ALTAR FLOWERS are given to the glory of God by Johnnie and Rogelio Douglas in thanksgiving to God for His many blessings of 34 years of marriage and three wonderful sons.
CELEBRATING GOD’S LOVE The additional arrangement of roses on the altar are from some of the more than 140 roses on the campus of Historic First Lutheran. They are a reminder of God’s continuing love for us.
DID YOU KNOW? There’s probably much about Historic First Lutheran that many of us do not know. So, watch weekly bulletins for “I DIDN’T KNOW,” a weekly historical or interesting tidbit of information about Historic First Lutheran.
I DIDN’T KNOW! On this Sunday that we install Reverend Marcello Gómez as our Associate Pastor for Hispanic Outreach, perhaps you didn’t know that we have a long history of outreach to the Spanish-speaking neighborhood around us. Hispanic mission outreach at Historic First Lutheran began in the late 1980's when Pastor Victor Aldana was called by the Pacific Southwest District and deployed to us as a mission developer. After that approach didn’t realize the goals intended, Tom Edelen was called as our Director of Youth and Community Outreach Ministries in 1996. Tom was followed by Maria Bratton as Director of Community Outreach Ministries. Still, these alternate approaches didn’t quite accomplish the goals intended. After much study and creative planning, Historic First Lutheran called Pastor Marcello Gómez in 2004 to serve as Church Planter / Missionary, deploying him part-time to The Los Angeles Nehemiah Project to also do mission work at Hope Memorial Lutheran in Los Angeles. During these past three years, God has worked miracles through Pastor Gómez, resulting in our Spanish worship service witch averages 47 people weekly. God has now opened the door for us to re-call Pastor Gómez full-time in a mission outreach completely funded by us.
TODAY! Everyone is encouraged to attend the Installation of Pastor Marcello Gómez as our Associate Pastor for Hispanic Outreach at 1:00 p.m. The service will be in Spanish, but English speakers will be able to follow. A carne asada barbeque will follow the service. The church will provide meat, table service and beverages. Attendees are asked to bring a salad or a side dish or a dessert.
NEXT SUNDAY Due to Pastor Schaar’s attendance at the Synodical Convention in Houston, next Sunday’s service will be led by our Board of Elders, with Pastor Bill Fackler preaching and instituting The Lord’s Supper.
IT’S OFFICIAL! Just this past week, Pastor Schaar received official notification from our Bishop, Dr. Stoterau, that his title designation has been changed to Senior/Administrative Pastor.
EMERGENCIES During Pastor Schaar’s absence attending the Synodical Convention in Houston, please report all emergencies to Bill Files, Chairman of the Board of Elders – (626) 795-3607 (home) or (626) 796-4651. He will arrange pastoral care from Pastor Gómez or Pastor Fackler, if necessary.
WE ARE ONE CONGREGATION! Please don’t think of us as an “English” congregation and a “Spanish” congregation. Pastor Schaar and Pastor Gómez both minister to all the members. We have a unified budget, supported by contributions in both services. Please don’t think of things as an “us” verses “them” – rather just think of “us.” And praise God for what He’s doing here!
USHERS: TAKE NOTE Next week’s service will involve Usher Team # 1 –Bernadette Hendry, Greg Hendry, Rudy Melinat and Ann Price.