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ABOUT US
At St. John-San Juan Lutheran Church, we are a tapestry of cultures woven together by faith. Our mission is to be a beacon of God's love, offering a spiritual haven that speaks to both English and Spanish-speaking individuals as one family.
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Our church is a vibrant community that honors the rich heritage of each member, understanding that our diversity is our strength. By holding combined services in both languages, we reflect the inclusiveness of God’s love.
We don’t just welcome diversity — we celebrate it, we live it, we are it.
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Our doors are open to all who seek a place of warmth, compassion, and understanding. We believe that when we pray together and learn from one another, we grow stronger in our faith and as a community. This is a place where traditions merge, friendships form, and the teachings of Jesus Christ are lived out in every action and word.
Whether you're new to the area, new to faith, or looking for a new church home, you’ll find a family here at St. John-San Juan. We are not just a church; we are a community lifeline, supporting each other and reaching out to those in need.
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Join us for worship, fellowship, and service as we journey together in
faith, hope, and love.
Welcome to St. John-San Juan Lutheran Church —
where hearts in harmony share a single spirit.
Our Mission
St. John-San Juan Lutheran Church
Our mission is to embody the love of Christ by nurturing a bilingual community of faith that serves as a cross-cultural bridge, uniting people from different backgrounds in worship and service.
At St. John-San Juan Lutheran Church, we commit to:
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Celebrate Bilingual Worship: Conducting services in both English and Spanish, our church honors the linguistic heritage of our diverse congregation, ensuring that language is not a barrier to worship but a bridge to deeper understanding and fellowship.
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Foster Inclusive Community: We strive to create an environment where everyone, regardless of their cultural or linguistic background, feels welcomed, valued, and part of our church family.
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Promote Spiritual Growth: Through bilingual education and discipleship, we encourage personal and communal spiritual development, helping each member to grow in their faith and understanding of God’s word.
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Serve Compassionately: Guided by the teachings of Jesus, we reach out to the needs of our members and the wider community through acts of service, charity, and social justice.
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Build Bridges of Understanding: By celebrating our differences and learning from each other, we seek to promote peace, understanding, and reconciliation both within our church walls and in the broader world.
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We are more than just a congregation; we are a testament to God’s inclusive love, striving to live out the Gospel in ways that transcend language and culture. Our mission is to be a living sanctuary of hope and grace for all.
At St. John-San Juan Lutheran Church, our values are the cornerstone of our faith and community life. They guide our actions, our worship, and our interactions with each other and the world.
Our core values are:
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Inclusivity: We believe that God’s table is open to all. We value the presence and contributions of individuals from all walks of life, regardless of language, culture, race, ethnicity, or background.
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Faith in Action: We are committed to expressing our love for God through compassionate service, social justice, and caring for the least among us, as Jesus taught.
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Bilingual Unity: We value the power of language to unite us. Our commitment to bilingualism in worship and church life is an expression of our respect for the diverse ways in which our members connect with God and each other.
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Spiritual Growth: We encourage continual spiritual development through scripture, prayer, and education, fostering a community that seeks to grow closer to God and embody Christ’s teachings.
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Community Engagement: We value active participation in our church and local community. We believe in building strong, supportive relationships that uplift and empower each member of our congregation.
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Respect and Dignity: Every person is a beloved child of God and deserves to be treated with respect and dignity. We strive to reflect God’s love by honoring the inherent worth of every individual.
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Stewardship: We value the stewardship of God’s creation and our resources. We are committed to using our gifts wisely and sustainably, in service to our congregation and the world.
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Welcoming Hospitality: We believe in the power of hospitality to open hearts and minds. We strive to be a welcoming community where every person feels seen, heard, and loved.
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Peace and Reconciliation: We are dedicated to being peacemakers in our community and in the world, working towards reconciliation and understanding in all that we do.
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Joyful Celebration: We celebrate the joy of our salvation and the life we share in Christ, incorporating music, art, and cultural expressions in our worship and community events.
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These values are not just ideals but practices that we live out every day, as we strive to be a reflection of Christ’s love and light in the world.
Our Values
St. John-San Juan Lutheran Church
Our Beliefs
St. John-San Juan Lutheran Church
At St. John-San Juan Lutheran Church, our beliefs are rooted in the Holy Scripture and the Lutheran Confessions. They shape our understanding of God and His purpose for our lives.
Our core beliefs include:
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Trinity: We believe in one God who exists in three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, co-equal and co-eternal, unified in divine love and purpose.
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Scripture: We hold the Holy Scriptures as the inspired and authoritative Word of God, the definitive source for faith and practice, and affirm that they reveal the law and the gospel distinctly.
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Justification by Faith: We affirm that we are justified by grace through faith in Jesus Christ, not by our works, and that this faith is a gift from God, accessible to all people.
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Sacraments: We recognize the sacraments of Baptism and the Lord’s Supper as means of grace through which God offers forgiveness of sins and strengthens our faith.
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Priesthood of All Believers: We uphold the belief that all baptized believers are called to be ministers of the Gospel, serving God in various vocations and capacities.​
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Worship and Liturgy: We value the historical liturgy of the Church, seeing it as a form of worship that unites us with believers across time and space, and we celebrate it in a language that speaks to the heart of our congregation.
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Church and Ministry: We believe that the Church is the community of all true believers under the Lordship of Christ, and that ministry is the way we express our calling to serve God and neighbor.
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Universal Vocation: We affirm the universal vocation of all Christians to witness to God’s love and to work for the kingdom of God in every aspect of human life.
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Eschatology: We await the return of Jesus Christ, the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come, trusting in God's promise of new creation.
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Our beliefs are a living faith, expressing the love and grace of God in our worship, our community, and our daily lives. We invite all to join us in this journey of faith, hope, and love.
Honoring the Rich History of
St. John-San Juan Lutheran Church:
1946 to Present
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Since its foundation in 1946, St. John-San Juan Lutheran Church has been a beacon of faith, hope, and love in our community. This year, we celebrate our vibrant history, marked by growth, unity, and the embodiment of Christ's teachings.
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Our journey began as St. John's Lutheran Church, establishing a foundation of strong faith and community service. In 1985, a significant chapter unfolded when a Lutheran Spanish-worshipping mission began its relationship with us, offering Sunday worship in our sanctuary. This partnership blossomed, and in 1991, the mission officially became a congregation of the ELCA under the name San Lucas (St. Luke's).
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The year 1999 marked a pivotal moment in our history when members of San Lucas became new members of St. John's, leading to our rebirth as St. John-San Juan Lutheran Church. This union not only enriched our congregation but also symbolized our commitment to inclusivity and cultural diversity.
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Our archives, including correspondence and histories from the 1990s, anniversary booklets, the dedication service program of 1966, and photographs, are testaments to our enduring legacy. They chronicle our journey from a single-language congregation to a bilingual community of faith, embracing both English and Spanish speakers.
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Today, St. John-San Juan Lutheran Church stands as a symbol of unity, a place where different cultures and languages converge in worship and fellowship. Our history is not just about the past; it's a living narrative that continues to evolve, driven by our commitment to the teachings of Christ and the nurturing of a
diverse, inclusive community.
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As we reflect on our past and look forward to the future, we are filled with gratitude for every member, past and present, who has contributed to our story.
We honor our history, celebrate our present, and eagerly anticipate the chapters yet to be written in the ongoing story of St. John-San Juan Lutheran Church.
