A Confessional Lutheran Congregation in Highland Park
Redeemer Lutheran Church and School sits on the east side of Salt Lake City in the Highland Park neighborhood, a National Historic District on the city's lower slopes, where the congregation has put down long roots as a confessional witness of the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod. From a single campus at 1955 E. Stratford Avenue, the ministry reaches into Sugar House, Millcreek, and the surrounding communities of the Wasatch Front, offering the historic liturgy of the Western church on Sunday mornings and a Christ-centered school that stretches from the Early Learning Center through eighth grade. The motto above everything else at Redeemer is short: "Rooted in Faith. Growing in Excellence." The phrase captures the dual calling of the place, namely to be a church where the historic Christian faith is preserved and taught with care, and a school where academic rigor is taken seriously because strong minds serve God better.
Sunday Worship and the Historic Liturgy
Sunday is the heart of the week at Redeemer. The Divine Service begins at 9:30 a.m. in the main chapel, where the congregation follows the historic Lutheran liturgy with dignified reverence. Readings from Scripture, hymns drawn from the Lutheran Service Book, prayers, confession and absolution, the reading of the Law and the Gospel, a sermon, and the celebration of the Holy Eucharist all unfold in a pattern that has shaped Christian worship for centuries. Holy Communion is celebrated every Sunday. Visitors are welcome to observe or to participate according to their faith tradition, and the ushers are happy to help newcomers find their way. Hymnals and service books contain everything a guest needs to follow along, so even first-time worshipers who have never experienced liturgical worship can join in.
The worship is described by the congregation as reverent, meaningful, and spiritually nourishing, and Pastor Mark Below often says that the liturgy is filled with Scripture, prayer, confession, absolution, praise, and the proclamation of Christ. The worship teaches the faith not only to adults but to children, forming hearts and minds in the language of the church. For those who cannot attend in person, the service is livestreamed on Redeemer's YouTube channel, and recordings of recent services are kept online so that members and friends can stay connected to the rhythm of the chapel throughout the week.
Bible Study, Mid-Week Studies, and Daily Prayer
At 11:00 a.m., following the Divine Service, the congregation gathers in the library for Sunday Bible Study and Christian fellowship. Coffee and refreshments are provided, and the hour is set aside for going deeper into the texts that shaped the morning's sermon. All ages are welcome. On Wednesday evenings at 6:00 p.m., the mid-week study meets in the library and online for adults who want to dig further into Scripture.
Redeemer also nurtures the daily life of prayer at home. The pastoral staff encourages families and individuals to take up Luther's Morning and Evening Prayers from the Small Catechism as a simple way to begin and end each day in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. The prayers are brief, but they are rooted in the Ten Commandments, the Apostles' Creed, and the Lord's Prayer, so practicing them at home keeps the home connected to what is confessed in the Divine Service. A series of short booklets titled A Simple Explanation of... sits on a display rack along the east wall of the church entrance to help newcomers and lifelong members alike walk through the Lutheran teaching one topic at a time.
The Two Holy Sacraments
Redeemer practices the two sacraments that Christ gave to His church. Holy Baptism is the washing of regeneration in which God brings new life, unites the baptized with Christ in His death and resurrection, and gives the gift of the Holy Spirit. The congregation baptizes infants, children, and adults as a sign and seal of God's grace and entry into His covenant.
Holy Communion, also called the Lord's Supper, is celebrated every Sunday. In this sacrament, the congregation receives the true body and blood of Christ in, with, and under the bread and wine for the forgiveness of sins and the strengthening of faith. The real presence of Christ in the sacrament is taught as a central confession, not a metaphor. The historic liturgy places the Lord's Supper at the heart of the gathering, so that each Sunday brings both the Word preached and the Sacrament received. Anyone with questions about Lutheran sacramental practice is invited to speak with Pastor Below or to contact the church office.
What the Church Believes: A Confessional LCMS Congregation
Redeemer belongs to the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod, and the congregation joyfully stands in the historic Lutheran confession of the faith. The LCMS was organized in 1847 by Lutheran immigrants who wanted to preserve faithful preaching, sound doctrine, reverent worship, the pastoral office, the sacraments, catechesis, mission, and Christian education. The Synod's public confession is the Book of Concord of 1580, a collection that includes the three Ecumenical Creeds, the Augsburg Confession, the Apology, the Smalcald Articles, the Treatise on the Power and Primacy of the Pope, Luther's Small and Large Catechisms, and the Formula of Concord.
