Risen Lord Lutheran Church is an inclusive community with a place for you, welcoming people no matter who they are, where they are on their journey, where they come from, whom they love, their identity, or level of understanding. The congregation describes its life through togetherness, all generations, serving community, and being church.
Risen Lord Lutheran Church is a confessional Lutheran congregation and a member of the Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod. Its worship, teaching, and congregational life are centered on Jesus Christ, the Gospel, the historic Christian faith, and service within the mountain community.
What confessional Lutheranism means
Confessional Lutheranism is "catholic" but not Roman Catholic. It is "evangelical" but not part of the pop-Christian movement known as Evangelicalism. Confessional Lutheranism is interested in living out the faith of the church throughout the ages (catholic) in a purely Gospel centered (evangelical) manner.
We believe sinners like us are saved by grace alone through faith alone on account of Christ alone. We also believe that faith is never alone since it produces love, and that grace is never alone because it always comes to us in the means of grace (preached Gospel, administered sacraments).
Confessional Lutheranism understands itself as historic Christian faith and life, nothing less, nothing more. Churches that make a point of being "confessional" or that wish to live out "historic Christianity" want to align both their teaching and their practice with that of the whole church throughout all time and in all places.
The Bible, the church, and the Lutheran Confessions
We believe the Bible is inspired by God the Holy Spirit and is without error. The Bible is the only truth source that is without error. But we who read the Bible are very capable of error! So we need help as we read it.
That help comes from the holy Christian church to which Christ has committed Himself (Matthew 28:20). The best lens is the lens of that church to which Jesus has said, "I will be with you always." This church is, as Scripture puts it, "the pillar and foundation of the truth." (1 Timothy 3:15).
As the centuries of church history have moved along, various questions have arisen. The Lutheran Confessions are a set of documents that set forth Biblical answers to those questions.
The Confessions also seek to demonstrate that these answers interpret Holy Scripture the same way the ancient creeds, councils and fathers of the church faithfully interpreted them throughout the church's first seven centuries or so.
Risen Christ is such a church. We actively teach the faith of the Lutheran Confessions, the church fathers and councils, etc., reading the Bible through that lens rather than through some other lens such as pious experience, human reason, or marketing data!
Any one who claims to read the Bible through no lens at all is kidding himself and failing to take his own sinful nature seriously enough! They are very uncomfortable with teaching or doing something novel. They have a healthy distrust of their own private judgement and of the spirit of the age.
Christ at the center
Jesus Christ, the Son of God, came to give you the life of God, the forgiveness of sin, victory over hell and Satan and the wrath of God. Jesus died for you.
Jesus lives in His church for you. Jesus invites you to be found by Him, in Him, in a church where He is preaching, washing, forgiving, and feeding His people.
An inclusive congregation
All are welcome! All means ALL. Risen Lord Lutheran Church is an inclusive community with a place for you! No matter who you are, where you are on your journey, no matter where you come from, whom you love, your identity, or level of understanding.
All willing hearts are welcome! We are proud to be a Reconciling in Christ Congregation.
Life in the mountain community
Risen Lord Lutheran Church celebrates the Risen Lord in its mountain community. Its stated commitments include togetherness, all generations, serving community, and being church.
The congregation’s community life includes worship, Bible study, choir practice, food-pantry service, shared projects, book studies, and other opportunities for participation across generations.
Worship and regular activities
| Activity | Time or schedule | Location or details |
|---|---|---|
| Weekly Worship | 9:30 am Sundays | Livestream and more videos are available. |
| Sing a New Song choir practice | 9 am Sundays | Sanctuary |
| Bible Study | 10 am Tuesdays | Room 3 |
| Food Pantry volunteers | 8:30-11:15 am, third Saturday of each month | InterChurch Food Pantry, Franklin, IN |
| Food Pantry donations | Ongoing | Place items in baskets at the west entrance. |
Weekly Worship takes place at 9:30 am Sundays. Sing a New Song choir practice takes place at 9 am Sundays in the Sanctuary. Bible Study takes place at 10 am Tuesdays in Room 3.
Food Pantry volunteers are needed from 8:30-11:15 am on the third Saturday of each month at the InterChurch Food Pantry, Franklin, IN. Food Pantry donations can be placed in baskets at the west entrance.
Serving the community
The congregation participates in God's Work Our Hands projects, including an Interchurch Food Pantry donation project. Members can donate items for spaghetti dinner kits and help assemble kits after worship Sept. 27.
Community participation also includes making practical contributions, sharing skills, and supporting neighbors through organized service. Jen describes some GWOH projects for Break Bread. Linda demonstrates how to make dog toys with materials you already have at home.
Study, reflection, and congregational conversation
The congregation offers opportunities to explore faith and life through Bible study, book study, worship, and reflection. A sabbatical book study focuses on Holy Envy by Barbara Brown Taylor.
The sabbatical book study takes place at 10 am Tuesdays in September in Room 3, with additional meetings at 6 pm Sept. 22, Oct. 20 & Nov. 17 in Fellowship Hall.
Some thoughts on pandemic life, burnout, and the holiness that dwells in us all. Favorite Lines: A Question and an Encouragement.
1 Kings 19.8-19 and Matthew 14.22-33. When Jesus Irritates. Ugh.
Location and contact information
Risen Lord Lutheran Church shares a building with St. Laurence Episcopal Church located at 26812 Barkley Road, Conifer, CO 80433.
Mailing Address: P. O. Box 90, Conifer, CO 80433. Phone: 303-816-6864.
Calendar and pastoral sabbatical
The full calendar includes worship, study, service, music, and special events. Pastor Wendy is on sabbatical Sept. 1 - Nov. 1, 2026.
Sabbatical 2026: Hearing Hope Anew.