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St. Thomas was one of Jesus’ twelve apostles, often remembered for his initial doubt about Christ’s resurrection (John 20:24–29). However, upon seeing the risen Lord, he made a bold confession: “My Lord and my God!” His story reminds us of the certainty of Christ’s resurrection and the gift of faith given through God’s Word.

The word Evangelical comes from the Greek euangelion, meaning “good news” or “gospel.” In the Lutheran tradition, Evangelical means that the gospel of Jesus Christ is the heart and center of everything we teach and believe. It’s not merely a label—it’s a confession that salvation comes not by our works, but by God's grace through faith in Christ alone.

As the Smalcald Articles confess:

The first and chief article is this:
Jesus Christ, our God and Lord, died for our sins and was raised again for our justification (Romans 4:24–25). He alone is the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world (John 1:29), and God has laid upon Him the iniquities of us all (Isaiah 53:6). All have sinned and are justified freely, without their own works or merits, by His grace, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, in His blood (Romans 3:23–25). This is necessary to believe. This cannot be otherwise acquired or grasped by any work, law, or merit. Therefore, it is clear and certain that this faith alone justifies us. As St. Paul says: “For we hold that one is justified by faith apart from works of the law” (Romans 3:28). “That He might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus” (Romans 3:26). Nothing of this article can be yielded or surrendered, even though heaven and earth and everything else falls (Mark 13:31). “For there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved” (Acts 4:12). “And with His stripes we are healed” (Isaiah 53:5). Upon this article everything that we teach and practice depends, in opposition to the pope, the devil, and the whole world. Therefore, we must be certain and not doubt this doctrine. Otherwise, all is lost.

The name “Lutheran” was first used as a term of insult, suggesting that those who followed Martin Luther’s reforms were followers of a man rather than of Christ—just as some might still say, “Lutherans follow Luther, but I follow Jesus.” But Luther never wanted a church named after him. His goal was to call the Church back to Christ and to the clear teaching of Holy Scripture.

Lutherans are Christians who believe, teach, and confess the faith of the one, holy, catholic, and apostolic Church. We hold the Bible to be the inspired Word of God, without error, and the only infallible authority for faith and life. At the heart of our confession is the good news that we are saved by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone. As the Lutheran Confessions state:

“Our churches teach that people cannot be justified before God by their own strength, merits, or works. People are freely justified for Christ’s sake, through faith, when they believe that they are received into favor and that their sins are forgiven for Christ’s sake. By His death, Christ made satisfaction for our sins. God counts this faith for righteousness in His sight (Romans 3 and 4).“

UAC stands for Unaltered Augsburg Confession, the Christian confession presented by Lutheran reformers in 1530. It clearly states the faith of the Church according to Scripture and corrects errors that had crept in, particularly through medieval scholasticism—such as the false teaching that forgiveness of sins could be obtained through works like taking monastic vows. By using "UAC," we affirm our commitment to this confession in its original, unaltered form.

The liturgy is the structured order of worship used in the Christian Church, also known as the Divine Service. In a broad sense, all churches have a liturgy or structure to their worship service. However, when a church is described as "liturgical," it typically means that it follows historic Christian worship practices, such as the use of vestments, candles, and a set order of Scripture readings, prayers, and hymns. In the Christian Church, the liturgy is both God's service to us—where He gives His gifts through His Word and Sacraments—and our response of praise and thanksgiving to Him. For more information on the worship life at St. Thomas, click here!

The purpose of the liturgy is to deliver God’s gifts to His people. It leads worshipers through a journey centered on two high points: the proclamation of the Gospel in the sermon and the reception of Christ’s body and blood in the Lord’s Supper. Through the liturgy, God serves His people, and they, in turn, respond in faith and worship. For more information on the main worship service at St. Thomas, click here!

There is no dress code, but most people wear modest, neat attire. Some dress more formally, but you are welcome to come as you are.

The service will include prayers, Scripture readings, hymns, and a sermon. There will likely be responsive elements (you may be invited to read or respond aloud with the congregation). You can follow along with a service bulletin and hymnal provided. For in in-depth tutorial on the main hymnal we use, click here!

Communion is the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ since He said “This is My Body…this is My Blood.” We receive Christ’s Body and Blood in every Divine Service. We practice closed Communion—only LCMS Lutherans receive Communion at St. Thomas’ altar—because our pastor is accountable to God for the souls under his care (Hebrews 13:17) and we are accountable to each other at the Lord’s table (1 Corinthians 10:14-17). Guests and visitors who are not yet communicant members of an LCMS congregation are invited to come forward for a blessing instead of receiving Communion. If you are uncertain, it's okay to simply remain seated. If you want to know more about what we believe, click here!

The standing, sitting, and kneeling during the service are part of the liturgical tradition. Throughout the service printed in our hymnal there are instructions (called “rubrics”) stating when to sit, stand, or kneel. You may also feel free to follow along with what you see the congregation members doing, though you're welcome to remain seated or stand when comfortable.

A typical service at St. Thomas lasts about 60-75 minutes, but the exact length may vary depending on the specific elements of the service.

Confession and Absolution is a time where we acknowledge our sins before God, and the pastor pronounces God’s forgiveness (John 20:22-23). The words of Absolution are a return to the forgiveness of sins Christ won for us on the cross and delivered to us through Holy Baptism.

The hymnal and bulletin will guide you through the service, providing hymns, prayers, and Scripture readings. At St. Thomas, our bulletin is designed with an extension that sticks out past the hymnal cover, indicating whether the current part of the service is found in the hymnal or the bulletin. If you’re unsure where to look or need assistance, don’t hesitate to ask someone nearby who looks familiar with the service—they’ll be happy to help! For in in-depth tutorial on the main hymnal we use, click here!

Yes! During Divine Service, we encourage families to have their children, regardless of age, actively participate in the service by engaging in posture, singing, speaking, and showing reverence. In addition, during Family Catechesis, we offer Beginning Catechesis for children around 10 and under. After an opening prayer, the children break away for a time of learning, where they explore a major Bible story, practice key texts like the Ten Commandments and the Lord's Prayer, and engage in supervised play and socialization. They also have the opportunity to sing hymns together.

For adults, the pastor will meet with individuals or households to review the basics of the Christian faith as outlined in the Small Catechism. After this instruction, adults will receive individual Absolution and be welcomed as communicant members of St. Thomas through the rite of Confirmation. For youth, once they have learned the Ten Commandments, the Creed, the Lord’s Prayer, and Jesus' teachings on Baptism, Absolution, and the Lord’s Supper, the pastor will examine their faith and life. Following this, they will receive individual Absolution and become communicant members through the rite of First Communion, typically before Confirmation. Youth who have received First Communion prior to Confirmation will usually be confirmed in high school.