Who We Are:

We are a church that rolls up its sleeves and gets to work sharing the love of Christ by providing hospitality to those who enter our doors and seeking justice, peace and change in the world. We work in partnership with others who share a common vision of serving and loving the world.

Trinity Lutheran Church has been a staple in the community of Silverton for over 125 years! From our early days meeting in peoples homes, to the different phases of the church building on the 2^nd Street property, understanding and maintaining this amazing resource has been a gift.

Trinity Lutheran church is a member of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America (ELCA) and participates actively in events held by the Oregon Synod of the ELCA. You can learn more about them on their website.

ELCA Website

Oregon Synod Website

What We Believe

Lutherans in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) are Christians who trust Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. We share a common faith with other Christians who affirm the Bible as sacred Scripture and accept the ancient creeds as accurate summaries of our faith. Lutherans are unique only in our history and emphasis on salvation through faith alone.

We are people of faith who share a living, daring confidence in God's grace. God's promise of steadfast love and mercy in Jesus opens us to a life of bold trust in God and joyful, generous service to everyone we know and meet in daily life.

At the same time faith does not close our minds to the world and our hearts to others. We listen to the witness of others and watch for the ways God is active in the world around us. Faith opens a place for engaging others in conversation, for seeking the truth, for asking questions and speaking love in word and deed.

Faith is a full life, liberated for a living, daring confidence in God's grace.

God

We believe in the Triune God – God known to us as the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit. We acknowledge one God in these three persons. We believe that God is the Creator of all that exists, and that God continues to be active in the lives of people today. God is passionate about creation, loves it deeply, and desires that our lives be filled with love and joy.

Jesus Christ

We believe that while God has revealed God’s very self in many ways throughout history, God is most fully known in Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ, born of a virgin, is fully God and fully human. The most important event in Christian history is the death and resurrection of Jesus. On the cross, God was present, hidden in weakness, vulnerability and suffering. In the cross we learn that we do not need to find God by being good or holy. Instead God finds us in our darkness, pain, emptiness and weakness.

By God’s grace we learn to see the cross as God reaching out to us. And in Jesus’ resurrection, we see God’s power to liberate us from sin and death. By our faith in Jesus’ sacrifice, our sin is forgiven and we are made right with God, freed to be all that God created us to be.

Sin

We believe that human beings are born with an inner rebellion against God’s authority, and that rebellion separates us from God. Sin is the name that Scripture gives this rebellion. We are powerless to bridge the gap between God and ourselves. Unless this gap is healed, we live and die apart from God. In Jesus Christ, by his death on the cross and resurrection, God reached out to us to move beyond sin and death.

The Bible

We believe that the Bible is the living Word of God. It is the primary means by which God’s Spirit enters our lives, calling us to repentance and faith. When we hear God’s Word, God breaks into our lives shattering old ways and creating new life, new values and new commitment.

Lutherans do not tend to understand the Bible literally, nor do we worship the Bible. Instead, we seek to leave ourselves open to the work of God’s Spirit through the words of the Bible.

Baptism

We believe that God has chosen to work through the water of baptism. When water and God’s Word come together and touch the life of a child or adult, we are born again, incorporated into Christ, into his body, the Church. By grace, we receive God’s forgiveness through baptism, and are given the gift of God’s Holy Spirit.

In baptism, especially infant baptism, we affirm that God chooses us – we did not choose God. Our baptism reminds us that our status with God never depends upon how we feel, whether we have the “right” religious experience, or our success or failures. Baptism reminds us that God loves us as we are, but refuses to leave us that way.

Holy Communion

We believe that God reaches out to us through the celebration of his supper, Holy Communion. By eating the bread and wine by faith, we give flesh to the Christ who continues to work in us and in the world. In Holy Communion we are reminded of Christ’s loving sacrifice, reminded that God is with us daily in ordinary experience, and reminded that a great feast of victory awaits the faithful when Christ comes again.

We participate in an open communion table. You don’t have to be a member of Trinity Lutheran Church or a member of the ELCA to be welcome at our Communion Table. If God is leading you, and you are still unsure, you are welcome at our table.

The Church

We believe that the Church is the people of God, called to live by faith as witnesses of God’s love and redeeming work in the world. We are not called to live as Christians in isolation, but in community. God calls us to gather in worship, study and fellowship.

Growing as a Christian

We believe that Christians are called to grow in faith, love and obedience to the will of God throughout our lives. We are never done growing! Growth happens whenever we place ourselves in the path of God’s Holy Spirit and allow ourselves to be open to the Spirit’s work in us. We believe that God’s Spirit works most often through the Word, the Sacraments (baptism and Holy Communion), and by gathering together with other Christians in worship, study, and fellowship.

What to Expect on A Sunday

Have you been thinking about visiting Trinity Lutheran Church? Are you new to the area? Has it been a while since you’ve been to church? Do you have questions about our service or programs? Questions about us? Then this is a good starting point. We hope that getting some of this “stuff” out of the way not only encourages you to join us for church, but also helps you to connect with the hope and encouragement that God has for you. If you don’t find the answer here, contact us at: (503) 873-2635 or email us at: trinitysilverton@gmail.com.

Come As You Are

We invite you to come as you are. We're a church for everyday people hoping to connect with God in a way that spans the generations. Whether you're exploring the Christian faith or a church regular, there's something for you.

Where is Trinity Lutheran Church?

We are located at 500 N. 2^nd Street, near downtown Silverton, a few blocks from Oak Street/ Highway 213. If you are walking to worship, enter the building from the 2^nd Street side under the covered walkway. If you are driving, our parking lot is located behind our building off of B Street. Our Sanctuary entry is through the covered walkway next to 2^nd Street. Our Fellowship hall entry is the middle door on the left.

What should I expect for Worship?

All your questions about worship can be answered here: ((Link to WORSHIP page)).

Is there Sunday School?

At this time on Sunday mornings, we only have learning opportunities for children. All your questions about Sunday School can be answered here: ((Link to SUNDAY SCHOOL page)). However, we do have some ongoing learning opportunities and small groups for adults: ((Link to Connect: Groups page)).