20Dec/14Off
Tomorrow Sunday December 21st at Saint Paul’s Lutheran Church of Irvine, The Last Sunday in Advent: “How will this be?” (Luke 1:26-28)
Divine Service: 9:30 am
Bible Study and Sunday School: 11:00 am (please note: tomorrow we will not have Bible Study and Sunday School due to our New Member reception…this will be a time of fellowship and celebration)
Location: Crean Lutheran High School in Irvine: 12500 Sand Canyon Ave., Irvine, CA 92618
Directions: Exit Sand Canyon from the 405 or 5, head East towards the hills, cross Irvine Blvd., turn right on Saint’s Way (this will put you on the campus of Crean Lutheran High School…we worship in the event center/gym)
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
The Lord has given us one last Sunday to prepare for Christmas. That’s tomorrow. In our Gospel from Luke 1:26-38 we will hear of THE preparation for that first and original Christmas: the Virgin Mary conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit which is evidence of the glorious Incarnation (when God took on flesh and became one of us).
Christmas comes because God entered into our lives. God is not far away and detached. He joined our lives by His will and by His Word…it happened out of His great love for you and me.
Come let us receive the Word of Christ as we make our final preparations for Christmas…not just through decorating, and gifts, and parties…but through spiritual preparations: confessing our sin, receiving absolution, receiving the Word proclaimed, and partaking in the Holy Sacrament. Christ comes to prepare us for His coming. That’s God’s plan for us, keeping our faith alive and growing.
Also, let us rejoice as we receive 19 new members to our congregation! This is indeed a time of great celebration! Along these lines, remember that every individual member has a constant mutual-ministry opportunity: reach out to one another, build bridges, be friendly. If you see someone who is alone, greet them, introduce yourself (even if you’ve done it before as we live in grace). Let’s be one of those congregations that guests will talk about: “they are a friendly church; a loving church!” It makes all the difference in the world.
By the way, this is not a random tag to our theme. God is not just a theological idea of love and mercy…no, He actually came to us in the flesh. We don’t just talk and study theology…we live in love. The Christian loves the Word and — remember — loves people. Put the two together and now we are on to something!
In Jesus’ Love,
Pastor Espinosa