About Us
We are, well, YOU. Seriously. This is a young church (2009, but with roots to 1900), growing up in this neighborhood and filled with people like you from this community. There are no life-long members. There are no outsiders. There are no entrance requirements. There is this: a diverse and growing community of neighbors and friends, gathered together by God to worship, to serve their neighbors, to support each other, and to grow in faith. This church is being created especially for YOU. So come and check it out—God might surprise you.
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How We Welcome
As a congregation, Breath of God Lutheran Church welcomes and meets all people with grace and love. For us, a welcoming community values storytelling, always aspires to improve, actively tries to unlearn and dismantle oppressive systems, holds one another accountable, and offers continuing opportunities for growth. Our love for God and for our neighbors demands nothing less of us.
As a congregation, we commit ourselves to the full, genuine, and Christ-like welcome and inclusion of all people, in the striking diversity of their identities, cultures, backgrounds, perspectives, and life experiences. The fullness of these identities includes, but is not limited to, sexual orientation and gender identity, immigration status, age, ability, language, race, family composition, profession, education, socioeconomic status, and living situation. We aim to be a community in which people can grow to more fully know and love themselves, as they are fully known and loved by God. And we embrace the ways that this full welcome and inclusion transforms our congregation and community in mutually sustaining ways.
As a congregation, we welcome you:
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In worship - as you are, whenever you feel the call to join us;
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In service alongside one another - sharing our unique gifts to address our neighbors' needs and work for justice;
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In building community with one another - nurturing life-giving and transformative relationships throughout Southeast Baltimore;
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In learning and growing together as disciples of Jesus Christ.
As a congregation, we strive to not only welcome, but celebrate your yesterday, your today, and your tomorrow as we grow in community together.
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We are a Reconciling in Christ congregation, and an AMMPARO Welcoming congregation.
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I want to be...
I want to be part of a community where I am loved; where I am welcomed and respected whatever my background, whatever my history; where forgiveness is a reality and new life is possible through Jesus.
I want to be part of a community that takes seriously my questions about God and about life; that is able to talk openly and lovingly about things that matter; that doesn’t claim to have all the answers, but that knows enough to proclaim and to seek to follow Jesus Christ.
I want to be part of a community where I matter. Where I can be involved. Where my gifts will be valued. Where I will be challenged to grow in faith, in serving others, and in understanding.
I want to be part of a community that cares about my neighborhood. That serves and works every day and every week to help our families, children, seniors, and young adults; that is an active partner with our community associations and schools; that loves and cares for those who are poor, struggling, or at-risk.
I want to be part of a community which isn’t segregated by race or class or age or sexual orientation but which welcomes, includes, and reaches out to the full and awesome diversity of our neighborhood and city.
I want to be part of a community which respects and values tradition but isn’t consumed with how things “used to be;” where we are free to teach and preach and study and live out the Gospel of Jesus in new and old ways that connect to us and our world.