At Redeemer, Holy Scripture is received as the Word of God, and the Lutheran Confessions are treasured because they faithfully confess what Scripture teaches. The congregation confesses the Apostles' Creed, the Nicene Creed, and the Athanasian Creed in worship, joining the one holy Christian and apostolic Church across the centuries. The center of everything is Jesus Christ, true God and true man, crucified and risen for the forgiveness of sins. The congregation teaches that all people are sinful by nature and cannot save themselves by works, sincerity, religious effort, or personal decision, and that sinners are declared righteous before God by grace alone, through faith alone, for the sake of Christ alone.
For a city and a state where confessional Lutheranism is a small presence, the commitment to the historic liturgy and the Book of Concord is itself a defining mark of Redeemer. The pastoral staff teaches that historic Christianity is a great comfort, because the Church is not a new invention and the Christian faith is not dependent on the opinions of the present age. When worship is centered on entertainment, personality, or novelty, the heart is easily left restless, but when worship is centered on Christ's Word and Sacraments, troubled consciences are comforted.
The Pillars: Faith, Community, Excellence, and Service
The congregation and school together share four core values that shape everything from a chapel service to a kindergarten lesson. Faith is anchored in the Gospel and the Lutheran confession; it is the lens through which everything in the church and the classroom is viewed. Community is described as a safe harbor in Salt Lake City, a close-knit family in Christ where individuals are known, valued, and supported across generations. Excellence rejects mediocrity and strives to reflect God's glory by giving the very best in academics, music, teaching, and stewardship. Service is faith acting in love, equipping students and parishioners to look outward and serve their neighbors in the city and beyond.
These four pillars are not only words. The school is described as Christ Centered, Student Focused, Service Minded, and ONE Redeemer, and the church and school operate as a single ministry with shared staff, shared leadership, and a shared sense of calling. The community that gathers in the pews on Sunday and the families who send their children to the classrooms through the week are part of the same family.
The School: A Christ-Centered Education from Infancy through Eighth Grade
Redeemer Lutheran School is a private Christian day school that has long been part of the LCMS heritage in Salt Lake City. It serves children from four weeks old through eighth grade on the same campus as the church, with the pastor serving as a regular presence in the life of the school. The motto for the 2026-2027 academic year is "Rooted in Christ," drawn from Colossians 2:6-7, and chapel services are held every Wednesday morning at 8:15 a.m. in the school chapel, led by the pastor and staff and enriched by the music director. Parents and friends are welcome to attend.
The academic program is structured into three divisions. The Early Learning Center cares for infants through Pre-Kindergarten in the Nursery, the Toddler Rooms, the Preschool Room, and the Pre-Kindergarten Room, with a full-day schedule from 7:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. that serves working families. Early Elementary covers Kindergarten through second grade with Saxon Math, Saxon Phonics and Spelling, Nancy Larson Science, handwriting, daily reading practice, music, physical education, technology, and STEM and project-based learning. Upper Elementary and Middle School, covering third through eighth grade, continues Saxon Math and Nancy Larson Science, adds Wordly Wise and Words Their Way for vocabulary, and deepens social studies, geography, and project-based learning while maintaining the same specialty classes in music, physical education, technology, and STEM.
The school also has its own athletics program and a partnership with Camp Perkins, the LCMS outdoor ministry, which supports Vacation Bible School and other summer programming. Full-day care runs Monday through Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Class hours for the K-8 program are 8:15 a.m. to 3:15 p.m. Monday through Thursday, with an early release at 1:45 p.m. on Friday. Tuition for Kindergarten through eighth grade is $8,910 for the full academic year, billed through TADS Tuition Management with monthly, quarterly, or semester plans available. Early Learning Center tuition is billed monthly and varies by age and the number of days per week, with both half-day (7:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.) and all-day (7:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.) options. The school admits students of any race, color, or national or ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities of the school.
The Faculty and Staff
Redeemer's small size is one of its most distinctive features. The faculty and staff know the children by name, pray with them, and walk with them year after year. The leadership team is led by Pastor Mark Below, who shepherds both the church and the school communities and is a regular presence in chapel and the classroom. Mrs. Krystal Cochran serves as the principal and teaches the fourth through sixth grade homeroom, with a calling to lead the school in its mission of academic and spiritual excellence. Mr. Lindy Carlton, known around the building as Mr. C, directs the Early Learning Center and teaches Kindergarten. Mr. Payne serves as Redeemer's chief musician, leading music in the chapel and the sanctuary.
