First Evangelical Lutheran Church-Redlands

06/01/2026

We're excited to bring you our newest issue of Speakin' Deacon!

"In the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), deacons are ordained ministers of Word and Service. Alongside pastors, who are ministers of Word and Sacrament, deacons are called to connect the church with the needs of the world. Our ministry reflects Jesus’ example of servant leadership, often symbolized by the towel and basin used when Christ washed the disciples’ feet.

"Deacons are ordained clergy on a permanent roster of the ELCA. Their vocation is to bridge the life of the church with the realities of everyday life, especially among those who are struggling, overlooked, or living on the margins. Because of this calling, deacons serve in a wide range of settings both inside and outside congregations."

You can continue reading at https://www.pacificasynod.org/news-events/speakin-deacon-3

05/30/2026

Come and fill your heart and soul praising God in a beautiful church setting. We worship Sunday mornings at 9:00 am.

05/24/2026

Hope to see you at church today!!

05/05/2026

Bring your key to church this Sunday at 9:00am.. and see what doors God will open for you.

Father, I’m holding this key today and thinking about how small it is, yet how much power it holds to open or close. Lord, You are standing at the door of my heart, knocking so gently. You don’t force Your way in; You wait for me to turn the key. I admit there are rooms in my life I’ve kept locked tight: places of fear, ego, and control I’ve been afraid to let You see. Today, I’m choosing to open them to Your light.

The Ritual: Pick up a key. Any key from your house or car will do. Feel its weight and the unique, sharp notches. As you hold it, think about what you’ve kept "locked" away. What would happen if you invited Him into those quiet rooms today?

Community Prompt: We’re opening the doors together. Share one word in the comments for what you’re inviting Him into right now (e.g., Peace, Rest, Clarity).

"Here I am! I stand at the door and knock." ( Revelation 3:20)

Word of Encouragement™ ©

04/14/2026

Sunday worship begins at 9:00 am this and every Sunday.
This Sunday’s will celebrate our 125th Anniversary. Bishop Nagler will speak and the will be a brunch and presentation after worship. Our congregation has been busy doing 125 acts of kindness…do you think we made our goal? Come to worship this Sunday and find out. If you have not been here in a while.. we miss you and welcome you back!❤️

Worship isn’t just for when things are going great: it’s how we push through the hard times. 🎶

Psalm 59:16: I will sing of Your strength; in the morning I will sing of Your love.

Start your day with a song of praise and watch how it changes your perspective.



Word of Encouragement™ ©

04/13/2026

You are carrying too many tomorrows in your mind right now.

You have been thinking about tomorrow so much that today feels heavy. Like your mind will not rest because it is already trying to solve problems that have not even happened yet. But you do not have to carry tomorrow today. God will meet you there when you get there. For now, breathe. You made it through today, and that already matters more than you think.

04/05/2026

Easter service begins at 9 am this morning! Come celebrate the risen Christ!

04/04/2026

Very interesting read for this Saturday before Easter…

What actually happened on the Saturday before Jesus rose?

We talk a lot about Friday.
We celebrate Sunday.

But Saturday…
Saturday is the day most people skip over.

And yet, it might be one of the most important days to understand.

⸻

1. Jesus was truly dead and buried

After the crucifixion, Jesus didn’t “pass out.”
He didn’t almost die.

He died.

A man named Joseph of Arimathea, a respected member of the council, asked for His body.
He wrapped Jesus in linen and laid Him in a new tomb cut out of rock.

A large stone was rolled in front.

This mattered because it fulfilled prophecy and confirmed that His death was real, physical, and complete.

⸻

2. The tomb was sealed and guarded

The religious leaders remembered that Jesus had said He would rise again.

So they went to Pilate and asked for security.

The tomb was sealed.
Roman guards were stationed outside.

This wasn’t a casual burial.

It was locked down to prevent any claim of resurrection.

⸻

3. His followers were grieving and confused

The disciples were scattered.

The same men who said they would die for Him were now hiding in fear.

The women who loved Him deeply prepared spices for His body… but because it was the Sabbath, they had to wait.

Everything felt over.

The Messiah they believed in had been crucified.

From their perspective, there was no “Sunday” yet.

⸻

4. It was the Sabbath… a day of stillness

Saturday was the Sabbath.

A day of rest.

Which means something incredibly painful:

The world slowed down…
while their hearts were breaking.

They couldn’t even go to the tomb yet.

They had to sit in it.
The grief.
The confusion.
The silence.

⸻

5. Heaven was not silent, even if earth was

This is where many people don’t realize what Scripture reveals.

While Jesus’ body lay in the tomb…

His spirit was not inactive.

👉 1 Peter 3:18–20 tells us He went and proclaimed victory to the spirits.
👉 Ephesians 4:8–10 describes Him descending and then ascending in victory.

Many theologians understand this as:

Jesus fully entering death…
and declaring that sin, Satan, and the grave had been defeated.

The cross was not a loss.

It was a victory in motion.

⸻

6. Saturday is the space we all live in sometimes

This is why this day matters so much.

Because Saturday feels familiar.

It’s the day where:

You prayed… but nothing changed.
You believed… but it still hurt.
You trusted God… but He feels silent.

It’s the space between promise and fulfillment.

⸻

7. The silence was never the end

If you had stood at the tomb on Saturday, you would have seen:

A sealed grave.
Armed guards.
No movement.

It would have looked final.

But it wasn’t.

Because what looked like the end…
was actually the setup for the greatest victory in history.

⸻

Saturday teaches us this:

Just because God feels silent
does not mean He is absent.

Just because you can’t see movement
does not mean He isn’t working.

⸻

Sunday was coming.

It always was.

04/03/2026

Reminder that we will be celebrating Easter Service at FLC this Sunday at 9:00 am. We hope to see all of you wonderfully made human beings in church!!
Have a blest Easter!!