Church guide

On this Mother's Day we pray: Dear Father, we approach your throne on behalf of the mothers whom you have entrusted with the care of your most precious little ones. We thank you for creating each mom with a unique combination of gifts and talents. We thank you for the sacrifice of self each mom gives for her children. For the late nights spent rocking a colicky infant. For the hands calloused from washing, wiping, scrubbing, mixing, baking, stirring, hugging, patting, disciplining, holding, writing, erasing, painting, and pouring. Give all moms strength - physically, spiritually and emotionally - each and every day. We pray for single moms, who must lean solely on you for the fathering of their children. We thank you that you’re big arms surround children who may never know their earthly father. We pray for those who grieve today. We ask for your comfort to surround those who weep. We pray for the peace of your presence to cover our minds and thoughts, as you remind us, the enemy can never steal us out of your hands. He never has the final say over our lives. We are kept safe in your presence forever, whether in life or in death. We also pray for mothers who never had the honor of bearing children, but whose nurturing extends to the many souls who come across their lives. Most of all, Lord, on this day in which we honor mothers, may we love and cherish the special women who have born us, who have nurtured us, and who have prayed for our well-being. May our hearts overflow with gratitude to you, who formed and knitted each of us in a mother’s womb. In Jesus' name we pray, Amen.

The staff is working at giving the BLC office a refresher this summer. As they are cleaning out items, guess what year this vintage piece is from? Closest guess wins!! You have through the weekend. (After the contest look for more "fun items" we find throughout summer. 😊)

Get to know the mission church we support with this video!

As the young men and women in our congregation declare their faith on their Confirmation day, we pray with the apostle Paul: "I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith." (Ephesians 3:16-17a)

Our new sermon series is all about the Holy Spirit, entitled, "The Spirit Fires." We have a fun, collaborative art project planned focusing on the Spirit. Check it out in the church narthex/hallway, both sites. 🎨

Our Easter joy isn't over yet! Click below for a short video devotional from Your Time of Grace.

"Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here; he has risen!" - Luke 24:5-6 Christ is risen!

Our musicians have been hard at work getting ready for Easter worship tomorrow! Bloomington Lutheran - 7am Sunrise, and also 9 & 10:30am Festival services Living Hope - 8am Sunrise, and also 10am Festival service

Rest, O Christ, from all your labor; Sleep within your borrowed tomb. Foes have crucified and bound you Fast within death's narrow room. Pilate's guards stand watching, waiting Where they rolled the sealing stone. All unseen another watches: God will not forsake his own. Help us keep this solemn Sabbath As we wait for Easter dawn. Earth's dark night of sin is passing; Death's long reign will soon be gone. Christ, in whom the new creation Rises brighter than the sun: May we, as we watch for morning, Trust the vict'ry you have won.

We're still looking for more hands on deck to prepare and serve the Easter Breakfast at BLC. Head to this link if you can help Saturday or Sunday. We are especially in need of youth in middle school and high school who want to help serve the food during the breakfast! https://www.signupgenius.com/go/30e0b4aa5ad2ba3fc1-easter4

Good Friday worship theme: "Worthy is the Lamb! It Is Finished" Bloomington Lutheran site - noon & 6:00pm Living Hope site - 6:00pm Special Tenebrae service at Bloomington Lutheran site - 7:30pm

Today/tonight's worship theme: "Worthy is the Lamb! The Main Course" Bloomington Lutheran: noon & 6:30pm with Communion Living Hope: 6:30pm with Communion

A little fun GUESSING GAME: can you guess how many bulletins were printed for the Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, Tenebrae & Easter services, both locations combined? Closest guess gets a little gift from our office staff. :) You have 24 hours. Go!

Have you ever been to a Good Friday Tenebrae service before? If so, you know that it can be a very moving service with beautiful music and dramatic readings. The "Service of Darkness" reflects on the darkness that fell over the earth as the Son of God was crucified for our sin, symbolized in 7 candles being slowly extinguished. Held at our Bloomington Lutheran location this Friday at 7:30pm, April 19, this is different than the other Good Friday services that are held. We hope to see you there!

"A very large crowd spread their cloaks on the road, while others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. The crowds that went ahead of him and those that followed shouted, 'Hosanna to the Son of David!' 'Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!' 'Hosanna in the highest heaven!' (Matthew 21:8-9)

It may not look like much, but this pile of toys (and a much larger pile of food) are getting ready to make our 8th grade capstone confirmation retreat great. Please join in praying that God speaks into the lives of his kids this weekend. We ask him to grow a strong spiritual community around those walking into high school soon.

Lenten church services have been cancelled for this evening, along with any church activities. Please stay safe! At least we can be reminded with all this, "Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow." - Isaiah 1:18 😊

Easter for Kids - We had a blast learning about Jesus' love for us this morning! Thank you to all the organizers and volunteers for their time and efforts preparing and running this program.

If you weren't able to worship with us at Living Hope this morning, here is a snippet of the worship service. Our thanks to Martin Luther College's touring College Choir for leading worship. 🎶✝️

Starting this Thursday, January 10th - March 7th at 6:30PM we will be hosting Financial Peace University at both our Bloomington and Living Hope campuses. Past groups at our congregation have paid off $340,000 and saved $50,000 in 9 Weeks! Leave a comment to sign up or get more info. To see how this class has impacted some of our own members, watch the video!

Starting Thursdays, January 10th - March 7th at 6:30PM we will be hosting Financial Peace University at both our Bloomington and Living Hope campuses. Come find out how past groups at our congregation have paid off $340,000 and saved $40,000 in 9 Weeks! Leave a comment to sign up or get more info.

I thought this was the FALL teen retreat! At least we have a warm fire inside!

Last year's Financial Peace University class was able to pay off over $280,000 in personal debt and save an additional $20,000 in just 9 weeks! We are offering this class again on Thursdays, September 6th - November 1st at 6:30PM. Come learn how to manage God's blessings God's way for God's glory. Sign up at https://fpu.com/1066373, or contact Jake at [email protected] to learn more!

God wants us to be good stewards of what He has given us. What if you were following a plan for your money that you KNEW worked? Starting September 6th we are offering Dave Ramsey's Financial Peace University at our Living Hope site to give guidance on taking control of your money, getting out of debt, and creating a plan for your future. See the video below to see a short promo video. Sign up at: https://www.financialpeace.com/classes/1066373/registration

Rummage sale today! Doors open at Living Hope at 8am! Check out all this good stuff!

God, fill this place with Joy and Truth this week. Let VBS be a place where our volunteers find a way to use their talents, and where your kids experience your love around every corner.

Practices for Holy Week are underway. This beautiful rendition of "The Lord's Prayer" will be played on Maundy Thursday at our Bloomington Lutheran location, 6:30pm service. Here's a taste in case you are out of town this week:

Thank you to the Sunday School children that sang at both of our church locations this morning for Palm Sunday. Here are the Living Hope Sunday School children singing Jesus' praises!

A little snippet of music time during Mornings with Mommy from this morning. We meet next month on Thursday, January 11th from 9:45 - 11:15am. New friends are always welcome! MwM is currently free.