History: looking toward the future
Who Is Our Saviors Lutheran Church?
In 1947, 21 people gathered in the Pine Room of the Silver Latch Café for the first worship service of Our Saviors Lutheran Church. Today 350 weekly worshipers in three weekly worship services and over 100 Sunday school students gather in a 30,000 sq. ft. modern building. Five weekly Bible studies, seven active boards, a lively church council and a staff of seven keep the congregation active and focused on God’s mission for the community.
The first mission for Our Savior's was to provide worship for folks of Scandinavian descent who desired to be Lutheran. Because New Ulm was settled by German immigrants who worshiped in German, people of Scandinavian ancestry longed for a church where they could feel more at home (source: 50th Anniversary Booklet).
Over its first 50 years, Our Savior's grew dramatically. Its mission in these years included providing excellent, creative worship with strong music, a high value for the education of children, youth and adults, a focus on global mission work and warm fellowship events featuring coffee and Scandinavian foods. By 1997 “Filled by Grace…Poured in Service” was the overall theme for Our Saviors. When the 21st century was in full swing, the mission theme became “An Open Community of Believers, Called by God in Jesus Christ.”
Mission and Values Today
There can be no doubt; Our Saviors Lutheran Church has grown and changed over the past 65 years. Healthy congregations periodically review their direction for mission and make adjustments to better follow Jesus in the current times. In 2011 a Congregation Self Study for Our Savior's was conducted to review the current strengths, values and community needs. The result was a new statement of mission, affirming where Our Saviors has followed God’s call in the past, and seeks to follow in the future.
Our Saviors is a welcoming community, experiencing God, reaching out and raising up followers of Jesus Christ.
As good Lutherans, we ask WHAT DOES THIS MEAN?
Welcoming Community means that as a congregation we show radical hospitality, actively invite others into the community and share our faith with them. In the Gospel of John, chapter four, Jesus offers living water to a Samaritan woman promising her she will never be thirsty. This is the inspiration for how we welcome others to the Our Savior’s community.
Experiencing God means we worship God through music, word, sharing the sacraments and prayer. As a congregation we provide these opportunities and encourage participation. Early Christians gathered to share life, food and worship together, as written in Acts Chapter Two. Their lives are a model for how we experience God.
Reaching Out means we go into the world to share our talents and resources. We serve others and are generous givers. As a congregation, we seek God’s direction and provide opportunities for serving and giving to a world in need: globally, regionally, locally and personally. We follow the example of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10) to reach out to our neighbors.
Raising Up means we encourage everyone to grow closer to God and in their spiritual journey. As a congregation we provide faith formation opportunities (learning, serving, spiritual disciplines) for all ages (infant to elderly) to equip followers of Jesus Christ. God is our “vinegrower," Jesus is the “true vine” and we are raised up to bear God’s fruit to the world (John 15).
In 1947, 21 people gathered in the Pine Room of the Silver Latch Café for the first worship service of Our Saviors Lutheran Church. Today 350 weekly worshipers in three weekly worship services and over 100 Sunday school students gather in a 30,000 sq. ft. modern building. Five weekly Bible studies, seven active boards, a lively church council and a staff of seven keep the congregation active and focused on God’s mission for the community.
The first mission for Our Savior's was to provide worship for folks of Scandinavian descent who desired to be Lutheran. Because New Ulm was settled by German immigrants who worshiped in German, people of Scandinavian ancestry longed for a church where they could feel more at home (source: 50th Anniversary Booklet).
Over its first 50 years, Our Savior's grew dramatically. Its mission in these years included providing excellent, creative worship with strong music, a high value for the education of children, youth and adults, a focus on global mission work and warm fellowship events featuring coffee and Scandinavian foods. By 1997 “Filled by Grace…Poured in Service” was the overall theme for Our Saviors. When the 21st century was in full swing, the mission theme became “An Open Community of Believers, Called by God in Jesus Christ.”
Mission and Values Today
There can be no doubt; Our Saviors Lutheran Church has grown and changed over the past 65 years. Healthy congregations periodically review their direction for mission and make adjustments to better follow Jesus in the current times. In 2011 a Congregation Self Study for Our Savior's was conducted to review the current strengths, values and community needs. The result was a new statement of mission, affirming where Our Saviors has followed God’s call in the past, and seeks to follow in the future.
Our Saviors is a welcoming community, experiencing God, reaching out and raising up followers of Jesus Christ.
As good Lutherans, we ask WHAT DOES THIS MEAN?
Welcoming Community means that as a congregation we show radical hospitality, actively invite others into the community and share our faith with them. In the Gospel of John, chapter four, Jesus offers living water to a Samaritan woman promising her she will never be thirsty. This is the inspiration for how we welcome others to the Our Savior’s community.
Experiencing God means we worship God through music, word, sharing the sacraments and prayer. As a congregation we provide these opportunities and encourage participation. Early Christians gathered to share life, food and worship together, as written in Acts Chapter Two. Their lives are a model for how we experience God.
Reaching Out means we go into the world to share our talents and resources. We serve others and are generous givers. As a congregation, we seek God’s direction and provide opportunities for serving and giving to a world in need: globally, regionally, locally and personally. We follow the example of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10) to reach out to our neighbors.
Raising Up means we encourage everyone to grow closer to God and in their spiritual journey. As a congregation we provide faith formation opportunities (learning, serving, spiritual disciplines) for all ages (infant to elderly) to equip followers of Jesus Christ. God is our “vinegrower," Jesus is the “true vine” and we are raised up to bear God’s fruit to the world (John 15).