About Us | St. Marks Lutheran Church

A place to belong

St. Mark's Lutheran Church in downtown Asheville This is a place where everyone is welcome, relationships are valued, and friends are made. We want everyone to know and experience the love of God. We embrace diversity, nurture a sense of belonging, and appreciate each individual before discussing spiritual and religious beliefs. Christ-centered love and inclusive belonging are important core values of this community of faith.

A place to grow – in faith and discipleship

St. Mark’s is a place where people experience spiritual growth through inspiring worship, relevant sermons, faith formation classes, and discipleship small groups. This is where God becomes real, faith is formed, and discipleship becomes a way of life.

Learn more about our Children & Youth Programs and our Adult Discipleship.

A place to serve

Empowered by the love of God and inspired by the example of Jesus Christ, the people of St. Mark’s are motivated to love our neighbor, serve our community, and make a difference in the world. In partnership with local service agencies, ecumenical churches, and Lutheran organizations we engage our community, work for justice, and generously donate our time, money, and resources to help others and live a life of service.

Learn more about Serving Others with St. Mark’s.

Mission Statement

Making Disciples by Loving Christ, Growing in Faith, and Serving all People [John 13:34-35]

Vision Statement

Experiencing and sharing God’s grace as an inclusive, inter-generational congregation through Worship, Outreach, Learning, and Fellowship

Core Values

Christ-Centered Love
Because we are loved by God and freed by grace, we strive to demonstrate a Christ-centered compassion and love for people, the environment, and all of God’s Creation. [1 John 4:7-12]

Authentic Discipleship
Following Christ’s example, we love and teach discipleship, a life of faith that is focused on worship, relationships, and service to others. [Luke 6:12-19]

Inclusive Belonging
We welcome and include all people regardless of race, gender, sexual orientation, age, ability, appearance, or anything else that may divide us. [Romans 8:38-39]

Community and Service
We are a joyful, vibrant Christian community who enjoys worshiping together, fellowship, and practicing generous acts of service for our family, our community, and our world. [Romans 12:9-16]

Nurturing Faith Formation
Recognizing that spiritual growth is a life-long process, we encourage all people to worship, learn, and grow in faith by spending time with God’s Word and practicing their faith at home, church, and in the world. [Proverbs 22:6]

WE BELIEVE:

In the Triune God — Creator, Son, and Holy Spirit.
We proclaim Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior.
Jesus Christ is the Son of God who died on the cross to forgive our sin and rose from the dead to give us life.
We look to the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments (commonly called the Bible) to hear the Good News of Jesus Christ.
The Sacraments of Holy Baptism and Holy Communion are a gift of God’s grace.
God reaches out and comes to us through Word and Sacrament to offer love, forgiveness, and salvation by connecting us to the death and resurrection of Jesus.
Those who believe in Jesus are saved by God’s grace (not by good works or deeds)
The Holy Spirit creates faith and continues to strengthen and sustains our faith in Jesus Christ and the life we have in him.
The Apostles’ Creed, the Nicene Creed, and the Athanasian Creed are statements that confess what we believe.
The Gospel of Jesus Christ inspires us to live by faith and serve others in all that we do.

To learn more about ELCA Teaching / Scripture, Creeds and Confessions please refer to www.elca.org.

Matthew Smith, Pastor