First Lutheran Church

read moreWe are here to offer both shelter from the storm and food for the road ahead. We are here to challenge, inspire, encourage, and comfort one another. We are here to experience the mystery of God at work in our world, in our community, and in our own lives. We are here to see the face of God in everyone, welcoming all people to claim their place at God's table. We are here to give freely of what we have received, to live grateful and generous lives, and to give glory to God in all things.

read moreIf you're a native New Englander, you probably haven't run into too many Lutherans. It's okay. It's not your fault. We are a religious minority in these parts, and we aren't the sort of people who go around knocking on doors asking if you've been "saved." It's not because we don't care. We just trust the saving part to God, and we believe that God's embrace includes everyone. Please note the lack of asterisks and fine print in that last statement. By "everyone, " we don't mean "everyone who comes to our church, " or "everyone who goes to some church."

read moreMy name is Jon Niketh, and for twelve years I've served as pastor of what I think is a pretty amazing congregation in an equally amazing city. But let's be honest: there are a lot of things you could be doing with your time right now other than looking at a church website. Perhaps you were searching for adorable cat videos and stumbled over here by mistake. I can't tell you how many times I've done that. Really and truly, no hidden agendas, no asterisks, no bait and switch. Whoever you are, wherever you are in life, whatever your faith journey looks like or whether you have one at all, you are welcome at First Lutheran Church.

read moreThe Lutheran Church joyfully baptizes people of any age, trusting in God's free gift of grace given through water and the word. In the sacrament of Holy Baptism, the promises of forgiveness, life, and salvation that God makes to all people are made present and claimed for a particular person as they are washed in the waters of new life. Christians have understood this ritual washing to be not a merely symbolic act, but one in which God's Spirit is at work. Our old selves, individualistic and turned in upon themselves, are buried with Jesus in the tomb, and from the water we raised as new people-joined forever to Christ, to his body the Church, and oriented outward in service to the whole creation.