Salem Lutheran Church and School

Come as you are! At Salem, you’ll find that people dress informally, “business casual,” or even in a suit, (for men) or a dress (for women). We believe that the Divine Service brings us into the presence of Jesus Christ Himself who comes down to meet us. He does not have a dress code for the people of God, but we certainly consider how we ought to dress as we approach the dwelling place of the Living God.

Absolutely. Matthew 19:14 commands us to help children receive the gospel message in church. Throughout the Divine Service, children are active hearers and participants. At Salem, we offer Sunday school following the service so that you can join us for fellowship and Bible Study.

If you’re visiting, be sure to ask the pastor before the service. At Salem, we confess the true, real presence of Christ in the mystical union of bread and His body alongside wine and His blood. In the Lord's Supper, all who partake eat and drink the body and blood of Jesus Christ. We also share in complete unity as Christ's body at His table, confessing our shared faith and doctrine by receiving together. We further believe that by receiving the body and blood of Jesus here at Salem, you submit yourself to the teachings of our church as taught in the Book of Concord, and you submit yourself to our pastor as the caretaker of your soul. In other words, the Holy Communion is a big deal. This meal is far more than symbolic or personal. It's the marriage feast of the Lamb and His Kingdom. It's the eternal banquet of salvation that binds us together with Christ and one another. We want everyone to join in this heavenly meal, and we encourage you to join an LCMS church or a church in altar and pulpit fellowship with the LCMS so that we can receive you here at our altar.

The best place to start is with the pastor. They can answer any questions you have about their church or the Lutheran tradition if you contact them by phone or email or talk to them after the service.

We print the daily readings in the bulletin, but bringing your own Bible to the Divine Service is encouraged. Pastor Schultz most often preaches from the Bible, and having your own copy may help you follow along. We also have Bible class and fellowship following our service each week where many of our members bring their own Bibles. If you do not yet own a Bible, please ask and we would be happy to give you one!

We suggest visiting Salem for a while to get a good feel for the congregation. Get to know us. Come to Bible study. Enjoy the fellowship of Christ among us. Then, when you’re ready, talk to our pastor to get started. Usually, he will meet with you (and your family, if applicable) to talk about our faith in Christ, teach you Luther's Small Catechism, and answer your questions. Then, once you are examined, you’ll be received into the church formally as a communicant member.

The church desires to baptize and teach all nations the Gospel of Jesus Christ (Matthew 28:19-20). Here at Salem, we seek to baptize all people of all ages so that they would join God's heavenly family here among us. Baptism joins us into Christ's death and resurrection and unites us with one another as members of Christ's body. Therefore, the sacrament of Holy Baptism is not a commodity or service we offer but a divine gift bestowed by the Holy Spirit through water and the Word. Those seeking to receive this gift for themselves or their children should first join our church family in the regular assembly of the Sunday Divine Service and plan to continue joining us well after being baptized. After all, Holy Baptism joins you into the life of Christ which we live together.