Picture This:
It's Sunday morning. You wake up refreshed, and anxious to give thanks to Our Lord by attending your regular Sunday church services. The coffee is brewing, the sun is warming up a beautiful spring day. The family is getting ready for Sunday services. And then...there's a knock on the door. Who would think of knocking on your door at 9:00am on a Sunday, of all days, knowing that you go to church at that time? But it's not an unwanted visitor who may make you late for church. IT IS YOUR CHURCH!!! A group of Christian friends who gather together each and every Sunday in your home chapel to praise God, worship Him and fellowship together. You share worship, and then a meal, and spend the day in faith, fellowship and friendship with those of like precious faith. You end your day renewed and refreshed in your faith and relationship with Jesus Christ, ready to take on the challanges of the coming week with new vigor and vitality.

But wait, you weren't at church. Or were you? Jesus said "Where two or more are gathered in my name, there I am with them." A church does not depend on the place where you worship, but how you worship. Big beautiful church buildings are wonderful places to worship at as a whole. But that does not make a smaller group of Christians any less 'Christian' because they meet in private homes. In fact that is exactly how the first century Christians met for worship. In private homes. Sometimes I think we forsake the simplistic beauty of Christianity in its most basic form for formality, and bigger and better mega churches. A congregation that owns a building may spend upwards of 75-80% of it's donations paying for upkeep, maintainance, mortgage and expenses, and leaving little else to outreach into the community. On the other hand, small gatherings of Christians who meet in private homes may have better opportunity to outreach, but may not be taken seriously by the Christian (or other) community at large.

The Lutheran Orthodox Church recognizes the value and history of home churches, house churches and small groups of Christians gathering regularly for worship and fellowship. We encourage house churches who feel they would benefit from affiliation with a larger church body to inquire with The Lutheran Orthodox Church. We charge no fees, and a congregation may withdraw from the LOC at any time simply by sending a letter stating it wishes to do so. We do require that the services follow basic guidelines, but give generous leeway in format and style.

Many benefits of affiliating your House/Home church with the LOC.
By affiliating your home church or small congregation with The LOC we provide guidance, stability and structured format so that the Home Church does not become stagnant and can reach its full potential. There is no fee or tithes due to affiliate, and each congregation remains autonomous. We do provide as much assistance as requested by the pastor, and only in an advisory capacity. Also, by affiliating with an established, recognized denomination such as The LOC the denomination stands firmly behind the Home church in all matters, which can be especially helpful should questions arise as to the home church's legitimacy especially when performing wedding or other religious ceremonies or other areas where the secular authorities may overstep their bounds, no matter how well intentioned they may be.
Please feel free to contact us so we may discuss this in greater detail in person. And may The Lord continue to bless you.