welcome to gloria dei lUTHERAN CHURCH!
Rooted in grace. Gathered in love. Growing in faith.
We’re a church grounded in the ancient traditions of the Christian faith, open to the fresh movement of the Spirit. Gloria Dei Lutheran Church is a congregation of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) and part of the New England Synod. We are theologically progressive and liturgically traditional—which means we celebrate the mystery and beauty of historic Christian worship while living out God’s radical welcome and justice in today’s world.
Every Sunday, we gather for worship centered in Word and Sacrament, where Holy Communion is open to all. Yes—everyone. No matter who you are, where you come from, how you vote, who you love, or what you’re wearing—you are welcome here.
So… what’s a lutheran??
We get this a lot. Here’s the short version:
In 1517, a bold monk and theologian named Martin Luther posted 95 ideas (the “95 Theses”) on a church door in Germany. He was calling out a system that tried to sell God’s grace and forgiveness for money. He reminded the Church that grace is a gift, not a transaction, helping to spark the Reformation, a movement to return to the heart of the gospel: Jesus, love, mercy, justice, and community.
Today, Lutherans are still reforming. Still returning to Jesus. Still speaking up when we get it wrong. Still centered in grace.
WHAT DO LUTHERANS BELIEVE?
We couldn’t say it better than the ELCA does:
“We believe that all people are imperfect and are saved (made right with God) by God’s grace and God’s grace alone, through Christ. There is no special prayer you need to pray, no special state of mind you need to achieve and no good deed you need to perform.
We believe that through the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, God became one of us and took upon himself the sin and suffering of all the world.
We believe that we receive the gift of grace by faith alone on account of Christ.
We live in the tension of still being sinful but trusting that we are forgiven and that God is at work in us.
The gift of grace expresses God’s unconditional love, and in response to that love we are set free to live gratefully and lovingly.”
At Gloria Dei, that belief isn’t just printed in our bulletins—it shapes everything we do.
ALL are welcome here
We’re called by Jesus to love God and love our neighbor. We are committed to living that calling in every aspect of our lives. No matter who you are, what you look like, sound like, act like, what you believe or don’t believe, you will be treated with warmth, love, and respect with the people of Gloria Dei. That commitment extends into our daily lives. You are our neighbor, and we are so grateful for you. Welcome to Gloria Dei!
Our Mission
Nourished by our worship together and in response to God’s love, Word, and grace through Jesus Christ and empowered by the Holy Spirit, we the members of Gloria Dei Lutheran Church are working together to share God’s salvation with all.