Ascension Lutheran Church Savannah

06/21/2026

Church Service

06/19/2026

Today is Juneteenth

06/14/2026

All are invited to join us for worship at the Lutheran Church of the Ascension.

TODAY’S THEME

Moses tells the Israelites that they are called to be a priestly kingdom and a holy people. Jesus sends out the disciples as laborers into the harvest. In baptism we too are anointed for ministry, sharing God’s compassion with our needy world. From the Lord’s table we go forth to proclaim the good news, to heal the sick, and to share our bread with the hungry

Permission to podcast/stream the music in this service obtained from ONE LICENSE with license A-707835.

06/10/2026

Wednesday, June 10
Healing Love That Restores

"I will heal their waywardness and love them freely, for my anger has turned away from them." - Hosea 14:4-7

God's heart toward us is fundamentally one of healing and restoration. After Israel's repeated unfaithfulness, God doesn't respond with permanent rejection—He offers free, unconditional love. This passage reveals that God's anger is not eternal; it turns away when we return to Him.

We all wander from God's path. We make mistakes, chase empty pursuits, and disappoint ourselves. Yet Hosea reminds us that God's primary desire isn't punishment—it's our healing. His love isn't earned through perfection; it's freely given to those who turn back.

Prayer: Thank You, Lord, for Your healing love that welcomes us home. Help us trust in Your restoration and extend that same grace to others. Amen.

06/09/2026

Tuesday, June 9
When Good Intentions Go Wrong

"Ephraim built many altars for sin offerings, but these have become to him altars for sinning... They offer flesh and eat it, but the Lord is not pleased with them. Now he will remember their wickedness and punish their sins." - Hosea 8:11, 13-14

Hosea reveals a painful truth: we can go through all the right motions while missing the point entirely. Israel built altars and made offerings, yet their hearts remained distant from God. They performed religion without genuine repentance or love.

We do this too. We attend services, say prayers, and follow rules—yet sometimes our faith becomes hollow routine. God doesn't want our empty gestures; He wants our authentic selves. True worship flows from a transformed heart, not from obligation.

Prayer: Lord, search my heart and reveal where I've settled for going through the motions. Help me worship You with genuine devotion and sincere repentance. Amen.

06/08/2026

Monday, June 8
Blessed Trust in the Midst of Uncertainty

"Blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord, who does not look to the proud, to those who turn aside to false gods. Many, Lord my God, are the wonders you have done. The things you planned for us no one can recount to you; were I to speak and tell of your deeds, they would be too many to declare." - Psalm 40:4-5

David invites us into a profound truth: blessing flows from trust. In a world offering countless false promises—wealth, status, security through our own efforts—we're tempted to chase mirages. Yet David reminds us that genuine joy comes from turning away from these empty pursuits and toward God.

When we trust the Lord rather than lean on human pride or false solutions, we discover something remarkable: God's faithfulness is immeasurable. His plans for us exceed our ability to comprehend or articulate. We can't count His mercies or fully declare His works.

This doesn't mean life becomes problem-free. Rather, we find peace knowing we're held by One whose goodness is infinite and whose purposes are trustworthy.

Prayer: Lord, help us release our grip on false securities and place our complete trust in You. Open our eyes to see Your countless blessings and faithfulness in our lives. Amen.

06/07/2026

Second Sunday after Pentecost

06/07/2026

Sunday, June 7
The Courage to Be Called

"As Jesus went on from there, he saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax collector's booth. 'Follow me,' he told him, and Matthew got up and followed him." - Matthew 9:9-13

Matthew was an outcast—a tax collector despised by his own people for collaborating with Rome. Yet Jesus saw past his reputation and extended an invitation: "Follow me." In that moment, Matthew made a choice that would transform his life forever.

We all carry labels others have given us. Perhaps we feel unworthy, too broken, or too far gone. But Jesus doesn't call the qualified; He qualifies the called. When He invites us to follow, He's not asking us to clean ourselves up first. He meets us exactly where we are and offers us purpose, belonging, and redemption.

Prayer: Jesus, help me believe that I am worthy of Your call, despite my past or present circumstances. Give me the courage to follow You wholeheartedly. Amen.

06/06/2026

Great mention about the recent history of our bells and tributes

If you are walking through Wright Square, it's hard to miss the Lutheran Church of the Ascension. This congregation has deep roots here, founded all the way back in 1741 by Salzburgers who fled religious persecution in Europe. The building we see today took shape in the 1840s, and it supposedly even served as a makeshift field hospital during the Civil War.

​But if you time your walk just right, your ears are in for a real treat. While they do have some historic bells in that steeple, often at this church (and many other churches), the Carillon Bells that toll to mark the time are digital or at least digitally amplified, but that makes them no less special. This church also provides the city with a special "bell" concert at 8pm every day.

During the Pandemic, when in-person services were suspended for health and safety reasons, the Lutheran Church of the Ascension started peeling their bells at 8pm each day as a tribute to healthcare heroes working the front lines. Although the Pandemic is now over, this tradition continues, reminding us all of those amazing neighbors who spend their days selflessly caring for others who are ill and injured. Hearing those bells ring out across the historic district for that evening concert is one of those magical, quintessential Savannah moments that completely stops you in your tracks!

Learn more about this church on the Wright Square episode of Hostess: A Savannah Podcast!

06/06/2026

Saturday, June 6
Persistent Faith

"As Jesus went on from there, two blind men followed him, calling out, 'Have mercy on us, Son of David!' When he had gone indoors, the blind men came to him, and he asked, 'Do you believe that I am able to do this?' 'Yes, Lord,' they replied. Then he touched their eyes and said, 'According to your faith, let it be done to you'; and their sight was restored." - Matthew 9:27-31

These blind men teach us something vital about faith: it persists. Despite their physical limitations, they followed Jesus through the streets, calling out boldly. They didn't wait for the perfect moment or worry about what others thought. When Jesus asked if they believed, they answered with simple certainty.

Our faith grows strongest when we pursue Jesus with the same determination—not waiting for ideal circumstances, but moving toward Him with conviction. What barriers are we using as excuses today?

Prayer: Lord, give us the courage to pursue You persistently, trusting that our faith, however small, is enough to move Your hand in our lives. Amen.