Lisa Leber

Join us on Sunday, September 20, at 3 p.m. for the inaugural concert of the 2026-27 Fine Arts at First concert series, featuring the Hanover Symphony Orchestra (HSO) Brass Quintet.

Founded in 1995, the HSO is a non-profit volunteer orchestra dedicated to fostering the love of music through entertainment, encouragement, and education. Its Brass Quintet features the principal players of the four brass instruments in the orchestra and the HSO’s music director.

This concert will benefit the Central PA Food Bank, founded in 1982 and dedicated to ending hunger in Central Pennsylvania.

All Fine Arts at First concerts are free and open to the public. A free will offering will be taken. Parking is available in the church’s main lot, accessible from High Street, or the overflow lot, accessible from Liberty Avenue (which runs behind the church parallel to High Street). Street parking is also available on High and Bedford streets.

Attendees are invited to enjoy a reception in the Martin Luther Room after the concert. Please join us!

On Sunday, June 14th, we will hold one communion service at 9:15 a.m., followed by a continental breakfast in the Martin Luther Room. This is an opportunity for our two worshiping communities – the ‘early’ folks and the ‘late’ folks – to gather together around Christ’s table…and then the breakfast table! All are invited!

Scenes from a past Fellowship Sunday breakfast!

All are invited as we gather each Sunday to receive forgiveness, sing, pray, hear God’s holy word, share the meal of Christ’s body and blood, and be strengthened for life as God’s people!

Click here for more information about our services and recent bulletins: Worship

A recording of the gospel and sermon is posted here each week: gospel and sermon

We celebrate with our missionaries, Dr. Stephen and Jodi Swanson, the opening of Tanzania’s first pediatric clinic, the Arusha Pediatric and Maternal Care Centre! Jodi will be stateside for a week this June to update First Lutheran and other supporting congregations about the amazing work being done to care for children as well as pregnant mothers. Read more at this link: https://www.ichafrica.org/photo-journal.html

UPDATE: Thanks to the generosity of our congregation, our Share Hope. Save Lives. campaign raised $12,500 this spring, presented to Jodi during her visit to Carlisle in early June!

We pray for the Swansons and missionaries around the world!

Pictured: President Jeff Caton and Jodi

Our celebration of Easter lasts a “week of weeks” (seven Sundays). Please join us throughout the Easter season, a joyous and hopeful time for the people of God!

Holy Communion is celebrated every Sunday at 8 a.m. and 10:30 a.m.

Christ is risen! He is risen indeed! Alleluia!

Join us as we celebrate the Resurrection of our Lord with festival Holy Communion at 8 and 10:30 a.m. Between services (from 9-10 a.m.), enjoy fellowship, a light breakfast, and egg hunts for the kids!

Good Friday is the second of the great Three Days (also known as the Triduum). On Good Friday, our focus is on the Passion of Our Lord and prayers for the world He died to save.

At 7 p.m. we will gather for the reading of the Passion according to St. John. The service will include hymns, several anthems by a small choral ensemble, the traditional bidding prayer for Good Friday and adoration of the cross.

Please join us as we reflect upon the life-giving cross, on which was hung the Savior of the world.

Maundy Thursday is the first of the great Three Days (also known as the Triduum). On Maundy Thursday we remember the new commandment Jesus gave us to love one another, which he modeled for us by washing his disciples’ feet. We also remember the last supper Jesus shared with his disciples, a meal we continue to celebrate more than two millennia later.

Please join us at 7 p.m. for Holy Communion with the stripping of the chancel.

On Sunday, April 19, the 2025-26 Fine Arts at First series will conclude with a concert by the Muhlenberg College Chamber Choir, College Choir and Treble Choir.

The choirs of Muhlenberg College, a private liberal arts college in Allentown, Pennsylvania, perform music from a range of genres, including classical, world and folk music.

All Fine Arts at First concerts are free and open to the public. A free will offering will be taken.

Attendees are invited to greet the musicians and enjoy a reception in the Martin Luther Room after the concert.

Parking is available on High Street (unmetered on our block), our large main parking lot (accessed via High Street) and our overflow lot (accessed via Liberty Avenue).

Lent, the 40-day period (not including Sundays) preceding Easter Sunday, is a time of repentance, reflection and preparation.

Please join us for study and worship during this important season of the church year. On Sunday mornings, we gather for holy communion at 8 a.m. and 10:30 a.m.

At 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday evenings in Lent (February 25, March 4, 11, 18, 25), Pastor Leber will lead a study of the gospel of John followed by a service of word and prayer at 7:30 p.m. On Wednesday, March 4, evening worship will include a healing rite with the laying on of hands and anointing.

And, of course, you are welcome to join us for mid-week worship in Lent whether or not you attend the bible study!