NEWS

Join us at 8 a.m. or 10:30 a.m. on Sunday, December 28, 2025, as we celebrate the First Sunday of Christmas with a service of lessons and carols and holy communion!

Merry Christmas!

Through bible readings, hymn singing and anthems by our Chancel Choir, we will re-tell the story of how God sent Jesus to us as a little baby.

Join us for this beautiful candlelight service and for Christmas cookies in the Atrium after!

Empty boxes are available all around our building to be taken and filled with good stuff for Community CARES and the Carlisle Area Family Life Center during the Advent season!

Last year, over 40 big boxes of needed items were under our nave tree by Christmas Eve!

We invite you share the love and joy of the season with our neighbors. Pick up a box, choose items to purchase from the attached list, and bring your wrapped box back to church on Advent IV or Christmas Eve!

First Lutheran will be participating again this year in the downtown Carlisle trick-or-treat event known as “Spooky Saturday”.

Please stop by, say hello and enjoy some candy! Our High Street doors will be open, and we invite you to come in and take a look around our beautiful nave as well!

Our next American Red Cross blood drive is approaching! To see available appointments and pre-register for our October 25 drive, just click here: https://www.redcrossblood.org/give.html/drive-results?zipSponsor=firstlutherancarlisle

The drive will be held in Festal Hall on the lower level. There is plenty of off-street parking in the large lot on the east side of our building (enter from High Street). From the lot, head down the ramp to the door at the corner of the “L” of our building. Festal Hall will be straight ahead.

NOTE: You can also go to the ARC website https://www.redcross.org , click on “Give Blood” and then “Find a Blood Drive”, to find other local blood drives in your area.

Please join our lifesaving mission and schedule an appointment today!

Your donation saves lives!

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!

Carlisle churches will once again host the Ecumenical Stations of the Cross event on Good Friday, from 12 noon to approximately 2 p.m.

Beginning at New Life Community Church, 64 E. North Street, Carlisle, this event moves from location to location in downtown Carlisle as participants reflect on the last day of Jesus’ life. At each of the stations along the route, readings and prayers will be offered.

First Lutheran will be hosting station 11 (of 14) in its nave (enter from High Street) at approximately 1:30 p.m. The pilgrimage will conclude at Saint Patrick Shrine Church on East Pomfret Street.

Photo by Wim van ‘t Einde on Unsplash

Our second concert of the 2024-25 Fine Arts at First concert series will feature Knock on Wood, a musical quintet of experienced percussionists presenting a unique brand of rhythm and melody.

Knock on Wood members Jay Brown, Christina Roncin, Roger Myers, Jill Marshall-Work and Marlin Barnes perform selections drawing on traditional tunes, ragtime syncopations, lively Latin rhythms, American jazz, world music, and classical transcriptions.

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!

Click here for the 2024-25 FAAF brochure!

This Sunday, November 17, we will gather for one service at 9:15 a.m. Following worship, we will hold our 2024 Annual Congregational Meeting, during which we will discuss and act on 2025 budgets, vote for Congregation Council and Nominating Committee members, receive reports from staff and committees, and reflect upon the year in ministry.

Safe Harbour is inviting us to an Open House at 132 East High Street (gifted by the congregation to Safe Harbour in 2023 and now known as Harbour House) from 11-12:30 p.m. on Sunday. We are delighted that three more affordable rental units will soon be available for the community!

We will resume our regular worship schedule on Sunday, November 24, with holy communion at 8 and 10:30 a.m.

The people of First Lutheran wish you and yours a very happy Thanksgiving!

As we give thanks for the past year, and especially for God’s abiding love for us, we offer this prayer:

Almighty God our Father, your generous goodness comes to us new every day. By the work of your Spirit lead us to acknowledge your goodness, give thanks for your benefits, and serve you in willing obedience, through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. Amen

(from Evangelical Lutheran Worship)