University Lutheran Church - Tuscaloosa

University Lutheran Church - Tuscaloosa University Lutheran Church is a liturgical congregation that gathers weekly around the gifts of Word and Sacrament. Join us at 10 a.m. on Sundays!

We aspire to be a diverse and welcoming place, witnessing to God's Kingdom through worship and service.

Hear the Word“If I were hungry, I would not tell you, for the world and all that is in it is mine….” Offer to God a sacr...
06/11/2026

Hear the Word
“If I were hungry, I would not tell you, for the world and all that is in it is mine….” Offer to God a sacrifice of thanksgiving, and pay your vows to the Most High.

Psalm 50: 12, 14

The Giver
God does not need our gifts and acts of service. He is the one who provides all things. He is good and gracious and has no lack or need. He does not need our finances, our time, our efforts or energy. God does not need our actions, but our neighbor does. Certainly, God can open up the skies and perform extraordinary acts, but he has chosen instead to act through his children. God does not need our activities, and yet God delights in using our actions to care for those who are beside us. Friends, family, children, and society—they all benefit when we receive the good gifts of God and multiply their benefits by acting in love toward our neighbor.

This devotional was drawn from a homily preached on Sunday, you can listen to the homily on our website.

Question of the Week
Why doesn’t God just end the evil world or save Christians from it?

He has done precisely that in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Like an inauguration day, the victory has been declared, and we are living in the ‘in-between.’ We proclaim the good news of God’s victory, and what feels like a long time for us, is but a short day in the span of the history of the world. Christians proclaim and show forth the goodness of God in Jesus Christ as they live in the power of his Holy Spirit: they evidence the new creation that is on the way, and they give those who have been beaten down by sin and evil the opportunity to hear the promise of Jesus Christ… and to believe.

Oh, Happy Trinity?Hear the WordThen God said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness….” So God created man in...
06/03/2026

Oh, Happy Trinity?

Hear the Word
Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness….” So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them…. And God saw everything that he had made, and behold, it was very good.

Genesis 1:26a, 27, 31a

Happy God
God created the world for his joy and yours. He created everything good as a gift: from Father to Son through Spirit; and he gave that gift to you too. Though our world has been disordered and broken, God continues to sustain his good creation. Even in the midst of sinfulness, God smiles when you receive and enjoy his good gifts.

But God did not leave us to smile on our way to eternal doom; God prepared the ultimate gift: the Son was born, and he delivered humanity back to the Father as a perfect and spotless gift, which the Father is preparing to present to the Son; and the Spirit proceeded from them both to give us the glorious life and perfect love of our triune God.

The flow of delightful gift-giving never ends, but continues from person to person, from God to man and back to God again, in an unending dance of reciprocal joy.

This devotional was drawn from a homily preached on Sunday, you can listen to the homily here.

Question of the Week
How do we make sense of the Trinity?

While God encourages us to love him with all our heart, mind, strength, and soul, sometimes humans become unhealthily preoccupied with matters of the mind. Often we want “proof” that something is true. Unfortunately, what constitutes as proof, especially logical proof, shifts too easily. “Making sense” of the Trinity often stretches, asking God to become understandable and fully comprehensible to the finite human mind. As a comparison, if you think of the person you know best: a spouse, friend, or family member, even then the person will surprise you by saying, doing, or being something beyond your understanding. How much more the eternal and infinite creator God? He has told us who he is: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit—and while we are trying to fit him into our brain, the Father is loving us, the Son is restoring us, and the Spirit is dwelling with us. We ‘make sense’ of the Trinity best when we receive his love, believe his promise, and dwell together with him in faith and adoration.

"Thank God, a seven-year-old child knows what the church is, namely, holy believers and sheep who hear the voice of thei...
06/03/2026

"Thank God, a seven-year-old child knows what the church is, namely, holy believers and sheep who hear the voice of their Shepherd." Martin Luther

We give thanks to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ for the privilege to serve, and to bear Christian witness to, the university community at the University of Alabama as well as to the city of Tuscaloosa. The Lord's been good and gracious to us over the years!

Whether you're passing through, or have made Tuscaloosa into your home, for a time or for good, please to join us for the DIVINE SERVICE at 10:00 a.m. on Sunday mornings.

Join us for the Divine Service at 10:00 a.m. tomorrow as we observe Trinity Sunday.
05/30/2026

Join us for the Divine Service at 10:00 a.m. tomorrow as we observe Trinity Sunday.

Breath and FleshHear the WordBut this he spoke of the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were to receive; for the Sp...
05/28/2026

Breath and Flesh
Hear the Word
But this he spoke of the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were to receive; for the Spirit was not yet given because Jesus was not yet glorified.

John 7:39

Breath and Deception
In the creation, God created us to be recipients of his breath and Spirit. We dismissed his breath of life for the words of the serpent instead. We chose to be inspired of our own minds and desires. Jesus promised that God’s breath would come to dwell with all who receive his word; and so we do receive him! And yet, we dwell in a world that is distant from the presence of God; one that is surrounded by the lies of the serpent and those who follow him. One day, we will receive eternal rest and receive a paradise that is better even than the garden. In that day, the breath of God’s Spirit which sustains us now will be our exclusive dependence. We will not hear the deceptions of the serpent, and we will not rely on our own inspirations; instead, we will behold God face-to-face.

This devotional was drawn from a homily preached on Sunday, you can listen to the homily on our website.

