Some of you who receive these weekly announcements for our services at Saint Paul’s are members and some are friends (practically members in your love and support), but I believe all of you pray for this precious re-start that closed her doors in Laguna Beach some time back and reopened at Crean Lutheran High School in Irvine on Sunday, April 10th, 2011. So this message is not only to express thanks to the Lord for His blessings, but also thank you for your ongoing prayers and support in various ways.

Interestingly, yesterday which was the High Feast of the Resurrection of our Lord was the 53rd Sunday Service of Saint Paul’s as a restart congregation. It was the first service of the second year of services at the “new” Saint Paul’s. At that service the Lord blessed us with one hundred (100) worshippers!

Let me put that in perspective: about 12 Christians called me and we started working on January 1st, 2011. In all of 2011, we had a Sunday worship attendance average of 41 souls. In the last eight services prior to Easter we have averaged almost 54 per Sunday. On Friday night in my residence for Good Friday, we had more people than the average attendance of Sunday services in 2011. Then on Easter, the Lord brought 100 to that service.

This coming Sunday is our new member Sunday and we rejoice that we will be welcoming 13 confirmed members to our Saint Paul’s family. The Lord is truly blessing us.

My reaction? I am exceedingly thankful and full of joy, but I am also constantly reminding myself that there is much work to be done. Part of that is the ongoing search for a facility to call our own. On behalf of the congregation, our parish council is working hard on that need. In the meantime, we should be very thankful for the opportunity we’ve had at Crean Lutheran High School to get re-established. The Lord is has been providing, He will continue to do so.

In the meantime, let us also thank Him for our vision to be steadfast in the Word of Christ, to spread the Gospel of the Lord Jesus, and to share His love as the family of God toward one another and to all of those we are given opportunity to serve.

Alleluia! Christ is risen! He is risen indeed! Alleluia!

In Your Service and to Christ’s Glory,

Rev. Dr. Alfonso Espinosa, Pastor Saint Paul’s Lutheran Church of Irvine, CA