St. Paul's Lutheran Church, Pomona

02/18/2026

ASH WEDNESDAY

Join us on Wednesday, February 18, at 7:00PM for the Imposition of Ashes and Holy Communion.

Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of LENT: a time (40 days) of reflection and penitence leading up to Easter Sunday.

On Ash Wednesday, we offer the opportunity to receive the application (imposition) of ashes upon your forehead. The ashes are a reminder of our mortality and the need for repentance. When the ashes are marked upon the forehead in the sign of the cross, the words of God from Genesis 3:19 spoken to Adam after his sin are spoken to us: "you are dust, and to dust you shall return."

All praise and glory be given to our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. It is through his suffering, death on the cross, and resurrection from the grave we are forgiven and justified.

02/18/2026

This Lent, you’re invited to spend intentional time in the Book of Concord with a free forty-day reading plan. This convenient guide offers calendar dates, liturgical dates, and daily readings, as well as checkboxes to mark each day’s progress.

Download the reading plan at the link in the comments.

11/29/2025

11/07/2025

Our God is very God of very God! We're working through the Nicene Creed on . Hear Christ for you at kfuo.org!

11/03/2025

Blessed Reformation Day! The Real Presence in the Sacrament of the Altar was a major controversy during Luther's time. Thanks be to God for our clear confession of Christ's body and blood in this Sacrament for the forgiveness of sins! Hear Christ for you at kfuo.org.

02/11/2024

Prayer of the Church
The Transfiguration of Our Lord
11 February 2024

In peace, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.

For those who are called and ordained to serve in Christ’s stead and by His command, that their preaching and teaching would flow from the right understanding that all Holy Scripture testifies of Christ and all that He has done, and continues to do, for our eternal salvation, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.

For the Lord’s flock here, that we would be granted faithfulness, humility and patience in our various vocations, striving to love God and neighbor in all that we say and do, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.

For families, that parents would teach the faith to their children and that the forgiveness of sins would be proclaimed in all households; and for all expectant mothers, that they and their babies would be kept safe and healthy throughout their pregnancies, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.

For all those who have been placed in authority over us, that they would serve with integrity and honor, having the welfare of all in mind; and for our country, that division, conflict and strife would give way to unity, peace and quietness, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.

For those who are in need, that God would grant them relief and comfort through the promise of sharing in eternal glory with Christ, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.

For the baptized, that we would heed our heavenly Father’s admonition to listen to His Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord, as He speaks to us through His Holy Word and Sacraments; and that we would, by grace through faith, behold Him in His glory as He continues to tabernacle among us, delivering forgiveness, life and salvation through the same, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.

Lord God, heavenly Father, we gratefully remember on this day the glorious manifestation of Your Son’s divinity on the Mount of Transfiguration. Teach us to listen to Jesus and ever fix our eyes on Him and His innocent suffering and death for our forgiveness. By Your grace and mercy, strengthen us to remain faithful in all circumstances of trial, temptation and persecution. Preserve us to the end, that we may die a blessed death believing in Your beloved Son with whom You are well pleased; through the same Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

12/24/2023

+Service of the Word+
Fourth Sunday in Advent
December 24, 2023

Old Testament Reading 2 Samuel 7:1–11, 16
1Now when the king lived in his house and the LORD had given him rest from all his surrounding enemies, 2the king said to Nathan the prophet, “See now, I dwell in a house of cedar, but the ark of God dwells in a tent.” 3And Nathan said to the king, “Go, do all that is in your heart, for the LORD is with you.”
4But that same night the word of the LORD came to Nathan, 5“Go and tell my servant David, ‘Thus says the LORD: Would you build me a house to dwell in? 6I have not lived in a house since the day I brought up the people of Israel from Egypt to this day, but I have been moving about in a tent for my dwelling. 7In all places where I have moved with all the people of Israel, did I speak a word with any of the judges of Israel, whom I commanded to shepherd my people Israel, saying, “Why have you not built me a house of cedar?”’ 8Now, therefore, thus you shall say to my servant David, ‘Thus says the LORD of hosts, I took you from the pasture, from following the sheep, that you should be prince over my people Israel. 9And I have been with you wherever you went and have cut off all your enemies from before you. And I will make for you a great name, like the name of the great ones of the earth. 10And I will appoint a place for my people Israel and will plant them, so that they may dwell in their own place and be disturbed no more. And violent men shall afflict them no more, as formerly, 11from the time that I appointed judges over my people Israel. And I will give you rest from all your enemies. Moreover, the LORD declares to you that the LORD will make you a house. . . .
16And your house and your kingdom shall be made sure forever before me. Your throne shall be established forever.’”

