Beliefs & History

What Do Lutherans Believe?

About Jesus Christ: Lutherans believe that Jesus Christ is the God-given solution to man's spiritual dilemma. He took upon Himself the sins of the whole world when He suffered & died on the cross. God graciously offers forgiveness to all. Forgiveness is received through faith in Jesus Christ. About The Holy Spirit: Lutherans believe that the Holy Spirit works through the Word & the Sacraments to create & nurture a trusting relationship with Jesus Christ. He quickens man to a new life in which man strives to love & please God and love his neighbor as himself.

About The Sacraments: Lutherans believe that Christ instituted two Sacraments, Baptism & the Lord's Supper. Baptism washes away sins & creates faith in the Savior. In the Supper, the Lord's body & blood are given "in, with, & under" the bread wine for the forgiveness of sins & the strengthening of faith. About The Church: Lutherans believe that the church is the fellowship of all who believe in Christ as their Savior. The church exists to worship God, to sustain faith in Him, and to share the love of God by word & deed. All Christians should worship their Lord & study His Word regularly.

How Can I Become A Christian?

Perhaps you are asking yourself, “How can I become a Christian”? or “How can I get to heaven?” or “What must I do to be saved?” In the Bible, a jail-keeper once asked the same question, “What must I do to be saved?” The answer given to him and the answer given to you is the same: “Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and you shall be saved!”
(Acts 16:30, 31).

Each one of us have broken God’s law and sinned against God and others. We justly deserve God’s judgment and condemnation. The Good News of the Holy Scriptures is that Jesus took the penalty for all sins and paid the price through his death and suffering on the cross. His resurrection from the dead on Easter Sunday proves that His sacrifice was accepted. As you TRUST Jesus for your forgiveness, and as you trust Jesus as your Savior from sin and death, you become a Christian. You receive the FREE GIFT of forgiveness and eternal life.

This promise is described in John 3:16: “God so loved the world that He gave His only-begotten Son, so that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life.”

As a Christian, you will want to nourish and strengthen your faith. Reading God’s Word, Baptism, The Lord’s Supper, prayer and worship in a Christ-centered church, are essential elements for keeping and growing in faith. Ask God for help:

Dear Heavenly Father,
I have sinned against you and I am sincerely sorry for my sins. I believe that Jesus died to take away my sins and that you have forgiven me all my sins. I thank you for giving me the assurance that when I die, a heavenly home awaits me. Please help me grow in faith. Help me to amend my sinful ways. I ask this in the wonderful name of my Savior, Jesus. Amen.

Our History: A Church On A Mission

Updated June 2004

In the 1950’s, two small Lutheran groups were meeting in separate places in Greene County. They were brought together during 1958 when The Rev. Louis Launhardt was called by the Atlantic District of the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod (LCMS) to serve this mission congregation in Cairo, New York. The mission was bringing people to Christ - and in May of 1959 approximately 200 people became Charter members of Resurrection Lutheran Church, meeting in what was then the American Legion Hall in Cairo.

The cornerstone for our building at the intersections of Routes 32 and 23B in Cairo, was laid in November of 1963. The Fellowship Hall served as the worship area until construction was completed. Confirmation classes, Bible Classes, a Youth Group and Ladies Assembly were organized. Fellowship Dinners were held often, forging close relationships bound by faith in Jesus Christ. The Lord built the faith of His people through the Word and Sacraments. The Church was on a mission!

Greene County’s booming resort industry proved challenging for the many families of Resurrection whose livelihood depended upon tourism, yet whose hearts yearned to worship the Lord. During the late-1960’s, Resurrection participated in community ecumenical Lenten services, with intentional outreach to the community in word and deed, shepherded by our second Pastor, The Rev. John Kjoller. We had a mission!

The 1970’s were our “baby boom years”. Many couples of the congregation were starting their families, and the building was alive with activity. This period gave birth to our weekly Coffee Hour, an increasingly important time of fellowship for this geographically scattered group of believers. During this time, the Folk Choir also came into being, broadening the congregation’s musical expression of the faith, and understanding of the mission. The Rev. Dean Gade, our third Pastor, led us in joyful worship, earnest Bible Study and strong fellowship which characterized these years. While the winds of change brought both struggles and growth, the Word of God continued to be preached, taught and experienced at Resurrection.

At the end of an 18-month pastoral vacancy - a trying time for any congregation - the body of Christ at Resurrection emerged stronger in faith, having been shaped by God’s loving hand, always focused on the Word of God and the Cross of Christ. The Rev. Larry Peters arrived and became our fourth Pastor. The mission continued!

Change and spiritual growth were evident between 1980 and 1992, with a solidifying of our Lutheran traditions and heritage in worship style. Acquisition of our Preschool, opening of the Food Pantry, and expansion of the summer Vacation Bible School program revealed our renewed commitment to local missions. The God-blessed increase led to the renovation and expansion of the church building, allowing for more classrooms, choir and food pantry rooms, efficient office space, and a social area in the Narthex.

