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Spruce Run is Lutheran, Creedal and Sacramental, Congregational and part of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA)
We are Lutheran:
Lutherans are Christians shaped by the teachings of Martin Luther (1483 – 1546). Luther was a German theologian-priest who realized that there were significant differences between what he read in the Bible and the practices of the Roman Catholic Church at that time. What started as an academic debate escalated into a distinct series of reforms and eventually a separation between the Roman Catholic Church of the time and those Christians who accepted Luther’s suggested reforms.
There is a lot that can be said about the Lutheran way of being Christian, much of it found in The Book of Concord, but at base, we all share a few central convictions:
-We are saved by God’s grace through faith, which frees us to do good for our neighbors.
-The Bible is God’s inspired word that allows us to see ourselves and our society, warts and all and reminds us of God’s ongoing love.
-We are captivated by the cross of Christ; it keeps us from hyper-religiosity or seeking after power because we will always find God in the last place we would think to look.
-Lutheran worship varies from place to place, but our commitment to the Gospel of Jesus Christ does not.
We are Creedal:
We are held together by the historical creeds of the church—the Apostle’s Creed, the Nicene Creed, and the Athanasian Creed.
The Apostle’s Creed describes the faith most simply, so it is the one we use in the rite of Baptism and Affirmation/Confirmation of Baptism. It is also the creed we use most frequently in worship.
The Nicene Creed is the most widely accepted creed in the Christian faith, and it is an essential part of the doctrine and liturgy of Lutheran churches. Historically it has been used at Holy Communion on Sundays and major feasts.
The Athanasian Creed is considered the "Trinitarian Creed." Due to its length, we only recite portions of it aloud and only on Trinity Sunday, the Sunday after Pentecost.
We are Sacramental:
A Sacrament is a “physical sign of an unseen promise.” It, “conveys God’s forgiveness, life and salvation through word and physical means.” This physical aspect of a sacrament is so very important! There are enough physical instances of cruelty and indifference in this world that there is no doubt that they exist. We need physical signs of God’s grace as well. For us, there are two sacraments: Baptism and Holy Communion.
Baptism is the entry rite into Christian faith. It is an act instituted by God, performed using water in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, whereby the baptized is united with Christ.
In Holy Communion, we recall the saving acts of God through Word, bread, and wine and are connected with Christ and with Christians of all times and places. In this sacrament we are fed with the Body and Blood of Christ. The ELCA practices “Open Communion,” that is, all are welcome at the table, because it’s not Spruce Run’s table, it’s not the Lutheran table, it’s the Lord’s table!
We are Congregational:
Spruce Run in a congregation with deep roots. Since folk started reading a bible in a barn together some 250 years ago, through multiple church buildings we’ve worshiped in, to our present place of ministry, we’ve been part of the DNA of North Hunterdon County. We’re your local church, we’re your neighbors. We welcome you to share in our journey to fulfill God’s purpose in our community and world!
We are a part of the ELCA:
Spruce Run is a congregation that is part of the New Jersey Synod, which is the regional expression of The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) is one of the largest Christian denominations in the United States, with nearly 3.3 million members in more than 8,900 worshiping communities across the 50 states and in the Caribbean region.
The ELCA is deeply committed to Ecumenical Dialogue, Health and Human Services, Learning and Education, and engagement with the world around us.
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