Lutheran Church – Missouri Synod

THE SEAL OF THE LUTHERAN CHURCH - MISSOURI SYNOD lays proper emphasis upon the cardinal principles of the Reformation, Scripture Alone, Grace Alone, Faith Alone. At the bottom we note Luther's Coat of Arms, together with the year the three Ecumenical Creeds and the six Confessions of the Evangelical Lutheran Church were first published as the Book of Concord, 1580. These six confessions (1. The Augsburg Confession; 2. The Apology of the Augsburg Confession; 3. The Smalcald Articles; 4. The Small Catechism of Luther; 5. The Large Catechism of Luther; 6. The Formula of Concord) are symbolized by the six stars to either side of the cross. The date of Synod's organization, 1847, appears at the bottom. The three Greek crosses below the gold cross represent the Trinity; the cross itself gives the Cross of Jesus Christ our Lord the prominence it deserves. The clusters of grapes on a running vine are a symbol of the Christian Church, which is made up of true believers, who abide in Jesus Christ, the True Vine. This picture conveys the idea of the union of the true Church with her Lord.

May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. (Galatians 6:14).

I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful. You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing ... As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. (John 15:1-9).