First Lutheran Church and Preschool (Concord, CA)

Journey through Jesus' journey to the cross as we pray "Deliver us from evil." https://youtu.be/Wc7EuHaWOZM

See you today and tomorrow!

Join us this evening for a conversation with Pastor Andy about Maundy Thursday https://youtu.be/aW6U-B50sGg

Join us for an Easter egg hunt!

We're livestreaming Maundy Thursday, prerecording Good Friday, and sharing Easter in-person and online! Who is ready for Holy Week?

In-person outdoor services start back up today! Join us outside or online!

Hear more about what Pastor Andy has to share about John the Baptist's call by using this link to his sermon on Youtube: https://youtu.be/giCM0G5I8vs?t=1537

Pastor Andy starts a new sermon series today called "The Call of the Prophets." Join the series at flcconcord.org/youtube

Join us for a Christmas Eve service of Lessons and Carols at 3pm (or anytime in your celebrations) at https://youtu.be/KAJNQmCyJuw And on Christmas morning, for a children's program at https://youtu.be/4RfZx5bzmfc

What do the lives of Christians have in common with the Code of the Elves in the movie, Elf? Join us for the midweek Advent devotion: https://youtu.be/A1HxZMKboIg

Despite how it might feel, Christmas will come. Jesus will come. Grab a candle, a cookie, or just your favorite cozy blanket for Pastor Andy's midweek Advent video. https://youtu.be/e1_lJtMXsPE

Christmas Eve and Christmas Day services will be available online at flcconcord.org/live!

Join us Sunday at 9:30 on flcconcord.org/live for an Advent service on Peace and the Psalms.

Join Pastor Andy weekly on our YouTube channel for an online Advent devotion: https://youtu.be/vc2Sfyt5Kd8 What's your favorite Christmas movie? (Midweek Advent services are not happening in person this year.)

We’re sad not to host our annual Giving Thanks at Thanksgiving meal this year but we pray the meals we donated through Mels Diner will bless the days of those who receive them. Have a happy and safe Thanksgiving!

Join us at 9:30 as Pastor Andy wraps up the Every Good Gift series! flcconcord.org/live

What makes us Lutheran? Martin Luther sparked the Reformation in 1517 and through the rest of his life, refined the beliefs and doctrine that makes us Lutheran.

Week 3 of Every Good Gift begins at 9:30! flcconcord.org/live

If you're in the Concord community and would like to contribute food donations to the SHARE Pantry, message us to coordinate a time to receive your donation!

No Outdoor Worship this Sunday Air quality remains at unhealthy levels, but we will still gather online at 9:30am tomorrow at flcconcord.org/live, continuing our series on Philippians and being a steward of every good gift God has given us. Hope you can join us! - Pastor Andy

Join us at 9:30 as Pastor Andy wraps up the Every Good Gift series! flcconcord.org/live

Indoor worship will resume on Sunday November 1. We will be outdoors for the final three weeks of October. Online services will continue into the foreseeable future as well. Please read the link below for more information. - Pastor Andy http://flcconcord.org//452-indoor-worship-resumes-november

Join us for week 2 of Every Good Gift! Join us online (https://youtu.be/3HTyyDTvBxU) or in-person!

For the next four weeks, Pastor Andy will lead us in his sermons through the book of Philippians, studying about Every Good Gift. Join us in-person or online!

No Outdoor Worship this Sunday Air quality remains at unhealthy levels, but we will still gather online at 9:30am tomorrow at flcconcord.org/live, continuing our series on Philippians and being a steward of every good gift God has given us. Hope you can join us! - Pastor Andy

Outdoor worship cancelled for Sunday 9/13. Air quality continues to be in the unhealthy category and is forecasted to remain that way through the weekend. We will be online only this Sunday, at 9:30am at flcconcord.org/live, with Zoom Bible study at 10:30am. ... Hope you can join us online! Pastor Andy

Outdoor worship canceled for August 23. As you can tell if you have stepped outside, our air quality is pretty bad right now and it looks like it will continue to be poor through the weekend. We will be online only this Sunday for worship. Hope you can join us. We continue to pray for all those whose homes and businesses are in danger, and for all those fighting the fires throughout the state. - Pastor Andy

It's looking like the air quality for tomorrow will still be quite poor, so the preschool will be closed Friday, August 21. We plan to reopen Monday. Stay safe out there everyone.

