Grace Evangelical Lutheran Church

Join us for prayer at the close of the day as we meditate on God's Word in Psalm 40. Download the service folder at https://www.GraceLutheranElCentro.org/service-folder

Final Thoughts from Pastor for the Fifth Sunday of Easter: Alleluia! Christ is Risen! . . . He is risen, indeed! Alleluia! And Happy Birthday Leo! Can you believe that he is already FIVE YEARS OLD?! What happened that little boy that came with us to El Centro back in 2016?!... We had a really great time in San Diego for Leo’s birthday! And I’m going to give you a virtual slide show of some of the highlights of the trip! First, we have a picture of Leo with a Jaguar car! He is roaring like the jaguar on the car’s badge. The funny thing is that this is only one of SEVERAL cars that Leo asked to be photographed next to (I have a sneaking suspicion that he might grow up to become a car salesman!). We also made our way to Sea World for the first time. Leo got to pet some baby sharks (not really babies . . . just small, friendly sharks). Leo also picked out a present for Sam from the gift shopa little stuffed puffin that Sam absolutely adores! Leo is really good at picking gifts for his little brother. Of course, we took the obligatory family picture at the entrance to the park. We also made our way to the beach and got Leo to step into the water (Sam, not so much). Leo has been to the beach before but he didn’t much care for it or the sand or the surf. But this time, Leo couldn’t get enough of the big waves and dancing/splashing-about in the water as it enveloped most of our legs (and pants). I caught a beautiful shot of Holly and Leo standing on the shore and looking out to sea. Maybe he will decide to become a sailor like his dadthe ocean sings a sweet, sweet song. Lastly, I hope you’ll join me this week for our Zoom Bible Study on Tuesday at Noon as we study Psalm 40. And then tune-in or come by in-person on Wednesday night at 7:00pm for our short prayer service. Details for how to join the study are on our website, on our Facebook page, and sent by email to our electronic newsletter list. Yours in Christ Jesus, +Pastor Griebenaw

Join us for the Second Sunday of Easter. Download the service folder at https://www.GraceLutheranElCentro.org/service-folder

Join us for Midweek Prayer. Download the service folder at https://www.GraceLutheranElCentro.org/service-folder

Final Thoughts from Pastor for the First Sunday in Lent: Brothers and Sisters, I never get tired of this cartoon (see image)!... This little gem brings some levity to our Old Testament reading (known as The Binding of Isaac). I wish I could give the artist credit but I’ve never been able to figure out who drew this little gem. I see it floating around Facebook all the time and always chuckle when I see it. Some might say that we shouldn’t be making light of this storythat this isn’t a laughing matter . . . except Isaac’s name means he laughs so, from a linguistic standpoint, this really IS a laughing matter! LOL! All joking aside, this is a profoundly important event in Holy Scripture! GodFather, Son, and Holy Spirithas given Abraham (by his lived experience) and us (by the inspired Word) a transcendent way of knowing His fundamental essence: LOVE! As Saint John tells us: God is love. In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent His only Son into the world, so that we might live through Him (1 John 4:8b-9). One thing that I want to point out about the Old Testament reading (Gen. 22:118) that is a bit obscurethe Angel of the LORD that calls to Abraham, staying his hand from slaying Isaac, is none other than the Preincarnate Christ (the very Son of God who WILL be sacrificed for all of us at the Cross)! Note that when He speaks to Abraham, He says, I know that you fear God, seeing you have not withheld your son, your only son, from Me (Gen. 22:12). He identifies Himself as God and by this we know the Angel to be Jesus, but we might miss this truth with just a cursory reading of the text, especially since most ESV translations do not capitalize Me. I sincerely hope that you’ll join me for our Lenten Bible Study meeting on Zoom every Tuesday at Noon. We’re looking at God’s historic call to His people to repent and return to Him, and looking at how the things of this world try to get in the way of our own returning to God. Details for how to join the study are on our website and here on Facebook. And then join me each Wednesday for our Midweek Prayer Service at 7:00pm, both streaming on Facebook and in-person. Pastor Beyer (Saint Paul’s Lutheran Church in Holtville) and I are teaming up and hosting this midweek service at each other’s congregations, alternating weekly. This week, February 24, we’ll be at Grace and Pastor Beyer will deliver the homily (regardless of location, you can always watch on our Facebook page). Lastly, please continue to mail your tithes and offerings to the church's post office box: Grace Evangelical-Lutheran Church, PO Box 1530, El Centro, CA 92244-1530. Yours in Christ Jesus, +Pastor Griebenaw

For the first Sunday in Lent, we are encouraged to put on the whole armour of God.

Join us for Divine Service on this First Sunday in Lent. Download the service folder at https://www.GraceLutheranElCentro.org/service-folder

Live tonight indoor

Join us for the Second Midweek Advent Service. Download the service folder at https://www.GraceLutheranElCentro.org/service-folder

Final Thoughts from Pastor for the Second Sunday in Advent: Brothers and sisters, Normally my final thoughts are light-hearted or even a bit silly. But today I’m digging out the old soap box. Christmastime, as the world marks it, starts as soon as the last dollop of mashed potatoes are scraped from the bowl at Thanksgiving . . . if not even earlier nowadays. ...Continue reading