09/02/2026
Dear Visitor,
Maybe you’ve driven past our church for three Sundays in a row, wondering what it would be like to actually pull into the parking lot and walk through those doors. Maybe you’ve made it as far as the parking lot, sat in your car for a few minutes, watched people going inside, and then quietly put the car in reverse and headed home. Maybe you’ve even gotten dressed for church, intending to go, only to decide at the last minute that you just couldn’t do it. If that sounds familiar, please know that you’re not alone. Walking into a church for the first time, or returning after many years away, can be intimidating. You may wonder whether people will stare at you, whether you’ll know what to do, whether you’ll fit in, or whether your life is simply too complicated or messy for church.
We want you to know something very simple: you can come inside! There is no membership fee, no entrance exam, and no expectation that you have your life together before you walk through the door. You don’t need the right clothes, the right background, or all the right answers. You don’t even need to know what happens during the service. Just come in, find a place to sit, and allow yourself to be loved on by your brothers and sisters in Christ.
The Church isn’t a gathering of perfect people who have everything figured out. We are all sinners who need Jesus. We struggle, stumble, hurt, worry, and carry burdens that others may never see. That is precisely why we gather together. We gather together because we need what Jesus Christ gives: His forgiveness for our sins, His mercy for our failures, His Word for our troubled hearts, and His peace for our weary souls.
So, if you’ve been driving past the church or sitting in the parking lot trying to find the courage to come inside, consider this your personal invitation. The next time you pull into the parking lot, turn off the engine, open the door, and come on in. There are brothers and sisters in Christ who will be glad to see you, and more importantly, there is a Savior who says, “Come to Me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28). You don’t have to get yourself ready for Jesus. Just come. He is ready to receive you.
Christ Lutheran Church
2018 Hwy 36
Wathena, KS 66090