New mission opportunities appeared, as God brought a new Organist and Director of Music, Pam Slater, to Resurrection. The music program expanded to include active Adult, Folk, Youth and Children’s Choirs, as well as instrumental groups. A second “baby boom” resurfaced the need for additional organized youth ministries, and “The Believers” and the “Crowd of Christian Critters” youth groups were formed. In addition, a group of young people came together to write a monthly newsletter page for youth, called “The Acolyte.” Many women found their niche for service and ministry in the newly re-formed Ladies Guild during those years.

Resurrection experienced another pastoral vacancy during 1993-94. This was a unique time of personal and congregational growth, renewal, and preparation for the expanded mission the Lord had for us with our fifth pastor, The Rev. Victor Nelson. In the Fall of 1995, a formal Mission Statement was adopted reflecting the goal and purpose of Resurrection Lutheran Church. At the same time, direction was sought for future mission through congregational planning sessions. These resulted in ambitious plans being made and set in motion. Our mission intensified!

Christian Education for all of God’s children, young and old, has been a priority at Resurrection. This produced additional Adult Bible Classes and Discipleship Groups, and extending of our Sunday School throughout the summer. Since then, the Lord of the Harvest has brought many new people to Resurrection, revealing the need for two permanent, year-round Sunday morning worship services, with a third [evening mid-week] service during July and August to accommodate the summer work and recreation schedules of God's people. Our Preschool, renamed Joyful Christian Preschool in 1995, has seen positive program and structural changes - continuing the mission! The Lord has so blessed Resurrection that a “Forward in Mission” program was established in 1997, opening new opportunities for mission in the future.

Our gracious Lord, knowing our needs even before we did, brought about the sale of a small piece of Resurrection’s property to CVS in 1998. The property sale, along with major land clearing efforts, has exposed the church building to the main intersection in Cairo, welcoming more of our local residents and visitors alike.

“Catch The Vision! Share The Glory!” was our theme for 1999, as we joyfully celebrated Resurrection’s 40th Anniversary as a congregation and looked forward to continuing the mission.

New congregational planning sessions in the late 1990's produced further “visions” relating to the needs of our steadily-growing congregation. Chief among these were beginning a Van Ministry, the addition of more classroom space for Christian education, and expansion of the pastoral ministry, all to meet current and anticipated needs of the mission.

Earnestly seeking the Lord’s guidance and provision, the congregation then moved forward in faith. The Van Ministry became a reality by 2002, and in 2003 a three-fold approach forward in mission emerged. Ground was broken for thenew Christian Education building, with occupancy expected early in the fall of 2004. In addition, the congregation supported long-time church member, Shirley Algozzine’s participation in the two-year Atlantic District Diaconate Program. Shirley was commissioned as Deacon of Resurrection Lutheran Church in July of 2003. She serves full-time as Deacon, assisting and expanding the Pastor’s ministry, and as Director of Outreach and Inreach, bringing an added dimension to the congregation’s ministry, and broadening its capabilities. At the same time, the congregation is supporting Pastor Nelson in a four-year advanced leadership training program through the Pastoral Leadership Institute (PLI) of the LCMS. God has been preparing Resurrection for further growth and mission.

Having completed year one of PLI, Pastor Nelson has led the congregation forward in mission by implementing PLI-inspired ideas and principles. The “Deacon’s Moment” has been integrated into our worship services, an 8:15 Folk Choir has been established, several congregational committees are being restructured for more effective ministry, more frequent New Member classes are being offered, an enhanced music program is bringing a new level of excellence to our worship, and a strengthening of our ministries to children, are some of the most recent advances in God’s mission at Resurrection. In response to the many young families God is bringing to our doorstep, in January of 2004 the congregation established a part-time position of Children’s Ministry Director, filled by church member, Dana Nieder.

Recognizing the need for spiritual growth among Resurrection’s increasing number of members and friends, the congregation embarked on the 40 Days of Purpose program during the 2004 Lenten season. Involving most all of Resurrection’s approximately 200 worshipers, the Lord’s gracious love in Jesus Christ was made known through this program in ever-deepening ways, by examining the question, “What On Earth Am I Here For?” What an exciting mission for the Lord we have been given.

Throughout the years since 1959, one thing has always been evident. We have gathered around the Word and Sacraments, keeping our eyes on the cross and trusting in the Resurrection power of Jesus Christ. We will continue in His power and strength as He gives direction for the future mission.

We pray that 100 years from now it will be said of this congregation, that by God’s grace and the Resurrection power of Jesus Christ, we made disciples who were growing in faith and were enthusiastically bringing God’s Word and love to our community. We pray that it will be said, year in and year out, that we were faithful to the mission assigned to us by our Lord Jesus - the mission of making discipiles.