GIVING TUESDAY

November 29th

Click HERE to make a Gift that Supports:

Mid-Atlantic Lutherans in Mission (MALIM), Concordia Seminary "Adopt-a-Student" , and FLC & LLPS

Advent Message from Pastor Jim (November 2022)

Dear First Lutheran Family and Friends,                       

Emmanuel! God with us!

We are in the season of Advent – a time of waiting. This time of year most normally think of waiting for the celebrations that accompany Christmas and New Year’s. Waiting for the celebrations that accompany the greeting of people we may not have seen in a while. And that kind of waiting isn't wrong. But ... Advent is really about a different kind of waiting! It's really about waiting for Jesus. 

We might think, "What are we waiting for?" because 2000 years ago, on the first Christmas, Jesus, Emmanuel, God with us came into the world in the flesh - fulfilling God's promises to us. And today, through His word and His sacraments, He is still with us. 

Now our Advent waiting turns to another promise from God. Now we wait, in patient hope and faith, for Jesus' return to bring us all into His eternal kingdom. 

The Season of Advent is characterized by waiting for the King of kings, the Lord of lords to return even as we remember His first coming in Bethlehem two millennia ago. The color of the season, “blue” – the color of the sky on a crystal-clear day – symbolizes our hope in Christ’s work on the cross to free us from the power of sin and death and His return from the heavens to earth to bring us into His New Creation. As Jesus ascended into heaven after His resurrection, two men in white robes remind us of this day saying, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into heaven? This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven.” (Acts 1:11) The season of Advent begins the new church year, running through the weeks leading up to Christmas, renewing our hope in God’s promises.

In this season of Advent, whenever you see the color blue and hear the word of God in the prophets of old and from Jesus Himself, give thanks to God for His faithful commitment to His promises. Rejoice in His promises – founded in His love for us – to restore peace between us and Him through the forgiveness of our sin. Then dwell firmly in those promises and the hope of life … now and in eternity … that we have through Jesus Christ, Emmanuel, God with us.

                                   In Christ's Love,

                                   Pastor Jim

Worship, Sunday School, Bible Study

• Masks optional for worshippers and Sunday School attendees of all ages.
• Please wear a mask if you feel more comfortable doing so ... please respect all for their decisions in this matter.
• Please continue to practice good hand hygiene and attend "livestream" worship and classes if not feeling well.

We encourage all of God's people to remember that after 2 years of suffering under the effects of this pandemic, not everyone is in the same place regarding health, masks, and other matters. 

• We strongly encourage those who need to continue practicing extra measures for their own health and the health of others to do so.
• We ask all to respect and honor these personal decisions in worship, in class, and wherever you might be in the community.

Remember Jesus' words, "Love the Lord your God ... love your neighbor as yourself"  (Matthew 22:37-39). 

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Worship

Worship Services

Sunday Morning
Click links below to attend on-line.

8:00 and 10:45AM In-Person and Livestream Worship 

If interested in the Livestream service call the church office at 410-257-3030.

Click here for Recorded Service 
(available after service is completed)

Wednesday Evening
6:30 PM In-Person Worship 
Or view Livestream here.

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Sunday School

9:30-10:30AM Children's & Youth Sunday School and Confirmation Classes (In-Person)

9:30-10:30AM  Adult Sunday School (In Person/Livestream)

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Bible Studies

 On-line studies on Sunday and during the week continue to be added. When available, please check in here.

•"Five Hundred Fifty Words-Or Less" Pastor's Blog