Epistle Romans 16:25–27
25Now to him who is able to strengthen you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery that was kept secret for long ages 26but has now been disclosed and through the prophetic writings has been made known to all nations, according to the command of the eternal God, to bring about the obedience of faith— 27to the only wise God be glory forevermore through Jesus Christ! Amen.

Holy Gospel Luke 1:26–38
26In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, 27to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. And the virgin’s name was Mary. 28And he came to her and said, “Greetings, O favored one, the Lord is with you!” 29But she was greatly troubled at the saying, and tried to discern what sort of greeting this might be. 30And the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. 31And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus. 32He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David, 33and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.”
34And Mary said to the angel, “How will this be, since I am a virgin?”
35And the angel answered her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be called holy—the Son of God. 36And behold, your relative Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son, and this is the sixth month with her who was called barren. 37For nothing will be impossible with God.” 38And Mary said, “Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.” And the angel departed from her.

Alleluia and Verse Matthew 1:23a
Alleluia. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel. Alleluia.

Collect of the Day
Stir up Your power, O Lord, and come and help us by Your might, that the sins which weigh us down may be quickly lifted by Your grace and mercy; for You live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

12/24/2023

Tonight is the night that Christians around the world celebrate the birth of Jesus in Bethlehem, but it was not always the case. “The exact date of the birth of Jesus is not known, and during the earliest centuries of the Church it seemed to have little significance. This followed the Early Church’s tradition of honoring and celebrating a Christian’s death as his or her birth date into eternity and the ongoing presence of Jesus.” (1051) This was changed in the fourth century with the great Christological controversies. Some people questioned the divinity and humanity of Christ, so teachers in the Church reasoned that his birth should be celebrated. But by 336, December 25 had been established in Rome as the day to celebrate the festival of Christ’s birth. The celebration of this festival spread throughout the Western Church. However, in Eastern traditions of the Church, Epiphany (January 6) remains the principal celebration of the birth of Jesus.

Let us pray: "O God, You make us glad with the yearly remembrance of the birth of Your only begotten Son, Jesus Christ. Grant that as we joyfully receive Him as our Redeemer, we may with sure confidence behold Him when He comes to be our Judge; through the same Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever." Amen.

Description adapted from and prayer quoted from "Treasury of Daily Prayer" pages 1050-1051.

Image: “Nativity of Jesus” by Botticelli. Public domain.

12/24/2023

And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be taxed.
(And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.)
And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city.
And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:)
To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child.
And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered.
And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.
And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.
And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.
And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.
For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.
And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.
And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,
Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.
And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us.
And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger.
And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child.
And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds.
But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart.
And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them.

12/06/2023

Tonight - 7:00PM Advent Service

Come and join us for a peaceful evening of hymns, prayer, and the word of God.

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12/06/2023

Today we commemorate Nicholas of Myra, Pastor. You probably know him well as Santa Claus (which comes into the English from the Dutch for "Saint Nicholas," "Sinte Klaas"). He died in AD 342, and was Bishop in Myra (now in modern day Turkey). While historically, very little is known, Nicholas is known for defending the faith against Arius, and for his generosity, a tradition which has followed his name across countries and continents. In Europe on this day, it is tradition in many homes to give small gifts in honor of the Saint who is seen as the friend of all those in desperate circumstances and in need. One story has it that when he overheard the daughters of a poor family saying they must soon turn to prostitution, he threw bags of money through their windows to save them from this fate. The most important thing about Saint Nicholas, however, was his confession of the Christ who was both fully God and fully Man against the A***n heresy. This, we too, confess.

Let us pray: "Almighty God, You bestowed upon Your servant Nicholas of Myra the perpetual gift of charity. Grant Your Church the grace to deal in generosity and love with children and with all who are poor and distressed and to plead the cause of those who have no helper, especially those tossed by tempests of doubt or grief. We ask this for the sake of Him who gave His life for us, Your Son, our Savior, Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen."

Prayer quoted from and description adapted from “Treasury of Daily Prayer” page 989.

Image: 18th Century Russian Icon, from Wikimedia Commons. Public Domain.