Our Beliefs as an LCMS Congregation:

About GOD
There is only one true God – the Triune God –who exists in three separate but equal persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
God the Father is our maker and the creator of all things.
The Son is Jesus Christ, who came to earth as the perfect being between God and humanity.
The Holy Spirit calls us to believe in Jesus Christ as our Savior. He is the whisper in our heart’s ear.

About Sin
We all fall short of God’s expectations because we are all born sinful. Sin can be summed up as all the things we say, think, do, and don’t do, that fall outside of God’s holy will for our lives and end up separating us from God. Jesus Christ took our sin upon Himself and died on the cross, on our behalf.
When we believe in Jesus Christ as our Savior, He bears our sin and gives us His forgiveness.

About Being Saved
Receiving the Seed of Faith acknowledge Jesus Christ as your savior.
Growing with the Seed of Faith is strengthening your relationship with Jesus Christ.
Bearing the Fruit of Faith is your actions show what you believe.

About the Bible
Everything First Lutheran Church of Gainesville believes comes from the Bible. God’s message of love and hope for all people.
The Bible is the written Word of God, handed down to us in order to point us to the truth that we are saved from our sin and eternal death by the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. The Bible teaches us everything we need to know about God’s love and His gifts to us.

Our Staff:

Pastor Jonathan Rockey, Vacancy Pastor

Stephanie Smith, Director of Music

Angie Burr, Director of Open Arms Lutheran Child Development Center

Angie has been the Open Arms CDC Director since October 2010. She has worked in childcare for over 14 years and enjoys seeing the children learn about the love of Jesus. She believes it is truly a blessing to work at Open Arms Lutheran Child Development Center and serve the Gainesville community and its families in this way.

Leeann Lee, Administration

Leeann has over 20 years of office management, sales, marketing and customer service experience. She hopes her behind the scenes service helps the fellowship of others.

Our History:

First Lutheran Church Gainesville began in 1931 with two Lutheran brothers and their families who had moved to Gainesville and worshipped together in their homes. A traveling Lutheran pastor came once a month to conduct the services for them. As more Lutheran families and students moved to the area, their number grew too large for their houses, so they held worship services in a former office and storeroom at a local mill where the brothers worked. A pastor of their own was sent to Gainesville in 1938 at that time — St. Matthew’s Lutheran Church. So began a journey.

After twenty-one years of worshipping in various places, a happy congregation dedicated its chapel and student center on the current church property in December of 1952. It was a good time for a new beginning with a new name, and St. Matthews became First Lutheran Church Gainesville, or popularly known as FLC Gainesville.

The church changed along with the city around it and was re-dedicated in May of 1966. 2008 saw a huge change with a remodel of the Sanctuary and the addition of Open Arms Child Development Center.