Who We Are
Deriving our Purpose from our Church Name
Each letter in the name "Mt. Carmel" signifies an important aspect of our church identity and mission.
When you put them all together, you have a winning combination of faith through the church family!
Magnify
the Lord in Worship: Psalm 95:7
Worship lies at the heart of
our life together as god's people. It is what God has made
us for and what God has called us to do. Worship is not
merely another activity which we try to cram into an already
hectic week. Instead, it is the beginning of our week. It is
the birthplace of God's renewing Spirit and life within our
hungry hearts. We find the purpose and meaning of our lives
in worship of God with our church family.
Teaching
& Caring Through Small Groups
We encourage our members to join or form small groups as a
way to grow in faith and make a large church feel smaller.
A small group is any group of 3 to 12 people who gather
together for study, friendship, service, and/or support.
Commitment
to God and to One Another
Remember that a great commitment to the Great
Commandment - "Love God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength, and
your neighbor as yourself" - and the Great Commission
- "Go
into all the world, making disciples...baptizing in the name
of the father, Son and Holy Spirit, teaching...all I have
commanded you" - will grow a great church for God.
Affirming
One Another's Gifts and Talents: Ephesians 4:11-13
As Lutherans, we believe in
what Martin Luther called "the priesthood of all believers."
That means that all the people of the congregation are
called to use their gifts and talents for ministry. The
pastor isn't the only minister; every member is a minister
and every minister has a mission. Taking the Spiritual Gifts
Inventory (available at Mt. Carmel) is one good way of
discovering your unique spiritual gift. Only when every member uses their
gift for the good of all will the church be able to fulfill
its calling.
Reaching
Out with the Good News of Christ: Matthew 4:19
All of us are called to share the good News
of Jesus Christ with others. Evangelism is not badgering
others. That's not how Jesus approached others. Evangelism
involves listening to and meeting the felt needs of others.
This is not a hobby. This is our lifestyle as Christians.
Maturing
in Christ
We mature in Christ through
prayer, study, giving, fellowship and worship. Those five
exercises bring us into spiritual growth and help us to
know the joy of the Lord. These are daily habits that become
a regular part of our lives when we practice them
faithfully.
Enthusiasm
for God's Purposes in Our Life
The word "enthusiasm" is from the Greek 'en'
(in) and 'theos' (God). Our passion and purpose stem from
our relationship with God. We are positive, hopeful,
energetic people because we know God is with us. God
empowers us with the spirit to serve God and others with all
of our hearts. And we are glad to do so!
Living
in the Love and Grace of God: Romans 3:31-24
We are a people who are
shaped and formed by God's amazing grace. "For God so loved
the world, that he gave his only son..." (John 3:16). "For
by grace you have been saved, through faith. This is not
your own doing, it is the gift of God..." (Ephesians
2:8-10). "We love because God first loved us." (I John
4:19). Everything we are, do and say is based on God's
unconditional love and favor for us. Thanks be to God!