NEWS

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.

Our nave will be open for prayer, meditation and reflection from 12 noon to 3 p.m. on Good Friday. At noon and at 3 p.m., Pastor Leber will offer brief sung prayers known as the Solemn Reproaches. Please enter through the Atrium entrance (off the main parking lot). You may take either the elevator or the stairs up to the nave. The High Street doors will not be open during this time, except from 1:30-2 p.m. when participants in the Carlisle community Stations of the Cross walk will enter to pray two stations in the nave.

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.

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 (at 9:30)!

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.

From 9:15-10 a.m. on Sunday, February 18, 25, March 3, 10, 17, and 24, an adult Faith Formation series based on the book “WItness at the Cross” will be held in room 22.

On Wednesday evenings at 7 p.m. (February 21, 28, March 6, 13 and 20), Pastor Leber will lead a bible study of the gospel of Mark followed by a brief evening prayer service (location TBA).

All are welcome – all are invited!

We are delighted to announce that the renovation of 132 East High Street, Carlisle, has begun!

The 100+ year old house, owned by First Lutheran since 1997 and sitting on a parcel of its property at the corner of East High and South Bedford, was gifted by the congregation to Safe Harbour in December 2023. Safe Harbour, a non-profit, provides a continuum of services to people experiencing homelessness in Cumberland County.

Safe Harbour has received a number of grants to renovate the house into three affordable housing units.

Since the building already exists, a ground-breaking wasn’t appropriate – so several folks (including Pastor Leber) got to take a sledgehammer to a wall inside!

Our congregation is grateful to be able to help increase the number of (desperately-needed) affordable housing units in our community, and we look forward to welcoming new neighbors to our block when the renovations are completed in 12-14 months!

Special thanks to the Borough of Carlisle and HARB for their help and support during this process.

On Wednesday, February 14, we begin the season of Lent, a time of baptismal renewal and of repentance and an opportunity to engage in the Lenten disciplines of giving alms, praying and fasting.  We will gather for holy communion and imposition of ashes at 12:15 p.m. and 7 p.m.

We invite you to join us on Ash Wednesday, when we hear this holy promise: though “we are dust, and to dust we shall return,” we are also beloved children of God, saved by the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Join us for worship in the weeks ahead as we focus on Jesus’ baptism and the early days of His ministry!

During the time after Epiphany, we hear how Jesus called disciples, taught, and healed. The season will conclude with the Transfiguration of our Lord on Sunday, February 11.

We gather for holy communion each Sunday at 8 a.m. and 10:30 a.m.

Join us at 8 a.m. or 10:30 a.m. on Sunday, December 31, 2023, as we celebrate the First Sunday of Christmas with a service of lessons and carols and holy communion!

Merry Christmas!

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.

O come, let us adore him!

Both of our Christmas Eve services include carols, holy communion and candle lighting. Our 7 p.m. festival service will be preceded by special music beginning at 6:30 p.m.

Join us as we celebrate the birth of Jesus!

Pictured: the Nativity window in our nave.

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!