In June 2025, Celebration decided to undergo a conversation to define what is most true about our community. Every church endeavors to follow Christ and love our neighbor, but not every church is the same. So, we asked what makes us who we are?

We asked because we want to grow in love, faith, and in how we care for others. 

We invited Pr Cindy Carrol (local retired ELCA pastor and consultant) to guide our process. To gather information, we sent out a survey, enlisted conversation leaders, and engaged in a morning of conversation about our values and what is critical to us.

We then narrowed down the recurring themes and are currently refining language to encapsulate what we’ve learned. We are integrating what we’ve learned to enhance how we worship, build our community of faith and care for each other, and how we share that love outside the church walls. 

Celebration is a church of …

• Grace and compassion
• Hospitality and kindness
• Friendship and fun

We live our faith in Christ by:

• Welcoming people without exception or expectation
• Nurturing a genuinely loving community of belonging and connection
• Seeking and encountering God
• Serving our neighbors near and far

We endeavor to take relationships, community, and the love of Christ seriously while having a great time! 

What 5-6 words would you use to describe Celebration’s key values at this time?

• Helping young people
• Kindness, Openness, Acceptance, Joy
• 1) Solid theology expressing grace. 2) Daring to enter ministries that are not the social norm; vulnerable and underrepresented. 3) Don’t take ourselves too seriously; be open to change. 4) Always encourage inter generational activities for the church and community.
• Outreach, empathy, love, fun, care taking
• Compassion, caring, musical, worshipful, theological integrity,
• Gospel based, welcoming, open-hearted
• Believe in Grace. God will handle our lives. Hopefully we’re walking in Christs footsteps
• Community; compassion; Caring; Openness; faithful
• Friendly, sincere, accepting, inclusive, welcoming
• Diversity, inclusion, genuine, thought-provoking.
• Trustworthiness, Reliability, Caring for one another
• Truth telling. Tackles tough situations. Genuine. Caring.
• Compassion, growth, family, kindness, respect
• Welcoming, Inclusive, community
• Friendly, relaxed, caring, welcoming, humor-filled

• How do you imagine visitors would describe Celebration? How would you want them to describe Celebration?

   

  • Friendly, welcoming, accepting
  • Warm and welcoming, with a sense of commitment to the fellowship and ministries of the church.
  • Visitors would experience a balanced combination of solid theology alongside a lightheartedness. They should feel a call to engage in meaningful ministry, a place to enact Jesus’ love for all.
  • Welcoming, happy and full of love and enthusiasm for spreading the Gowpel.
  • Friendly and welcoming
  • Sharing Jesus with friends–old and new
  • Open arms. Come and join us place
  • Welcoming, engaging and cheerful. I think that these are the most important qualities a church should exhibit to new members.
  • Friendly, thoughtful, accepting and walking their faith.
  • Open and honest
  • Very Friendly and Caring
  • Sincere. Genuinely happy to meet me and hope I return to worship
  • I would hope they would find it as welcoming as I did.
  • Welcoming, Happy and Nurturing
  • 1. Cozy, small, welcoming 2. welcoming, inviting, meaningful to their life, all ages welcome, all walks of life welcomed