Emanuel Lutheran Church

06/04/2026

💚🙏🏼

"Come away by yourselves to a deserted place and rest a while." – Mark 6:31

Caregiving is holy work. It is also demanding work.
Those who spend their days caring for others often forget that they, too, are beloved children of God. Jesus recognized the need for rest, renewal, and quiet moments apart from the demands of ministry.

Today, we give thanks for caregivers of every kind and pray that they may find moments of grace, support, and restoration along the way.

May you receive the same compassion you so generously offer to others.

06/03/2026

Recognizing the 250th Anniversary of the United States

As we approach the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, I find myself reflecting on our nation’s founding ideals: that all people are created equal and endowed with unalienable rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness; that governments exist to protect those rights through the consent of the governed; and that people have the right to change a government that fails to do so.

At the same time, our history reveals a persistent gap between these ideals and reality. Indigenous peoples were displaced from their lands. Slavery denied millions their humanity and freedom. Many communities have faced exclusion and discrimination because of race, ethnicity, religion, gender, sexual orientation, immigration status, and other aspects of their identity. Ongoing debates about voting rights, representation, healthcare, and economic opportunity remind us that the work of equality and justice remains unfinished.

As Lutheran Christians, we are called not only to profess our faith, but to live it. In our baptismal promises, we commit ourselves to serve all people and strive for justice and peace in all the earth. These promises call us to stand with those who are marginalized, challenge injustice, and speak when our neighbors are harmed.

As God’s hands, feet, and voice in the world, we cannot remain silent in the face of policies, systems, or movements that exclude, diminish, or oppress others. We are called to confront White Christian Nationalism and any ideology that distorts the Gospel by elevating power over love, dominance over service, or exclusion over the radical welcome of Christ.

As we mark the 250th anniversary of our nation, we must ask ourselves: What kind of country do we want to be? How can we help create communities where all people are treated with dignity and have the opportunity to live and flourish?

As people of faith, we are called to help build communities that reflect God’s love, justice, and concern for all people. The choices we make today will help determine whether our nation more fully lives into its promise of liberty and justice for all.

As we approach July 4, 2026, my celebration is not centered on the nation as it is, but on the people who have worked and continue to work to bring our country closer to its highest ideals. I honor those who have courageously struggled for equality, freedom, and justice for all people in the United States and its territories. Their witness calls us to continue the work of building a nation that reflects the dignity, worth, and God-given humanity of every person.

Sister Dottie Almoney
Directing Deaconess

06/02/2026

June is Pride Month.

As followers of Christ, we celebrate the sacred worth and belovedness of every person. We give thanks for LGBTQIA+ people whose gifts, leadership, faith, and witness continue to enrich the church and the world.

In a time when many still experience exclusion, we recommit ourselves to practicing radical welcome, cultivating belonging, and affirming the dignity of all God's children.

May this month be marked by joy, courage, community, and the assurance that every person is created in the image of God and deeply loved.

05/31/2026

The Holy Trinity reminds us that relationship is woven into the very nature of God.

As Creator, God brings life into being. As Savior, God draws near in love and redemption. As Comforter, God remains present, guiding and sustaining us through every season.

At the heart of the Trinity is a relationship of love, shared, given, and received. Created in the image of this relational God, we are called to live in community, practice radical welcome, and care for one another as Christ cares for us.

On this Trinity Sunday, may we give thanks for the mystery of a God who creates, saves, comforts, and continually invites us into deeper relationship with God and one another.



Image: The Trinity by Russian icon painter Andrei Rublev, early 15th century.

05/27/2026

Perfect for a weekend away!

05/27/2026

“I have called you by name, you are mine.” -Isaiah 43:1

In a world that often measures worth by achievement, productivity, or perfection, God speaks a different word:

You belong.

Not because you earned it. Not because you proved yourself. But because Love has already claimed you.

Today, may you rest in the assurance that you are known by name and held by grace.

05/26/2026

Psalm 126 reminds us that tears are not wasted in God’s kin-dom.

“Those who sow in tears shall reap with shouts of joy.” — Psalm 126:5

Some seasons ask us simply to keep planting:
kindness,
hope,
justice,
care for one another,
even when we are weary.
God is still at work beneath the surface.
Joy may not arrive quickly.
But grace is growing in places we cannot yet see.

05/19/2026

🙏🏼💔☮️

We grieve with the Muslim community in San Diego following the deadly shooting at the Islamic Center of San Diego.

Houses of worship should be places of refuge, prayer, learning, and peace — never fear.

We pray for the victims, their loved ones, first responders, and all who are carrying shock and grief. We also stand in solidarity with our Muslim neighbors and reject hatred directed toward any faith community.

God of mercy, shelter all who are afraid. Strengthen all who work for peace. Teach us again how to love our neighbors well.

05/18/2026

Bible Study Wednesday @ 1 PM -

Something different this time. Glad you have chosen to join this 5-week study of 1 Corinthians. Plan to explore Paul’s passionate letter to a young church navigating real-life challenges—challenges that remain remarkably relevant to our lives today.

05/18/2026

Some of the holiest places are not sanctuaries.

A hospital hallway at 2 a.m.
A teacher sitting alone after the students leave.
A kitchen table covered in unpaid bills.
A tired caregiver whispering, “I can’t do this alone.”
A volunteer opening the church doors before sunrise.

This, too, is holy ground.

God is still moving through ordinary people who choose compassion over indifference, presence over power, love over fear.
And often, no one sees it except God.