,000 preschools, elementary schools, and high schools are owned and operated by LC-MS congregations (second only to the Roman Catholic school system).  Some 10 colleges and 2 seminaries emphasize church worker training programs.  Hundreds of mission fields here and throughout the world testify to the mission commitment of Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod people.
    

 LC-MS media ministries like The Lutheran Hour, Lutheran Television, and   radio stations and networks demonstrate a historic and dynamic use of media to proclaim Jesus Christ.  Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod congregations are free to structure themselves and determine their own scope of ministry but they are bound together by a common confession of faith and work together through the national body to do mission work, train church workers, and publish materials for the Church.

 

Some recent events in pictures....

October was Pastor Appreciation Month ....and this Pastor sure is appreciated!

 

On Thursday, 11 June 2009, the adoption of Chloe Zophia Cotterman was final! The Cottermans and the Pastor and Carol Poedel (Chloe's Godparents and, of course her Pastor) were in Courtroom #1 of Juvenile Court in Mesa, Arizona when the petition was read by the County Attorney and granted by the judge. The courtroom was filled with joy. A prayer of thanksgiving was offered outside the courtroom after the brief hearing was over, and the Cotterman family left with their forever legal daughter, and sister! Praise be to God who gives us new life in Jesus Christ!

 

Easter Sunday 2009 pictures:

 

Sunday March 29, 2009 we had a congregational pot-luck dinner after Divine Service. Overflow went into the offices and outside into the courtyard....lots of great food, even better company. A couple of snapshots of the time together:

 

On March 15, 2009 24 members and guests of Mt Calvary attended the Broadway Palms Dinner Theater production of "Singing in the Rain". A wonderful time was had by all!

 

On March 8th, Amanda Cotterman celebrated her First Holy Communion after a period of home study and examination by Pastor Poedel. We are thankful that God has given Amanda a desire to receive His precious Body and Blood in the Holy Eucharist.

 

On February 22, 2009 Pauline Szymanski, Adam Nodwell and Scott Nodwell, Jr. were welcomed to the Christian Church through the Sacrament of Baptism. We pray that God will protect and defend these new members of His Church and that we would be enabled to do our part.

 

The Baptism of Janette Leon, niece of John and Francisca Shaw

The Baptism of Chloe Cotterman on November 30, 2008.

The Blessing with parents: Dan & Kim, Godparents: Pastor Dave & Carol Poedel, brothers Daniel & Brendan, and sister Amanda, also surrounded by the children of the congregation.

 

(above) Baptism of Rowan Christensen, son of Kelsey and Dustin, surrounded by the children of Mt Calvary

 

 

Welcome to the Body of Christ to Cassie Ortner, new wife of Ernie Ortner!

Pictured at Cassie's Baptism (left to right): Deacon Broecker, Pastor Poedel, Cassie, her parents and Ernie

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