Welcome to St. John's Lutheran Church of El Segundo. We are a member congregation of the Lutheran Church -- Missouri Synod, a body formed in 1847 wihich has 2.4 million members in 6100 parishes across the United States, as                         well as being in fellowship with a number of sister churches around the world. St. John's was founded in 1954 as a mission congregation of First Lutheran in Manhattan Beach, and is presently being served by Vicar Kenneth L. Humphrey.

    So, what is a vicar-- isn't that what the Anglican Church calls their priests? In the LC--MS, a vicar is a man who has completed seminary (or traditionally, has one year left at school) and is serving for one year in what might be called an internship, somewhat akin to a doctor's residency. After completion of of the vicarage, and any additional time at the seminary, the seminiarian is then called and ordained as a pastor. Vicar Humphrey will be serving St. John's through July of 2009, the Lord willing, and he will then be available for a call as a pastor.

    St. John's is an orthodox, confessional Lutheran church, which means that we hold to traditional Lutheran teachings regarding Law and Gospel, we hold that the Holy Scriptures are the inspired and true Word of God, and that the Book of Concord is an accurate exposition of the Bible. We follow the historic liturgy and sing the classic hymns of our faith for Divine Service, which is held on Sundays at 10 AM.

    For further information about Lutherans and what we believe, teach and confess, here are some links of interest: Concordia Theological Seminary (Vicar Humphrey's seminary), the Wittenberg Trail (a kind of "Facebook for Lutherans"); a couple of great online radio programs can be heard at Issues, Etc. with Rev. Todd Wilken, and The God Whisperers with Pastors Bill Cwirla and Craig Donofrio. Discussion of notable topics in the LC--MS and Lutheranism in general can be found at Brothers of John the Steadfast, Bill Cwirla's blog at Higher Things (a Lutheran youth group) and Rev. Paul McCain's Cyberbrethren. Two Lutheran cyclopedia websites can be found here: David Jay Webber's Lutheran Theology Web Site and the Christian Cyclopedia of the LC--MS. Please feel free to contact Vicar Humphrey if you have any questions, prayer requests or would like more information. St. John's church office phone is 310-615-1072.