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Life In Christ is a congregation of the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod.  We serve the people and guests of Cook County, Minnesota, on the North Shore of Lake Superior.  We welcome all to join us for services.

Divine Service is at 9am every Sunday in Grand Marais, and at 11:30am July and August at Gunflint Lake, Heston’s Lodge.

Our Beliefs

We believe that the Bible is the inerrant Word of God.  The Bible is the only source of information about our Savior, Jesus Christ, and the salvation God has worked for us through His Son, Jesus.

Who Are We?

Traditional Church. Traditional Belief. Traditional Worship.

Grace and peace to you from our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

In a world that is ever-changing, where beliefs and practices shift with the tides of culture, we at Life in Christ Lutheran Church remain anchored in the timeless truths of the Christian faith. You might wonder, "Who are we?" Allow me to share.

We are a traditional church, steadfast in our commitment to the historic, confessional Lutheran faith. Our foundation is the unchanging Word of God, as revealed in the Holy Scriptures. We believe that the Bible is the inspired, inerrant Word of God, the sole authority for our faith and life. This conviction is not born out of stubbornness but out of a deep trust in God's revelation to humanity.

Our traditional belief is encapsulated in the core principles of the Reformation:

• Grace Alone – Salvation is a free gift from God, not something we can earn through our deeds.

• Faith Alone – We are justified before God through faith in Jesus Christ.

• Scripture Alone – The Bible is God’s perfect and final authority.

This is the heart of the Gospel—the good news that brings us hope and peace.

In our traditional worship, we follow the historic liturgy of the Church. Our services are reverent and Christ-centered, designed to draw our focus to the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus for the forgiveness of our sins. We partake in the Sacraments of Baptism and Holy Communion, trusting in God's promises attached to these means of grace. Our hymns and prayers echo the faith of those who have gone before us, connecting us to the broader communion of saints.

In the words of the Psalmist, "The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want" (Psalm 23:1). This familiar passage reminds us of God's unwavering guidance and provision. Even as the world around us changes, we find comfort in knowing that our Good Shepherd leads us beside still waters and restores our souls.

We invite you to join us in this journey of faith. Come and experience the richness of traditional worship, the depth of traditional belief, and the warmth of a traditional church community. Together, we seek to live out our faith, trusting in the promises of our unchanging God.

Our Services and Location

Sunday Service

9:00 a.m.

During July and August, a second service is held at 11:30 a.m. at Heston's Lodge on Gunflint Lake.

The church is located on top of the hill as you enter Grand Marais from the west, at 2017 W. Highway 61.  Look for the sign.

A Note on Holy Communion

Holy Communion is one of the most sacred gifts our Lord has given His Church. In it, Christ gives us His very body and blood for the forgiveness of sins, as He promised in Matthew 26:26-28, Mark 14:22-24, Luke 22:19-20, and 1 Corinthians 11:23-26. As confessional Lutherans, we take our Lord at His Word, believing that the Sacrament is not merely a symbolic meal, but a real, substantial, and mysterious union with Christ Himself.

Because of this, the practice of Holy Communion is not a matter of personal preference or hospitality but of faithfulness to Christ’s institution. Our practice of Closed Communion—inviting only those who share our confession of faith—is not about exclusion but about love, unity, and doctrinal integrity.

St. Paul warns in 1 Corinthians 11:27-29 that to receive the Lord’s Supper without discerning the body of Christ is to eat and drink judgment upon oneself. We do not want anyone to receive the Sacrament to their harm. Communion is not merely an individual act; it is a public confession of what one believes. To commune together is to declare with one voice, “We believe and teach the same doctrine.” For this reason, the Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod (LCMS) practices Closed Communion, extending the Sacrament only to those who share in our confession of faith, as expressed in the Lutheran Confessions (BookOfConcord.org · The Original Home of the Book of Concord).

Some may see this as unwelcoming. However, genuine Christian love does not mean disregarding doctrine for the sake of inclusion. Instead, true love calls us to be faithful stewards of Christ’s gifts and to care for souls according to God’s Word. We warmly invite those who do not yet share our confession to speak with our pastor, study the Scriptures with us, and consider what we believe, teach, and confess. Our goal is not to keep people away, but to share the truth of God’s Word so that, in time, we may be united in faith and able to receive the Sacrament together in good conscience.

This practice is also a matter of accountability—for both the congregation and the pastor. As a congregation, we are accountable before God to administer His gifts faithfully and according to His Word. We do not have the right to change Christ’s institution or turn the Sacrament into a personal or social statement. Likewise, the pastor is accountable to God for those whom he communes. Scripture teaches that pastors are stewards of the mysteries of God (1 Corinthians 4:1-2) and will be held responsible for their care of souls (Hebrews 13:17). For this reason, it is not an act of judgment but one of pastoral care when a pastor ensures that those receiving the Lord’s Supper are properly instructed and in unity with the confession of the Church.

We recognize that not everyone shares our beliefs or practices, and we respect everyone’s right to their own views. In return, we ask for the same respect regarding our deeply held convictions. Closed Communion is not about division but about being faithful to what we believe Christ has given His Church. It is a practice rooted in Scripture and the historic Christian tradition, and we ask that those who visit our congregation honor and respect our approach, just as we respect the beliefs and practices of others.

We would be happy to have a frank and open conversation with anyone who has questions or concerns about this practice. Pastor’s door is always open to those who want to learn more, discuss Scripture, or understand why we hold to this biblical teaching.

For those interested in learning more, we encourage you to visit contact our pastor (515)462-0566 Pastor@LiCgm.org or join us for worship at Life in Christ Lutheran Church, where we strive to be faithful to Christ’s command: “Do this in remembrance of Me.”