Church guide

Have some time and want to volunteer in East Central tomorrow? Meet by St. Paul’s Lutheran School downtown in the morning!

Join us tomorrow at The Shepherd's Hand Community Outreach Center from 10:30-12:30. Diapers will be given on a first-come, first-serve basis.

Some thoughts on worship planning and the Christian life on Thursday from our Vicar Phil Jaseph: In doing service planning, hymn selection, and determining texts for sermons, it is hard not to get caught up in the beauty of the church year, to find the many doctrines and aspects of the Christian life continually held before our eyes through our hymnody and lectionary. It is a potent, almost living reminder that, in being conformed to the image of Christ through God's Word, we have also been set apart for new life in Christ. Though the "cross-shaped life" is often painful and filled with struggles in this valley of sorrows, due to the sin within us and in others, we remember that in having been set apart, we have been justified, and because of this justification through Christ, we have been glorified. (Rom. 8:28-30) This glory is nothing pretty or worthwhile now in the sight of the world, but its beauty is in its truth, its reality, its purity, its perfect love. It is glorious because it is God's doing through the person of Christ for all who believe and have been set apart for this life. Throughout our lives, every day, in every circumstance, in every trial, God's living Word has something to say to us, lest we think that we have grown beyond it. May we never despise our Heavenly Father's love and wisdom that He freely and patiently offers. Thursdays can be very long here. Thursdays can include: devotions and visits at Bethesda, where it is both pudding and SOUP day; team/supervisor meeting; sermon prep; bulletin printing and assembly; and other business looking ahead toward Sunday and next week. I love our folks. I love our parish. I love our community. I am privileged to serve these people, and I eagerly await coming opportunities to proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ in this place. It is a Good Friday sort of afternoon here as we continue to embark upon the "long green season". I am very excited for one of our field worker's first sermons. He has worked hard and I pray that others may have the same opportunity to hear the crucified and risen Christ clearly proclaimed as I have had during his practice. Glory be to Jesus, who, in bitter pains, poured for me the life-blood from his sacred veins! Grace and life eternal in that blood I find; blest be his compassion infinitely kind! Blest thro' endless ages be the precious stream which from endless torments did the world redeem! Abel's blood for vengeance pleaded to the skies; but the blood of Jesus for our pardon cries. Oft as earth exulting wafts its praise on high, angel hosts rejoicing make their glad reply. Lift we, then, our voices, swell the mighty flood, louder still and louder praise the precious blood! (LSB 433)

Thank you to these servant-hearted sisters in Christ and potential future deaconesses from Christ Academy at Concordia Theological Seminary, Fort Wayne-CTSFW for their wonderful help today!

Every Sunday is special because we celebrate Christ’s victory and receive His gifts. On this Holy Trinity Sunday we praise God for an extra special day as Vicar Phil Jaseph was installed to serve among us in this new role for the next year! We also welcomed special guests from the Church Interpreter Training Institute (CITI) and Christ Academy, both happening this week at Concordia Theological Seminary.

Vacation Bible School 2019

We thank God for the faithful and loving service of Vicar Jonah Domenichelli this past year. Thank you and God's blessings to Jonah and his family!

All praise to God, four of our young people were confirmed in their faith today. We thank God for His faithfulness and steadfast love!

Please continue to pray for our brothers and sisters in Sri Lanka.

We praise God for calling former Vicar (2017-2018), Theodore Hoham, to serve as Pastor and teacher at Concordia Lutheran High School. Congratulations and God’s blessings to him and his family!

Our congregation will be blessed next year to have Phil Jaseph serving his vicarage among us beginning in June. Praise God from whom all blessings flow!

Support a sister church’s outreach ministries while enjoying amazing Burmese food tomorrow afternoon!

Check out the new website for The Shepherd's Hand Community Outreach Center!

Christ is risen from the grave! Death has been defeated. What a wonderful day of receiving the Lord’s gifts of Word and Sacrament, and gathering together as His people to celebrate Jesus’ resurrection. A blessed Easter from all at Shepherd of the City!

He is Risen! Come join us for Divine Service and celebrate the Resurrection of Christ. Peace be with you all!