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About UsGod stirs up passion for ministry in the heart of every child, every woman, and every man created from the dust of the earth. One of the most important functions of the ‘ekklesia’, the Church, is to empower people to use the gifts God gave them for the good of the world. We gather together each week to open our hearts and souls to the Holy One, be formed into the Body of Christ, and to be fed in Word and Sacrament for service in that world.
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Who We Are
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If you are looking for an inclusive, creative, thoughtful, and caring congregation to visit, come check us out in person.
Our worship life is central to our community, and you are always welcome here. You’ll find an interesting mix of worship styles during the course of the year, following the rhythms of the ancient church’s practice while finding fresh expressions in our songs and prayers. |
Where We Gather
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We worship Sunday mornings at the Depot Arts Center, 611 R. Avenue, Anacortes. Every week this former train station is transformed into sacred space by a team of creative and dedicated members. The symbolism of worship in the old freight room is powerful; worship IS a way station on our life’s journey, a time and place to set down our baggage, rest for a while, and be refreshed before returning to our paths.
We've chosen not to put our money into a building of our own, preferring instead to be generous in giving outside of ourselves. Too often we've seen buildings become idols that can distract the Church from following the one who had "no place to lay his head." (Matthew 8:20) When we get bumped out of our usual space at the Depot (2-3 times a year, due to art shows or city events) you will usually find us down the street at the Croatian Cultural Center, on 5th and R Ave. We also gather in the homes of members and friends for study, potlucks, and parties. We get to know each other better this way. |
Part of Something Larger
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Celebration Lutheran Church is a congregation of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), whose presiding bishop is Bishop Elizabeth Eaton. The ELCA is divided into 11 regions. Region One is made up of Alaska, Washington, Oregon, and Idaho, and Montana, and is headed by Rev. Mark Nelson, the Region One Coordinator for Mission.
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We encourage you to take a look at the many resources available on the website of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, including this bible study entitled Humanity in God’s Image.
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The ELCA has 65 synods (from the Greek words “walking together”), each with its own synodical bishop. Our Northwest Washington synod extends from the Canadian border to Federal Way, and from the Cascades to Puget Sound. Bishop Kirby Unti was elected to a six year term which began in 2013. He will be retiring this summer. Rev. Shelley Wee is our Bishop-Elect; Diane Johnson serves our synod as the Director of Mission and Outreach; Rev. Nancy Winder serves as Assistant to the Bishop for candidacy. Our synod is divided into clusters of about 10-13 congregations each.
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Committed to Inclusivity
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Celebration Lutheran is a partner congregation in ReconcilingWorks:Lutherans for Full Partnership
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A Special Welcome! Celebration Lutheran Church has always been a safe, inclusive, and welcoming community for all. In 2014 we made that welcome public through Reconciling Works by adopting the following statement:
Affirmation of Welcome
As a community of the people of God, we are called to minister to all people in our world, knowing that the world is often an unloving place. Our world is a place of alienation and brokenness. Christ calls us to reconciliation and wholeness. We are challenged by the Gospel to be agents of healing within our society.
We affirm with the apostle Paul that in Christ “there is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female” (Galatians 3:28). Christ has made us one. We acknowledge this reconciliation extends to people of all sexual orientations and gender identities.
Because gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender persons and their families are often scorned by society and alienated from the Church, we wish to make known our caring and concern. It is for this purpose that we affirm the following:
Affirmation of Welcome
As a community of the people of God, we are called to minister to all people in our world, knowing that the world is often an unloving place. Our world is a place of alienation and brokenness. Christ calls us to reconciliation and wholeness. We are challenged by the Gospel to be agents of healing within our society.
We affirm with the apostle Paul that in Christ “there is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female” (Galatians 3:28). Christ has made us one. We acknowledge this reconciliation extends to people of all sexual orientations and gender identities.
Because gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender persons and their families are often scorned by society and alienated from the Church, we wish to make known our caring and concern. It is for this purpose that we affirm the following:
- that people of all sexual orientations and gender identities share the worth that comes from being unique individuals created by God;
- that people of all sexual orientations and gender identities are welcome within the membership of Celebration Lutheran Church upon making a common, public Affirmation of faith; and
- that as members of Celebration, people of all sexual orientations and gender identities are expected and encouraged to share in the sacramental and general life of this congregation.
