As I write this article today I am reminded of Neil Armstrong’s historic moon landing which took place 51 years ago, July 20, 1969. In the hours before Neil Armstrong took the first steps on the moon, he decided what his first momentous words, to be broadcast back to Earth and around the world, should be: “That’s one small step for a man, one giant leap for mankind.” Then, in the excitement of the moment, he messed up his line. Armstrong plead indistinct diction, although listening live and to the recordings all these years later, it’s impossible not to hear him saying, “That’s one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind.” Hear the difference? The indefinite article, a, contrasted his small step, the small step of a single man, with the giant accomplishment of the lunar landing for all mankind. As it came out, the point was a little less clear.
- Details
- Published: 02 August 2020 02 August 2020
- Last Updated: 02 August 2020 02 August 2020
- Hits: 717 717
ST. PETER AND ST. PAUL both have Feast Days in the Church Year commemorating events in their lives (Confession of St. Peter on January 18 and Conversion of St. Paul on January 25). Yet even more significant is their joint Feast Day on June 29.
One of the oldest of the festivals commemorating the lives of two saints, it was widely celebrated by the fourth century, but some scholars date it to 258 AD. Some traditions hold that they were both martyred on June 29 in 67 AD. More likely, it was on June 29, 258 AD that their remains were moved to the catacombs which established this feast.
- Details
- Published: 27 June 2020 27 June 2020
- Last Updated: 27 June 2020 27 June 2020
- Hits: 974 974
Pacific Hills welcomes organist Zach Hastings as Director of Music on July 1, 2020. He will be directing music and choir for the congregation’s traditional Lutheran Liturgy worship services and seasonal offerings. Zach will be playing the newly-renovated Schantz pipe organ, one of two like it in the Omaha area.
Zach is a native of Ankeny, Iowa, and served for seven years at congregations in Iowa and Minnesota, as a director of worship and music and as a bell choir director. He holds a 2016 Bachelor of Arts in Music degree from Iowa State University, where he studied organ performance. He currently serves on the Central Iowa American Guild of Organists (AGO) Executive Committee, and on the American Guild of Organists Young Organists (AGOYO) National Board.
- Details
- Published: 14 June 2020 14 June 2020
- Last Updated: 14 June 2020 14 June 2020
- Hits: 1920 1920
Every year at this time, children, of all ages, have quite a challenge. How are they going to pay attention to mom in such a way that the day goes well? There are the standard and routine ways to recognize this one very important person in the family – a card, a phone call, flowers, children trying to be on their best behavior. Mothers and their children tend to have high expectations for what the day will be like.
- Details
- Published: 09 May 2020 09 May 2020
- Last Updated: 09 May 2020 09 May 2020
- Hits: 1008 1008
Our Lenten Midweek Catechetical Sermon Series - The Ten Commandments
The Ten Commandments in the Shadow of the Cross and the Empty Tomb
During this season of reflection and repentance, we will take a close look at the Ten Commandments our Lord has given to us. Not only do these commandments of our Father guide our behavior, but, most importantly, they remind us of our deep need for the redemption our Father’s Son, Jesus Christ, has come to bring by His death and resurrection.
- Details
- Published: 11 April 2020 11 April 2020
- Last Updated: 13 April 2020 13 April 2020
- Hits: 896 896
HE IS RISEN! HE IS RISEN, INDEED!
Even though you may be safe at home this Easter, Jesus still died and rose again for you! You can print these pages and color them to remind you of His great Love for you, every single day. Bring them to church when we meet again, and share them with your friends!
Easter Coloring Pages Collection from CPH
HAVE A HOP-PY EASTER!
- Details
- Published: 09 April 2020 09 April 2020
- Last Updated: 09 April 2020 09 April 2020
- Hits: 1046 1046
Our routine may be on hold, but God's Word is our Stronghold.
Stay in The Word with free online resources for Bible, devotions, and home worship. We encourage you to take advantage of opportunities to praise and honor God and to share the joy of Christ.
- Details
- Published: 22 March 2020 22 March 2020
- Last Updated: 01 September 2021 01 September 2021
- Hits: 3624 3624
Things continue to change very rapidly with COVID-19. On Sunday afternoon, the CDC put out guidelines limiting groups to 50 or less. Yesterday afternoon, the White House called for limiting group sizes to no more than 10, and Governor Rickets followed the exact same advice when he recommended canceling all gatherings where there are 10 or more, including worship services, weddings, and funerals.
I have said, we would not cancel services unless this was the strong recommendation of our governing authorities or we had an outbreak in the congregation. Thankfully, we are not dealing with the later. So, at this time, we are cancelling all worship services, Bible studies and in person meetings for the next two weeks. After the two weeks, we’ll reevaluate the situation.
Psalm 46 reminds us, “God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging.”
- Details
- Published: 17 March 2020 17 March 2020
- Last Updated: 17 March 2020 17 March 2020
- Hits: 1501 1501
This weekend we were blessed with a special visit from the Concordia Junior-High Orchestra and their director, Sarah Jay. Thank you to the orchestra for filling the church with wonderful music for our worship services.
- Details
- Published: 08 March 2020 08 March 2020
- Last Updated: 08 March 2020 08 March 2020
- Hits: 829 829
The Lenten season is the fourth season in the church year (after Advent, Christmas and Epiphany). It begins with Ash Wednesday and is the oldest season of the church year. The original period of Lent seems to have been 40 hours. It was spent in fasting and contemplation on the sufferings of Christ. Later it became 30 days, then 36, and finally, in the reign of Charlemagne (about 800 AD), 40 days. Lent originally had one purpose — to prepare candidates for Baptism. For hundreds of years, the Baptism itself took place late Saturday evening or early Sunday morning before the dawn of Resurrection Day, during an all-night vigil.
The 40 days of Lent do not include the Sundays. Sundays in Lent - like every other Sunday - were to be “mini” resurrection days celebrating Jesus’ resurrection and not part of the Lenten fast. The 40 days of Lent correspond to Christ’s 40 days in the wilderness. The date of Lent is determined by the date of Resurrection Sunday. The Council of Nicea (held in 325 AD) determined that Resurrection Sunday would be observed on the first Sunday following the 14th day of the paschal moon. Lent probably comes from the old English word for Spring: Lenten (it may also be related to the German word for the time when the days lengthen: lenz).
- Details
- Published: 29 February 2020 29 February 2020
- Last Updated: 29 February 2020 29 February 2020
- Hits: 1371 1371