Well, Martin Luther is credited with beginning the Reformation, and the Lutherans get their name from him, if that tells you anything.
- Salvation is by faith alone, grace is freely given and cannot be earned.
- Instead of the Catholic idea of transubstantiation, they believe in something called consubstantiation.
That's really all I can say, and I may have gotten a thing or two wrong. All I know is that most Lutherans I run in to are pretty nice folks. That Martin Luther wrote some good hymns, my favorite by him being: A Mighty Fortress is Our God.
We were supposed to read his
On Christian Liberty in my theology class, but we spent too much time on Athanasius (not that one can spend too much time on Athanasius...)
Not sure what your faith background is, but the Lutheran church will likely be very liturgical. have a sneak peak:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jFGDgdN_Hx8