top of page

Our Beliefs

Christ Our Redeemer Lutheran Church welcomes you in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Our name emphasizes that Jesus was the long-awaited Christ and that Christ's work is rescuing, buying back, or redeeming us from sin and its consequences. The name not only identifies the one whom we worship, but also guides all that we do in Church.
 
Our mission as Christ Our Redeemer Lutheran Church is to be people of God gathered around Word and Sacrament. Therefore, we proclaim the love of God in Jesus Christ, through the power of the Holy Spirit. We do this through worshiping, learning, supporting, witnessing and serving.
 
“Christ Our Redeemer” is a long name. Two Lutheran churches in Temple Terrace, one named “Christ the King”, the other named “Our Redeemer”, merged in 1984.
 
This congregation confesses Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior and the Gospel as the power of God for the salvation of all who believe Jesus Christ is the Word of God incarnate, through whom everything was made and through whose life, death, and resurrection God fashions a new creation. The proclamation of God’s message to us as both Law and Gospel is the Word of God, revealing judgment and mercy through word and deed, beginning with the Word in creation, continuing in the history of Israel, and centering in all its fullness in the person and work of Jesus Christ.
 
The canonical Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments are the written Word of God. Inspired by God’s Spirit speaking through their authors, they record and announce God’s revelation centering in Jesus Christ. Through them God’s Spirit speaks to us to create and sustain Christian faith and fellowship for service in the world. This congregation accepts the canonical Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments as the inspired Word of God and the authoritative source and

front.jpg

norm of its proclamation, faith, and life. This congregation confesses the Gospel, recorded in the Holy Scriptures and confessed in the ecumenical creeds and Lutheran confessional writings, as the power of God to create and sustain the Church for God’s mission in the world. (From the ELCA Confession of Faith)
 
Christ Our Redeemer serves the Lord through the volunteer work of our members and is affiliated with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) and is in the Florida-Bahamas Synod.
 
At Christ Our Redeemer, we invite all baptized Christians who desire to receive Christ’s body and blood for forgiveness of sins to join us at the Lord's Table. The Sacrament of Holy Communion is served weekly, nourishing us in our faith and strengthening us for service to God and others.

Our Pastor

Pastor Eric Friedrichs

Born and raised Athens, Georgia

Graduated Clarke Central High School, 1988

Graduated Newberry College, Newberry, South Carolina, 1991

Bachelor of Arts in Music - Minor in Religion

Graduated Lutheran Theological Southern Seminary, Columbia, South Carolina, 1996

Master of Divinity

Professional:

Pastor of Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, Springfield, Georgia, 1996-2003

Pastor of Mount Hermon Lutheran Church, West Columbia, SC, 2003-2017

Co-founder and Coordinator of Crossing Campfirmation Cluster at Lutherock

Member, Temple Terrace Chamber of Commerce

Personal:

Eagle Scout, 1988

Blackbelt in Karate, 2015

Plays guitar and bass, enjoys biking, hiking, and other outdoor activities

Married to Tara since 1994. She is an ELCA Rostered Deacon, and serves as Director of Family Life Ministries at Living Lord Lutheran Church in Lakewood Ranch (Bradenton), FL

Pastor Eric and Tara are the proud parents of twins: Emily Katherine and Jordan Christopher

 

Our Staff

5702236320012.jpg
Pastor Eric and Tara.jpg

Keith Miller, Bookkeeper

Keith Miller.png

Deacon Tara Friedrichs,
Director of Faith Formation

Vickie Sufka, Parish Administrator

Betty update photo.HEIC

Elizabeth Chester, Organist

Chris.png

Chris Robinson, Music Director

bottom of page