Para Vista Lutheran Church Unknown

We are God’s children – that’s what he calls us. God’s Spirit lives in us – that is true. So why do we sometimes doubt this - and allow the world to plague us with uncertainty? The truth is that we find our identity, our purpose, our reason for living (and dying) in Jesus the Christ. We matter. We are valuable. We are loved and accepted. We make a difference because we are children of God.
Pastor Robert Voigt
Bible Readings: 1 John 3:1-3 and Luke 24: 36-48 (NLT)

We are God’s children – that’s what he calls us. God’s Spirit lives in us – that is true. So why do we sometimes doubt this - and allow the world to plague us with uncertainty? The truth is that we find our identity, our purpose, our reason for living (and dying) in Jesus the Christ. We matter. We are valuable. We are loved and accepted. We make a difference because we are children of God.
Pastor Robert Voigt
Bible Readings: 1 John 3:1-3 and Luke 24: 36-48 (NLT)

Most Christians are familiar with John 3:16, about God loving the world and sending Jesus so we can have eternal life in him. Not all Christ-ones are as acquainted with John 17:3, where Jesus expands on what this 'eternal life' is: "And this is eternal life, that they know you the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent."
Knowing God is not merely knowing about him; it's knowing his heart, how he feels about you, that he loves you despite the worst of you, and that he lets you into his plans. It’s a relationship of connection and trust, of vulnerability and growth. We call it intimacy.
And it’s all possible because of Jesus’ resurrection.
As we unpack all of this on Sunday, I invite you to place yourself in the accounts and stories that will be shared and see how you can grow in resurrection intimacy with the God who loves you.
Pastor Peter Steicke
Bible Readings: Acts 4:32-35, John 20:19-31 (NRSVA)

Most Christians are familiar with John 3:16, about God loving the world and sending Jesus so we can have eternal life in him. Not all Christ-ones are as acquainted with John 17:3, where Jesus expands on what this 'eternal life' is: "And this is eternal life, that they know you the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent."
Knowing God is not merely knowing about him; it's knowing his heart, how he feels about you, that he loves you despite the worst of you, and that he lets you into his plans. It’s a relationship of connection and trust, of vulnerability and growth. We call it intimacy.
And it’s all possible because of Jesus’ resurrection.
As we unpack all of this on Sunday, I invite you to place yourself in the accounts and stories that will be shared and see how you can grow in resurrection intimacy with the God who loves you.
Pastor Peter Steicke
Bible Readings: Acts 4:32-35, John 20:19-31 (NRSVA)

This is the week that changes everything. Without Good Friday we're lost in our guilt and shame,alienated from God, and showing the worst of ourselves to others. Without Easter we have adead Jesus, empty promises, and nothing to pin our hopes on.  But through Jesus we have a living hope (1 Peter 1:3). Everything Father God promised, all that he offers, every possible transformation, it all comes true because Jesus is alive.
If you don't feel that way, I invite you to investigate the Easter message anyway. After all,those first followers didn't expect him to be alive even though Jesus foretold it. He met them amid their doubts and fears, struggles and loss.
Likewise, Jesus meets you right where you are. I invite you to join in celebrating Jesus,our living hope.
 
Pastor Peter Steicke
Bible Readings: Luke 22:14-23, Matthew 27:11-26, Luke 23:32-47, Romans 8:9-11,Luke 23:55 -24: 1-12 (NRSVA).

This is the week that changes everything. Without Good Friday we're lost in our guilt and shame,alienated from God, and showing the worst of ourselves to others. Without Easter we have adead Jesus, empty promises, and nothing to pin our hopes on.  But through Jesus we have a living hope (1 Peter 1:3). Everything Father God promised, all that he offers, every possible transformation, it all comes true because Jesus is alive.
If you don't feel that way, I invite you to investigate the Easter message anyway. After all,those first followers didn't expect him to be alive even though Jesus foretold it. He met them amid their doubts and fears, struggles and loss.
Likewise, Jesus meets you right where you are. I invite you to join in celebrating Jesus,our living hope.
 
Pastor Peter Steicke
Bible Readings: Luke 22:14-23, Matthew 27:11-26, Luke 23:32-47, Romans 8:9-11,Luke 23:55 -24: 1-12 (NRSVA).