Due to the poor air quality (as caused by the heat and fires in the area), First Lutheran Preschool will be closed tomorrow, Thursday, August 20. It is looking like the air quality index will reach over 150 tomorrow which is unhealthy for everyone. Apologies for the inconvenience. We are doing our best to keep our kids safe. We will be in contact with all parents via the HiMama app regarding our decision for Friday. Stay safe out there. - Pastor Andy

Due to weather, we'll only be doing online, livestream service today, not outdoors in-person. We go live at 9:30am here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AN3KxRNaMzg Worship with us!

We spent all week learning to #TrustJesus! We can't believe Rocky Railway VBS ends its journey today! Thanks for riding with us! https://youtu.be/YfBGZBQkySY

Rocky Railway VBS this week is learning how to #TrustJesus Join us for Day 4! https://youtu.be/Afj3tQYhq5k

Due to weather, we'll only be doing online, livestream service today, not outdoors in-person. We go live at 9:30am here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AN3KxRNaMzg Worship with us!

We have some awesome church members and preschool families. Thank you Sarah for the masks to keep us safe and styling and to Valentina for the cool toys

Rocky Railway VBS is chugging along - Day 3 already! https://youtu.be/ZjQbWerW_5o

Rocky Railway VBS is chugging along - Day 3 already! https://youtu.be/ZjQbWerW_5o

Ride the rails with us on Day 2 of VBS Rocky Railway! https://youtu.be/J9_vLA4YrU4

VBS Rocky Railway Day 1 goes live at 10am, but you can watch at any point today! https://youtu.be/PU0diztEeCI

Join us for VBS this week at flcconcord.org/youtube!

VBS Digital Resources If you want to receive a email with VBS supply and snack ideas, plus daily links/reminders for the VBS videos, simply put your email in at the link! www.flcconcord.org/signupvbs

First Lutheran will be doing a digital VBS this year July 13-17 on our YouTube channel (www.flcconcord.org/youtube)!

Guidelines for In-Person Outdoor Worship at First Lutheran These are the guidelines provided by First Lutheran, as created by Pastor Andy, the Elders, and staff to protect our community and be in compliance with the county health order. (and of course, if you are unable or uncomfortable to come back to church yet, we'll have an online option at 9:30am at flcconcord.org/live just like we have during these Covid times)

We will begin in-person, outdoor worship services on Sunday, June 21. Bring your own mask and chair or blanket. We will have a check-in station for temperature checks and hand sanitizer. If we reach our county-mandated capacity, or if there if you have a temperature, you may be asked to join us from home. And of course, if you are not ready to rejoin us in person, we honor that! Online services will continue at 9:30 am on Sunday morning at flcconcord.org/live.

KidFest is cancelled for this year, but there is an opportunity to support those in our community at this food drive over the weekend.

It's Teacher Appreciation Week! We love our First Lutheran Preschool teachers because of their love for our students and their adaptability to changing circumstances. What do you love about our First Lutheran Preschool Teachers?

Please join us for live stream services this Holy Week at flcconcord.org/live.

Here is an Easter Ornament you can make for yourself for with the kids. Click on the link and print page #2 on cardstock in color, if possible!

Hi everyone! Most of our updates are happening over in our group site if you care to join.

Here is a wonderful devotion by President Harrison. Very comforting in this time of the COVID-19 crisis.

