Lisa Leber

We rejoice with Mary, the servant of the Lord, as we celebrate the fourth and final Sunday of Advent this Sunday. “And now, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you will name him Jesus.”

We will follow our normal Sunday morning worship schedule, with holy communion at 8 and 10:30 a.m.

Join us as we prepare to celebrate our Savior’s birth!

Pictured above is Mary, displayed each December at our door on High Street to bless our neighborhood and passers-by.

Each year, the Salvation Army Angel Tree Project provides Christmas gifts to hundreds of children in our community. Thanks to all who have already taken an angel tree tag! A few tags are left if you still would like to participate. Gifts are due at the church no later than Monday, November 25. Items should be placed in a large black plastic bag (one for each child) with the angel tag attached to the bag.

Thank you for your generosity toward our community!

First Lutheran will be participating again this year in the downtown Carlisle trick-or-treat event known as “Spooky Saturday”. In recent years, several hundred children and parents have passed through our doors and received candy and information about our congregation. This is a great opportunity to show hospitality to our neighbors.

We will need volunteers to welcome trick-or-treaters and help give out candy on October 21. If you can help for an hour or two between noon and 3 p.m., please let the church office know. If you cannot volunteer that afternoon, you can still help by bringing a bag of candy to the church office sometime before Friday, October 20. Thank you!!

Thanks to all who helped us celebrate “Christmas in July”! Hundreds of “care kits” – socks for men, women and children filled with personal hygiene items and snacks – were assembled from your donations.

The care kits were blessed during worship on Sunday, September 3, and are being distributed through the Community CARES locations in Shippensburg and Carlisle. 

Community CARES provides emergency shelter, resources, and supportive services to individuals and families at risk of or experiencing homelessness, and First Lutheran is grateful to be able to support its ministries.

May we be inspired all year long by the joy, peace and hope of Christmas!

The 2023 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Commemoration service will be held on Sunday, January 15, 2023, at 4 p.m. at The Meeting House, 1155 Walnut Bottom Road, Carlisle. The keynote speaker will be Danielle M. Conway, Dean and Donald J. Farge Professor of Law at Penn State Dickinson School of Law.

Image from Flickr. Public Domain

We will gather for one service of holy communion on Sunday, December 25, and Sunday, January 1.

Merry Christmas!

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!

A recording of the gospel and sermon from our 8 a.m. service is posted here each week: gospel and sermon

On December 21, the longest night of the year, neighbors in Cumberland County gathered to remember those experiencing homelessness, especially those who have died while homeless.

Almost 200 handmade blankets were displayed and blessed by the community, prior to distribution. Representatives of a number of agencies were available to provide information about their services.

First Lutheran is grateful to have served as the host site for this event.

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!