We have PLENTY of items to sing praises to God. Work has been completed on the 1st phase of organ repair. Zach has been practicing and THIS WEEKEND we will hear our wonderful organ. The 2nd phase will be completed later this year. Today, the elevator has been repaired and now we can access Acker Hall, 1st Floor, and 2nd Floor with our repaired elevator. Praise God from whom all blessings flow.
PHLC, we are truly blessed and getting close to the completion of this construction project.
Jim Mueller
Chairman Implementation Committee
Epiphany starts and ends with a bang. The bright star begins the season, and it culminates with the Transfiguration a bright shining star of a different sort. This weekend the paraments are still white as we observe the Baptism of our Lord, but for the next several weeks the color will be green. During these Sunday’s the celebrations recede, and everyday life re-emerges. What the time between Christmas and Lent captures is that we limited humans can’t take it all in at once. We need a respite, a reprieve to reflect on what has been revealed as we examine our lives.
Please join us for our first concert in our Fine Arts Concert Series at Pacific Hills on December 12th at 3:00 PM. This concert will feature Dr. Mei-Hsuan Huang on the piano, followed by refreshments afterwards. This event is a free-will offering and open to the public. Pianist Mei-Hsuan Huang is Associate Professor of Piano at Iowa State University and a member of the Amara (Ames) Piano Quartet (Joanne Rile Artists Management).
Join us this Advent 2021 as we celebrate “Emmanuel – God With Us.” We offer midweek Advent services, Sunday services, and services on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. Some of our regular worship service times have been adjusted for the next several weeks. Here is our schedule.
How did church music change during the Reformation? Every year we celebrate The Reformation and learn about many of the accomplishments of Martin Luther. I was recently reading about music and The Reformation and wanted to share this excerpt from an anonymous source explaining some of Luther's beliefs and changes to church music.
Pacific Hills is beautifying the new narthex area near the sanctuary, with mosaic art. Artist Rachel Ziegler has created custom imagery to complement Psalm 121:1, “I lift mine eyes unto the hills.”
Members are invited to participate in creating the actual art, by placing individual mosaic pieces on the art. Rachel will be on hand Saturdays November 6, 13 and 20, 9 am to noon, to guide and assist in this project. Join us in the narthex for this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. The piece is designed to fit the new wall in front of the coat room, and will be a prominent feature. Attendees will see the mosaic when entering and exiting the sanctuary. It is in tryptic form due to the weight of the materials, Rachel said.
Thanks to all the volunteers and participants of the Pacific Hills Lutheran Church Trunk or Treat that took place in the parking lot 10/23/2021. There was a great turn out of about 200 people and we saw some awesome trunk decorations and treats. Thanks to the Pancake Man with his delicious pancakes and sausages.
“For we hold that a man is justified by faith apart from works of law.” (Romans 3:28)
On October 31st in the year 1517, a 34 year-old Augustinian monk walked up to the castle church door in Wittenberg and posted 95 theses penned in Latin for the purpose of theological debate. Martin Luther wanted to talk. He wanted to know why the teaching of his church did not square with what he had learned from Holy Scripture. He wanted to know why, if the pope had the power to spring souls from purgatory, he didn’t just do so out of the goodness of his heart. He wanted to know how a piece of paper, an indulgence letter, could take away God’s punishments, as though God were a crooked jailer who could be bought with a bribe. Luther wanted to know what all this have to do with Jesus who hung dead on a cross one good, dark Friday for the sins of the world. And so began what we now call the Reformation of the western Catholic Church.
It is hard to believe we are already halfway through September! Many of us are resuming our "school year" schedules, not traveling on vacation or to see family as often, or your extracurricular activities are picking up again. Choir has started at Pacific Hills already, and Bell Choir starts this weekend! It will be nice to have our ensembles sharing music during our worship services again!
Some things to look forward to in the next few weeks:
Sunday, September 26th, we will have another Hymn Sing. This is your chance to have us sing your favorite hymn 10 minutes preceding worship service. There are no limits to hymn choices, which means you can even pick Christmas tunes!
We are getting close to that time of year when summer comes to an end and fall programming begins. Rally Day at Pacific Hills marks this occasion. Rally Day is September 12, 2021. We invite all teachers to participate in teacher installation, whether you are a Sunday School teacher or a small group leader. The Installation Service will take place at both services. Rally Day festivities will take place during the Sunday School hour in Acker Hall and will include refreshments.
Pastor will discuss our Milestone Ministry and the Four Keys to Nurturing Faith and our Enduring Faith Curriculum. After this opening, the students will be dismissed to their classrooms for abbreviated instruction. Parents, please respond to Pam Hafsaas (
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