Welcome

We're a neighborhood Christian church for all people, and you are welcome here

Our beliefs

If you have any questions or comments we encourage you to contact us. We'd love to have a conversation with you.

Welcoming Statement

As a community of faith, the members of Clairemont Lutheran Church / Iglesia Luterana Clairemont are called to include all people seeking a relationship with Jesus, regardless of age, economic status, ethnic background, physical or mental ability, sexual orientation, immigration status or marital status. We gather as one congregation, worshiping in two languages, celebrating many cultures. We affirm that in Christ “There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female.” (Galatians 3:28)

I'm new and have questions

So you're a Lutheran church. What is Lutheran?

Lutheranism is a movement in Christianity spanning more than 500 years. You could describe us as being both catholic and evangelical in the traditional meaning of the terms.

We are a part of the greater universal Christian church whose ancestors in the faith were given the nick-name "Lutherans" because they followed the examples of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther, a German professor and priest whose theological differences with the Roman Catholic Church were instrumental in the Reformation Movement of the 16th century. Luther's work would inspire other church leaders and many other movements in Christianity for years to come.

Chief among Luther's reforms to the church were the composing of congregational worship music, translating the bible into the language of the people, and teaching salvation is by the grace of God.

Check out the Our Beliefs section to find out more.

Are you holding worship in-person or online?

Yes to both!

We are worshipping in-person again in English on Sundays at 9:30 a.m. and in Spanish at 11:30 a.m. Head over to our Worship page to find out more.

You can also join us online. We broadcast the worship in its entirety on our YouTube channel. The videos are available for viewing later in the day as well. We encourage you to subscribe to our YouTube channel. Links to the videos and the worship bulletin can be found on our Worship page.

Do I have to be a member to take communion?

At Clairemont Lutheran Church / Iglesia Luterana Clairemont we observe an open table. We invite all persons to the altar, regardless of church membership. All we ask is you believe and trust in Jesus Christ.

We affirm the real presence of Jesus Christ in the bread and cup of communion. You can read more about communion in the Our Beliefs section below.

Our Beliefs

Below is a brief explanation of some of our core beliefs. Feel free to contact us if you have any questions or want to know more.

Jesus and Salvation

Jesus Christ, the Son of the living God, is the way, the truth and the life, the savior of the world. Salvation is not by our own works, but by the grace of God. This promise of salvation is freely given to all who believe.

The Bible and the Foundations of our Faith

We believe the assembled books of the "old" and "new" testaments are the inspired word of God, and that Jesus Christ is the word of God made flesh. Our focus is always on the Gospel: the words of Jesus in the books of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John.

The components of our faith are also expressed in the Lutheran Confessions and the ancient creeds of the Christian church such as the Apostle's Creed.

The Trinity and the Eternal Kingdom

We believe in the trinity: God is the Father (creator), Son (redeemer) and the Holy Spirit (sanctifier), equal in glory and majesty, altogether one God who lives and reigns forever and ever.

The Sacraments

We observe two Sacraments as instructed by Jesus, whereby forgiveness of sins is received and Christian community is forged.

Baptism

The first sacrament is Holy Baptism, which is an outward sign of an inward grace. We come to baptism to accept God's promises for our lives, and in doing so, become members of Christ's holy church. Because we believe God is at work in this sacrament, rather than human will, we baptize persons of all ages and abilities.

Communion (Eucharist)

The second sacrament is Holy Communion, often called "The Lord's Supper," where we recall the acts of Jesus in the upper room during the Jewish Passover celebration. We observe this sacrament every Sunday and invite all persons, regardless of church membership, to participate. Along with wine, we also offer grape juice for those who prefer. Gluten free bread is also available.

We believe Jesus Christ is truly present in both the bread and the cup, and when we partake of this meal, we receive the real presence of Christ.

Leadership in Ministry

We believe in the priesthood of all believers, that all are capable of sharing the good news of Jesus Christ. We also believe both men and women are called to leadership in the church and no role - including the role of pastor - is exclusive to a specific gender.

Church Affiliations

Clairemont Lutheran Church / Iglesia Luterana Clairemont is a member congregation of the Pacifica Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA). As such, members of our congregation are often involved in local, regional and national ministries.

Through the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), we are in fellowship with:

The Episcopal Church
The United Methodist Church
Presbyterian Church (USA)
United Church of Christ
Reformed Church in America
The Moravian Church

We are also united with other national church bodies around the globe through the Lutheran World Federation.

Locally, our congregation seeks ways to be united in mission for the community and the region with other Christian congregations of various backgrounds.