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, The COVID-19 coronavirus has been garnering a lot of local and global attention. I have met with local pastors to talk through our response. I have received numerous communications from our church’s district on how to respond. The leadership of First Lutheran Church and Preschool has been in conversation this week about how we should respond. And I have spent time in prayer asking for God’s wisdom in how to respond. Contra Costa County h...as recommended that all gatherings of 50 or more be cancelled. They also have offered recommendations for such gatherings to minimize personal contact and the potential spread of the disease. We will continue to meet for worship on Sundays at 9:30, and for Sunday School and Bible Study at 10:45, but we will be taking steps to minimize personal contact. Attached to this email (and in First Notes this week) you will find those response steps. We will of course be vigilant in keeping up with the situation and adapt as needed. Personally, you may believe that these steps are unnecessary, or you may believe that these steps are not enough. I pray that you will support these action steps and express any concerns you have to me (Pastor Andy). Please do not let this become a situation for division in God’s church. We are taking these steps for three main reasons: First, for the benefit of our neighbors who are more susceptible to this virus. Second, to help calm the consciences of our people so that we can gather for worship in peace and not anxiety. Third, to set an example in our community to show that we are taking this seriously and being proactive for the sake of the community. Yet, we are driven by faith, not fear. We are responding out of compassion, not panic. There may be other small things in addition to the list below. These are the plans for this week. We will monitor the situation and there may be further steps taken in the weeks to come. God’s blessings to you all. May the God of peace protect you. Pastor Andy March 12, 2020 See more

As the COVID-19 coronavirus continues to spread, leaders of First Lutheran Church and Preschool are preparing a plan. At this time the preschool remains open and we plan to continue to meet on Sunday mornings for worship as usual. Look for an email from the church office tomorrow (Thursday) outlining some steps we will be taking. We plan to respond with compassion and faith, not fear or panic, always for the sake of our neighbors especially the most vulnerable among us. Remember simple things like washing your hands, staying home if you are sick, and praying for our community and the world. Pastor Andy

Several of our members have attended past Mission Conferences. Feel free to sign up on line.

Our Christmas Eve service is at 7:00 PM on December 24. Our Christmas Day service is at 9:30 AM on December 25.Our Christmas Eve service is at 7:00 PM on December 24. Our Christmas Day service is at 9:30 AM on December 25.

We have some sad news to share. On Friday, November 8, our beloved Pastor Jim Mueller passed away. Jim served First Lutheran from 1981-2008 and was well known for his passion for children's ministry, his drawings, and his focus on God's love and grace. We will miss him dearly, but we know he is with Jesus. Please keep Carolyn and all of Pastor Jim's family in your prayers. A memorial service for Pastor Jim will be held at First Lutheran on Saturday, November 16 at 11:00am with a reception to follow.

As of 6:30 Thursday morning, we still have power, so the preschool remains open for Thursday, October 10. Thank you all for your patience. We'll keep you updated if anything changes.

Have you ever struggled to understand what God wanted in your life? Here are a few thoughts on that topic from Pastor Andy.

We're up to 130 kids registered for VBS! We've got room for a few more. (And we could always use a few more volunteers!) Register your kids and yourself as a volunteer at this link: https://vbspro.events/p/events/flcconcord19

VBS is only a month away! Register at www.vbspro.events/p/events/flcconcord19

VBS is coming soon! Sign up to volunteer and register your kids at this link: https://vbspro.events/p/events/flcconcord19

It's National Teacher Appreciation Week! Thanks to all of our amazing preschool teachers at First Lutheran!

VBS is coming soon! Save the date! July 8-12. Follow this link to register your kids and to volunteer: https://vbspro.events/p/events/flcconcord19

This is one of the Keynote Speakers at a recent CNH District Mission Conference. Listen for some good advice on how to improve your prayer life.

Tomorrow we begin our Lenten journey toward the cross with Ash Wednesday. We are doing a series entitled "Sounds of Lent" with Faith Lutheran in Pleasant Hill. Please join us at 12 Noon at First, and at 7PM at Faith.

Check out this opportunity to attend the CNH Mission Conference. This is the 6th annual conference.

Pastor Andy's sermon from Sunday reminds us that God can transform any situation. No matter what you are going through, God can transform evil to good, sickness to health, and death to life. Take a listen.

Lutherans marching for life in Washington DC

Christmas Eve Worship is December 24 at 7:00pm.

This was our group from 2016. Hope you can join us this year

Since today is #givingtuesday, it is a good time to remind everyone about our online giving option. There are options for one time donations as well as recurring gifts. God's blessings to you during your holiday preparations and celebrations.

Giving Thanks at Thanksgiving is tomorrow! Hope to see you all at worship at 10:30am with the dinner being served from 11:30am to 2pm.

The preschool will be closed tomorrow (Friday, November 16) because of the air quality. We are following the lead of the school district on this, doing our best to keep our kids safe.