The meaning of the word "Epiphany" comes from the Greek epiphaneia and means, "to manifest," or "to reveal."
On January 6th the Christian Church Celebrates the Festival of Epiphany in commemoration of God's revelation to the Magi, by the Epiphany Star, that Jesus was the Son of God who had come into flesh. The Epiphany Star reminds us that Jesus Christ is the epiphany (revelation, manifestation, display) of God for a fallen world. Jesus Christ revealed the love of God for sinful humanity through his incarnation, life, death, resurrection, and ascension into Heaven. He conquered sin, death, and hell and provided salvation for all who believe (John 3:16). It is our prayer that we daily show forth this glorious Gospel of Jesus Christ in our lives and worship.
What We Believe
With the universal Christian Church, The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod teaches and responds to the love of the Triune God: the Father, creator of all that exists; Jesus Christ, the Son, who became human to suffer and die for the sins of all human beings and to rise to life again in the ultimate victory over death and Satan; and the Holy Spirit, who creates faith through God's Word and Sacraments. The three persons of the Trinity are coequal and coeternal, one God.
Being "Lutheran," our congregations accept and teach Bible-based teachings of Martin Luther that inspired the reformation of the Christian Church in the 16th century. The teaching of Luther and the reformers can be summarized in three short phrases: Grace alone, Faith alone, Scripture alone.
Grace alone
God loves the people of the world, even though they are sinful, rebel against Him and do not deserve His love. He sent Jesus, His Son, to love the unlovable and save the ungodly.
Faith alone
By His suffering and death as the substitute for all people of all time, Jesus purchased and won forgiveness and eternal life for them. Those who hear this Good News and believe it have the eternal life that it offers. God creates faith in Christ and gives people forgiveness through Him.
Scripture alone
The Bible is God's inerrant and infallible Word, in which He reveals His Law and His Gospel of salvation in Jesus Christ. It is the sole rule and norm for Christian doctrine.
LCMS
The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod (LCMS) accepts the Scriptures as the inspired and inerrant Word of God, and subscribes unconditionally to all the symbolical books of the Evangelical Lutheran Church as a true and unadulterated statement and exposition of the Word of God. We accept the Augsburg Confessions because it is drawn from the Word of God and on that account regards its doctrinal content as a true and binding exposition of Holy Scripture and as authoritative for all pastors, congregations and other rostered church workers of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod. For further clarification on our beliefs, please visit the LCMS website which answers Frequently Asked Questions. http://www.lcms.org/
