Greetings in the name of our crucified, risen, and reigning Lord and Savior Jesus Christ! Holy Cross and Immanuel Lutheran Churches are member congregations of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod (LCMS). As such, membership at Holy Cross and Immanuel are based on your confession/agreement with the teachings of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod as drawn from the Holy Scriptures (The Bible) and the Book of Concord (The Lutheran Confessions). As a result, there are four ways to become a member of Holy Cross and Immanuel:

  • By Baptism: The Sacrament of Holy Baptism is for all people infants, children, or adults. (Matthew 28:19, Rom. 3:23, 1 Tim. 2:4, 1 Pet. 3:21) Children who have received the Sacrament of Holy Baptism at Holy Cross and Immanuel Lutheran Church are considered Baptized Members of Holy Cross and Immanuel who are under the spiritual care of the Pastor. Adults who are not yet Baptized can contact the church office by email or by calling 701.538.4688 and enroll in Adult Instruction Class and receive the Sacrament of Holy Baptism.
  • By Confirmation: Baptized members of Holy Cross and Immanuel can go through a two year period of catechetical instruction in the Christian faith when the child desires the Sacrament of the Altar, is regular in attendance at the Divine Service, has memorized the six “Chief Parts” of Luther’s Small Catechism, and studies Scripture in Sunday School and/or other educational opportunities. At the end of this two year period, the child may choose to undergo The Rite of Confirmation whereby they confess for themselves what their parents confessed for them at the time of their baptism.
  • By Profession of Faith: Adults who are interested in becoming a member of Holy Cross and Immanuel may enroll in our Adult Instruction Class where they are taught what LCMS Lutherans believe, teach, and confess. If you come from a non-LCMS Lutheran congregation, this course will serve as “refresher” in Lutheran doctrine, as well as clarify the differences between LCMS and other Lutheran denominations. Enrolling in our Adult Instruction Class is easy, simply contact the church office by email or by calling 701.538.4688.
  • By Letter of Transfer: If you are currently a member of another LCMS congregation you may request that your membership be transferred from your former LCMS Congregation to Holy Cross or Immanuel. To do this, please contact your former congregation and ask for “A Letter of Transfer” to Holy Cross Lutheran Church or Immanuel Lutheran Church, 101 2nd Ave. SE, Lidgerwood, ND 58053.

What Being a Member of Our Church Means:

Membership at Holy Cross and Immanuel means, FIRST OF ALL, that one has opportunities to live out God’s calling to the Christian life in the fellowship of a Congregation. These include the opportunity to:

WORSHIP at one of the many services our Church provides for believers to gather and praise God, pray to Him, hear His Word, and celebrate the Sacraments as He has commanded.

Members, who believe in Jesus as their personal Savior and Lord, will want to attend Church faithfully unless illness, advanced age, emergency, or special circumstances prevent them from doing so. We are reminded in the Scriptures, “Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another – and all the more as you see the day approaching” (Hebrews 10:25).

During Advent and Lent, special services are held on Wednesdays at both 4:00 and 7:00 PM. People whose occupation requires them to work on Sundays are encouraged to ask their employer to, if possible, plan their schedule in such a way that they can worship our Lord, the Head of the Church, at least every other week.

LEARN through the wide array of educational programs Holy Cross and Immanuel offers Sunday School and Bible Classes for all ages, to Confirmation instruction, to Pre-marital Classes preceding weddings. We encourage all members to participate because every Christian needs to grow spiritually. These opportunities are available to non-members, as well.

SERVE by using their time and talents with which God has blessed them to glorify God and to build and extend His Church. Christians are called “not to be served, but to serve.” Jesus said, “Whoever wants to be great among you must be servant of all” (Matthew 20:27-28). Our church offers many opportunities for service already. We are willing to assist members in discovering where they might best serve or where there is a need in ministry.

Benefits
Church membership means SECONDLY, that the Church will provide certain benefits and privileges that are not automatically or routinely available to non-members. These include:

  • WEDDINGS in our sanctuary and with the services of our pastors and other staff members.
  • BAPTISMS for the children of members.
  • FUNERALS for members or their immediate family.
  • PASTORAL COUNSELING in times of crisis or personal need.
  • VISITATION while hospitalized or homebound.
  • ENROLLMENT of member’s children in our Lutheran Elementary or Lutheran High Schools.
  • HOLY COMMUNION as practiced by The Lutheran Church — Missouri Synod.
  • FELLOWSHIP through various organizations and activities.

Obligations
Being a Church member means, THIRDLY, certain obligations to the Church on the part of our members. These include the necessity to:

PRAY for and support the pastors and other staff members and speak well of them to others (both fellow members and people outside the congregation). Also pray for the members of our congregation and for others that they be brought to faith in Jesus Christ.

SUPPORT the mission of the Church financially with regular and sacrificial offerings. The Biblical practice of tithing (giving a percentage of income) is strongly encouraged. Those who are richly blessed materially and those who benefit from the programs of the church especially need to be generous.

GIVE time and abilities to share in doing the many tasks that are necessary for the continuation of the congregation’s ministry. God has given each person special abilities that our congregation needs. This may include serving on a board or committee, helping out with one of the many programs of the Church, or even assisting with maintenance of the buildings and grounds.

We thank our Lord, the Head of the Church, that He has called and gathered us together in His Church here at Holy Cross and Immanuel. May He continue to bless our ministry to His glory and for the welfare of God’s Redeemed People.