The K-8 faculty includes Mrs. Kuster in the seventh and eighth grade homeroom and yearbook, Mr. Kuster in the first through third grade homeroom and athletics, and additional classroom teachers in the early grades. The Early Learning Center staff includes Ms. Sylvia and Ms. Ginger in the nursery, Ms. Dom in the two- to three-year-old room, and Ms. Nyah and Ms. Sandy as assistants. Mrs. Johnson serves as the office administrator who keeps the daily work of the school and church running smoothly.
Mission 75 Plus: A Shared Vision for the Next Generation
The Board of Elders has launched a strategic plan called Mission 75 Plus to carry Redeemer into the next seventy-five years of ministry. The board has expanded to six elders and introduced an Elder On-Duty schedule on Sunday mornings so that someone is always available to greet visitors, answer questions about the liturgy, and help newcomers find their way around. The plan takes its inspiration from Ephesians 4:5-6, "One Lord, One Faith, One Baptism," and the 2026 theme is "One Lord."
Hospitality is a central part of the vision. The board invites every member to look for an unfamiliar face each Sunday, offer a friendly greeting, or help a neighbor navigate the hymnal. The goal is to make sure the welcome matches the excellence of the Word preached from the pulpit, whether a guest is a long-time member or a first-time visitor. The board also speaks of Whole-Life Stewardship, encouraging members to see their time, talent, and resources as a vocation lived out in service to the neighbor. Recent congregational feedback has shown a stable, peaceful congregation with a growing opportunity to expand outward focus and hospitality, and Mission 75 Plus is the framework for that work.
Vacation Bible School, Summer Programs, and the Fore the Kids Golf Tournament
Beyond Sunday worship and the regular school week, Redeemer hosts several community events that draw families and friends from across the Salt Lake Valley. Vacation Bible School is held in mid-June, running Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. and welcoming children entering Kindergarten through sixth grade. The cost is $100 per participant, and the week is run in partnership with Camp Perkins. Children hear Bible stories, sing, play, create crafts, enjoy games, and grow in friendship within a caring Christian community. Volunteers from seventh grade through adults are welcome to help, and snacks are provided twice a day.
The Fore the Kids Golf Tournament is a fall fundraiser held at Meadowbrook Golf Course, organized in partnership with Prince of Peace. The event is played in a scramble format, making it accessible to golfers of all skill levels, and includes a day of golf, lunch, and fellowship. The tournament supports children and Christian education in a joyful and meaningful way, and brings together church members, school families, friends, and community partners around a single shared cause.
During the school year, the campus also hosts picture days, grandparents' day celebrations, weekly chapel services, and the school gala. Summer workdays are organized to refresh classrooms, repair the campus, and prepare for the next academic year. Athletics programs round out the school experience for older students.
What to Expect as a First-Time Visitor
Visitors to Redeemer are welcomed warmly. The ushers are ready to help newcomers find their way around, and the hymnals and service books in the pew contain everything a guest needs to follow along. The congregation encourages first-time worshipers to feel free to simply observe and listen, or to participate as they feel comfortable. Ushers can guide visitors to the restroom, the cry room, or a quiet place if a child needs a break. The Bible study hour after the service is described as a wonderful opportunity to grow in God's Word and build community with fellow believers, with coffee and refreshments provided.
The church is located at 1955 E. Stratford Avenue, on the city's east side near Highland Park, with parking available on site. The campus is shared with the school, so weekday visitors may see students at recess or families arriving for chapel. Sunday morning is the easiest time for a first visit, when the 9:30 a.m. Divine Service and the 11:00 a.m. Bible Study are both open to guests. The church office can be reached at 801-487-6283 or by email at info@rlcs-slc.org, and a member of the team will be glad to respond to any questions about worship, the school, or how to become more involved in the congregation.
Why Families Stay
Many families first walk through the doors of Redeemer because they are looking for a Christian school in Salt Lake City or a Lutheran congregation where the historic faith is taken seriously. They stay because the small size means every child is known, every family is valued, and the rhythms of worship, prayer, and Christian education are lived out together. The school motto "Once a Bulldog, Always a Bulldog" captures the lifelong bond that forms between the congregation and the children who grow up on the campus. From the youngest infant in the Nursery to the eighth grader preparing for high school, from the first-time visitor at the 9:30 Divine Service to the elder on duty greeting at the door, Redeemer is built to be a place where the historic Christian faith is taught clearly, lived joyfully, and passed on to the next generation.