One of the most frequent things I was told when I started at Pacific Hills was that everyone loves the organ so much! Being an organist, I was thrilled to hear this! The organ is a big part of worship, not just at Pacific Hills, but at many churches. It begins the service, it ends the service, and it leads everyone in singing. Have you ever thought about how the organ became the instrument of choice for worship?
The Pacific Hills Lutheran Church Courtyard Jazz Series starts once again this year. This year's first performance is the Mark Benson Quartet on June 18, 2023 at 7:00 PM.
Mark Benson is a saxophonist with the Nebraska Jazz Orchestra, a clarinetist with the Lincoln Municipal Band, and conducts the Intergeneration Orchestra of Omaha. He is an active freelance performer, composer, arranger and adjudicator, and is on the music faculties of the University of Nebraska at Omaha and Peru State College. Joining Mark on this performance will be Jeff Scheffler on guitar, Steve Gomez on bass, and Joey Gulizia on drum set. This performance is funded in part through the Music Performance Trust Fund in conjunction with the Omaha Musicians Association.
It's hard to believe we are already at Pentecost Sunday and summer! This spring we've had wonderful music throughout the worship services,
from the brass quartet on Easter, to the Cello Concert and Concordia University Handbell Choir Concert for our Concert Series, and also the music shared by our talented congregational musicians in the choir, bell choir, cantors, and instrumentalists. Please be sure to thank these musicians for their time and hard work they do to make PHLC have beautiful music!
There will always be skeptics who call into question the resurrection of Jesus Christ, but plenty of evidence exists to defend this core teaching of our faith. The fourteen resurrection proofs below are meant to help you to live out your hope, “Always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you.” (1 Peter 3:15b).
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.
On Palm Sunday, we were blessed with the Concordia University Handbell Choir playing a concert at PHLC as part of our Concert Series. Pacific Hills has had the privilege to hear our own beautiful handbells these last two years with our own Handbell Choir that was started. There has been a lot of work from the ensemble musicians to share the gift of handbell music with the congregation, especially with many musicians having never played handbells before!
First Peter is on deck for the Epistle readings this Easter Season. So, if you like “series” preaching or “lectionary” preaching this series will bring a little of both. The theme I have chosen for this series is: Strength for Today / Bright Hope for Tomorrow, based on the much-loved hymn, “Great is Thy Faithfulness.” Peter wrote his first epistle to believers who had been dispersed throughout the ancient world and were under intense persecution. Peter wanted to remind his hearers of the hope that we have because of God’s faithfulness.
Please join us April 2nd, 2023 at 3:00 PM at Pacific Hills Lutheran Church. We will host our last concert in our 2022-2023 Concert Series at Pacific Hills! This concert will feature the Concordia Handbell Choir, Directed by Jessica Kite from Concordia University, Nebraska. This event is free-will offering and open to the public, so be sure to share this event with others throughout the Omaha/Council Bluffs communities! Feel free to contact Zach Hastings, Director of Music, at
Join Pastor, Cheryl and the Rev. Dr. Kirk Clayton as they lead a Miraculous Journey Tour to the Holy Land with and optional extension to see Egypt and the Great Pyramids. Dates are January 22–February 1, 2024 for Israel; and February 1-4, 2024 for the Egypt extension. There is a $600 early bird discount if registered before April 1, 2023. Check out the link at A Miraculous Journey
The Pacific Hills youth offer a big THANK YOU to everyone who came to the pre-Mardi Gras dinner on Saturday evening. We raised more than $1,100 toward the cost of the next LCMS Youth Gathering, which will be in New Orleans. A special thanks to every one who made or brought food, served food and cleaned up afterward. Thanks also to the trio Paul, Bob and Dan who provided the music. Look for more fundraisers to come!
Here are a few photos from the evening on Saturday, Feb.18 in Acker Hall.
Page 2 of 16