Do you have church offices?

Yes.  Christ Lutheran Vail worships at Cienega High School, but our church offices are at the Old Vail Station, 13109 E. Colossal Cave Road, Suite 130.  Located between Vail Family Dentistry and B&Q Nails. We are open from 9:00 to 4:00 every Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday.  We also hold mid-week meetings in this building.

 

 

How do I Contact You?

Contact us at:

 

Phone: 520-468-7075 (Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursdays 7:00 AM to 1:00 PM)

Emergency Church Phone: 520-349-8630

 

Fax: 520-844-1092

 

Office Hours are 7:00 AM to 1:00 PM Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday.

 

Call to make sure the office is open.

 

Office Address:

13105 E. Colossal Cave Rd.

(Red door behind Valeria's Mexican Food)

Vail, AZ 85641

 

Church Mailing Address

PO Box 809

Vail, AZ 85641

 

We worship at Cienga High School

12775 E. Mary Ann Cleveland Way

Vail, AZ 85641

 

 

What are your core beliefs?

As a part of the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod, we believe and teach that. . .

• The entire Bible, both Old and New Testaments, is the inspired and inerrant Word of God, and that it reveals God's love and plan of salvation, and His will for our lives.
  
  
• God is Triune, three persons in one eternal God - Father, Son & Holy Spirit.
  
  
• In six days, God wonderfully created all things and declared them good, and He created human beings as the crown of His creation, and He continues to provide all of the earthly and heavenly benefits we receive.
  
  
• Because of the fall of Adam and Eve into sin, we are all sinful by nature, and our sin has separated us from God and places us under His eternal wrath and punishment.
  
  
• Jesus Christ, God's only Son, came into this world to save us by living a perfect life in our place, by dying on the cross to pay for our sins, and by rising from the dead so we could have eternal life in heaven.
  
  
• Salvation is God's free gift which is offered at the initiative of His love, not something we can earn.
  
  
• This gift of salvation is offered to all who, by God's grace and the work of the Holy Spirit, repent of their sin and receive Jesus in faith as Savior and Lord.
  
  
• The Gospel-the good news of forgiveness and eternal life through faith in Jesus-not only provides salvation, but also the power to change our lives so that they conform to God's will.
  
  
• The Christian Church consists of those faithful people who rely on Him for forgiveness, who hold firmly to His teachings, and who receive strength and guidance for their Christian lives through regular worship, prayer, Bible study, and the reception of His sacraments.

What is a Lutheran?

This is a very good question.   Lutherans are one of many Protestant Christian denominations.   In the late 15th Century, the Roman Catholic church was in need of a reformation.   There were people within the heirarchy of the church who were putting other things before God.   The printing press had been invented and knowledge was being distributed in an entirely new way.   It was out of this that many people began to question the traditional ways of Rome and asked for change.   Martin Luther was one such reformer.

 

Luther did not want to break away from Rome.   In fact, his 95 Theses were meant to promote scholarly debate about many of the issues infecting the church.   However, through a  series of debates,  it became clear that Rome would not embrace Luther's concerns and intead they threw him out.

 

These displaced Christians were known as Lutherans because they followed the writings and theology of Luther.   In a way, Lutherans are the original protestants.   This group later encompassed Methodists, Presbyterians, Anglicans, some Baptists, Reformed and other church bodies.

 

During this time period, several men decided to use scripture to provide a theological textbook for Christians.   These writings were put together in a book called, "The Book of Concord".   It is a very concise, clear, doctrinal treatise on the theology contained in scripture.

 

Must one become a Lutheran to be saved?   Absolutely not.   We believe that  the Church of  Christ exists outside of the Lutheran Church.   However, we do believe, stand by, and  teach the theological concepts outlined in the Book of Concord.

 

How do I become a member of your church?

Membership implies a "country club" mentality.   In the New Testament, the word for Church means "the called out ones".   In other words, all believers are members of the church that Christ began.   When you are in a relationship with Jesus Christ, you join together with all other believers across the world and throughout time to form the church.

 

We see our church more of a bootcamp.   We are here to assist you to go into the world and live your Christian faith in the midst of struggles, hardships, tempations and sin.   To prepare for this mission we encourage you to attend worship, get involved with other Christians, study the Bible and live your faith.

 

However as local congregation, we do have a governing body who govern the congregation.   This "voting membership" is conferred on those who are baptized, profess a Christian faith, have studied and are in agreement with our church's beliefs, and who have signed a membership covenant.   This voting membership allows one to vote at the annual or special meetings.   At the annual meeting, members vote  to approve the budget and to  elect the Board of Ministry Directors.   A special meeting might be called to approve a specific budget or to vote on the purchase of land or property.   Full details are found in our church constitution.   This membership process requires several meetings where you will learn:

• Our   beliefs and statement of faith.
• Our  mission.
• Your spiritual giftedness, calling or vocation.
• Our membership covenant.

These meetings are held throughout the year.