Mission Statement & Core Values

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learn more about

who we are &

what we strive to be.

Mission Statement

Expanding God’s Table for All in Spirit, Song, and Service.

About our Mission Statement 

A Mission Statement shares the story of what we do. Our Crossing Thresholds Team worked prayerfully and intentionally, using feedback from the Crossing Threshold Congregational Event, personal experience, and lived character of our congregation. The Team wanted a phrase that was short, memorable, and descriptive of who we are and what we’re becoming. 

Somewhat surprisingly, the Team quickly reached a strong consensus. Though naming a mission can be challenging, it felt as if the Holy Spirit was present in the process, guiding us toward language that captured both our identity and our aspirations. 

As we reflected further on our mission statement, we discovered that this 10-word phrase holds a great deal of meaning. It carries both a vertical dimension (our relationship with God) and a horizontal dimension (our relationship with each other and the world). 

Unpack Our Mission Statement

  • “Expanding” means more than just numerical growth. It suggests movement, openness, and intentionality. We are making room for more - for new people, new ministries, new ways of being church. We will work to include you. This word is also a gentle nod to our building renovations. Just as we welcome more people, we are physically creating more space. We are not simply holding on to what has been; we are actively moving head. 

  • This is sacramental language, rooted in the central act of our worship: Holy Communion. The table is a place of welcome, forgiveness, nourishment, and sending. It is clear that this is not our table, but God’s. That distinction grounds us in grace. God is the host, and we are the guests who are called to extend the invitation to others. At the table, we are reminded that our mission flows not from our efforts, but from God’s generosity, and we partner with God in living our worship and welcome. 

  • Everyone, everybody, no matter who you are. Since we are called to reflect God’s hospitality, our life together must mirror this open table. We do our best to live into that type of welcome. 

  • This is reference to the Holy Spirit, who is present with our community, and who calls, gathers, enlightens, and sanctifies us. The Spirit empowers our mission and binds us together as the Body of Christ. But “Spirit” also captures the energy and heart of our congregation as we worship and serve. It’s the intangible feeling of joy, welcome, and purpose people sense when they walk through our doors.

  • “Song” points to the centrality of worship in our life together. It points to the liturgy that shapes us and the praise we show as we lift our hearts to God. Music is one of the ways we proclaim the Gospel, and it is deeply communal. We sing together, worship together, and are shaped by sacred sounds. 

  • Service is how we put our faith into action. Rooted in Christ’s command to love our neighbor, we reach beyond our walls to meet real needs in our community. Through feeding the hungry, partnerships with local organizations, and showing up in significant ways, we strive to embody the love of God. Serving reminds us that we exist not only for those here, but for the sake of the world. 

Core Values

Saved by Grace

Authentic Worship

Inclusive Welcome

Faithful Fellowship

Engaging Service

About Our Core Values

Core values are the guiding principles that shape how we live out our mission. They name what matters most to us as a community of faith—what we strive to embody in our worship, relationships, and service. Like our mission statement, these values emerged through prayer, discernment, and deep listening. Drawing on insights from our congregation and the Spirit-led work of the Crossing Thresholds Team, we found that the values closest to our heart came into focus more easily than we expected. It was as if we weren’t just deciding on them—we were naming what God had already planted in us. These core values reflect both who we are now and who we are becoming as we continue to expand God’s table.

Unpack Our Core Values

  • As Lutherans, we proclaim that we are saved by God’s grace alone—not by what we do, but by what God has done for us in Jesus Christ. This conviction is at the heart of our tradition and our life together. It shapes how we see ourselves and others: with humility, gratitude, and compassion. We are not trying to earn God’s love—we are responding to it, living as people who are already loved, already forgiven, already set free.

  • Our worship is liturgical, Spirit-filled, and grounded in Scripture—but above all, it’s real. We don’t perform or pretend. We bring our full selves before God in praise, song, prayer, and sacrament, worshiping with honesty, reverence, and joy.

  • We believe God’s table is for everyone. “Inclusive” means more than polite hospitality—it means intentionally embracing all people as beloved children of God, especially those who have been marginalized or overlooked.

  • We grow in Christ through genuine relationships. Whether we’re gathered around a table, in prayer, or in small groups, our community is built on trust, encouragement, and Christ-centered connection.

  • We believe faith is active. Called to love our neighbors, we serve with compassion, presence, and purpose. Following the example of Jesus, we seek to serve others so they may experience the love of Christ. This means more than sending money—it means showing up. Our service is hands-on, deliberate, and responsive to real needs. It’s how we live out God’s grace beyond our walls and embody the Gospel in meaningful, tangible ways.