Question of the Week
Why did Jesus have to be glorified to send the Spirit?

Because human nature was corrupted by sin, we were unworthy recipients of God’s presence. God built the Tabernacle and the Temple to reiterate the curse and promise of the garden to us: that though he dwells in our midst, he does not dwell with us. There was separation between humans and the presence and blessing of God’s everlasting life. When Jesus ascended to the Father, he took with him a pure and spotless humanity. He was glorified, and we along with him. In our glorified humanity—mixed though it is—we can receive what we lost. The Temple is no longer necessary because God himself dwells within us. We are now his living stones, and the congregation of believers are fit to receive his glory and offer him praise.

Chosen by Chance? Hear the WordBut you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own posses...
05/20/2026

Chosen by Chance?

Hear the Word
But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.

1 Peter 2:9

Chosen in Christ, and Called
Christ was chosen. He was chosen to be the second Adam—the one who restore humanity. He was chosen to be the sacrificial lamb—the one who would bear our guilt. He was chosen to be son of David—the king who rules over all people. And you receive all the benefits that Christ procured. You do not have to become as innocent as Adam. You do not have to suffer the penalty of your guilt. You do not have be wise and responsible for all people. Christ was chosen for this task, not you. Instead, because you are chosen in Christ, you receive a different kind of calling. Your calling summons you to live in Christ’s righteousness to show the goodness of God. Your calling summons you to turn away from sin and to mourn the presence of evil. Your calling summons you to wisdom and encouragement in relationships. You have been called to live in whatever circumstances you are given as a recipient of God’s grace, not as the procurer of it.

This devotional was drawn from a homily preached on Sunday, you can listen to the homily here.

Question of the Week
Why don’t we cast lots anymore?

The apostles cast lots to select the replacement for Judas, and because this is the last instance of casting lots in Scripture, some believe that the apostles erred. It is, of course, possible that the apostles erred, because they are humans and they are not perfect in their choices and actions. However, it is not necessary to say that they were wrong and sinful. The apostles were using an accepted and faithful method of determining God’s will that stems back to the first books of the Bible. After having been face-to-face with Jesus so long, hearing his wisdom vocally, they cast lots to hear the ‘silent’ voice of God. They received the Holy Spirit soon after this event, and the Holy Spirit conveys the wisdom and goodness of God more clearly than the rolling of dice. Because you have been given God’s Spirit, you are constant recipient of the wisdom and mercy of God.

Now is your opportunity to participate in ULC Grace food bank drive. CASH is good as on delivery day we purchase much ne...
05/18/2026

Now is your opportunity to participate in ULC Grace food bank drive. CASH is good as on delivery day we purchase much needed refrigerator items. Online giving is available www, Tuscaloosaulc.org under "support our ministries".
Of course the other option, come by the church!!!

Another Thursday, "hands to work and hearts to God." Ladies from University Lutheran and Christ Lutheran quilt and croc...
05/15/2026

Another Thursday, "hands to work and hearts to God." Ladies from University Lutheran and Christ Lutheran quilt and crochet items to be given to those in need. The quilters would love for you to join them, for more info call Norma Stordahl 352-494-2798 or Ruthie Martin 205-657-2683

FOMOL: Fear of Missing Out on LifeHear the Word“The God who made the world and everything in it, being Lord of heaven an...
05/13/2026

FOMOL: Fear of Missing Out on Life
Hear the Word
“The God who made the world and everything in it, being Lord of heaven and earth, does not live in temples made by man, nor is he served by human hands, as though he needed anything, since he himself gives to all mankind life and breath and everything.”

Acts 17:24-25


Fear of Missing Life
The Athenians were religious because they were afraid. They were afraid that if they failed to worship a certain god, they might not receive the good life that they desired so greatly. Many of us operate the same way, we are religious toward politics and capitalism and entertainment and good behavior because we fear that if we ‘sin’ toward these gods, then we will miss out on the good life. But what is fearful and unknown to us, God proclaims through his word: Jesus Christ is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. Those who trust him will have life to the fullest, even in the midst of circumstances that feel like death. In him, we have the promise of resurrection, the even death will not be able to keep us from receiving true life.

This devotional was drawn from a homily preached on Sunday, you can listen to the homily on our website.


Question of the Week
If God is ‘not served by human hands’ then why do we call it the Divine Service?

The term “Divine Service” primarily means that God serves us. In our worship on Sunday, we approach God and receive the blessing of his Word and Sacrament. These are both gifts from God to us. Though we offer our worship and faith, even these are first gifts from God that we share and reciprocate. Faith is always a gift from God which means that even the desire we have to serve God is a kind of mirror that reflects the love and glory of God. We have ministers not because they serve God—he does not need anything! We have ministers because they serve as representatives of God to his people. Even in the day of the Solomon’s Temple, the priests cared for the grounds for the sake of the people who came to receive God’s blessings.

Alone and DisplacedHear the Word“Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. In my Father’s hou...
05/07/2026

Alone and Displaced
Hear the Word
“Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you?”

John 14:1-2

Do You Belong?
Despite the best attempts of our most beloved friends and family members, there will be times in life when we feel unknown and unloved. At times we feel lonely among those we are closest to. And despite our best efforts at homemaking, there will be times in life when we feel like we have no place to truly rest. At times we feel displaced among the locations we are supposed to feel safest. The promise of Jesus is that even when you have no home and no family in this life, he has called you to be his. In Christ, you are fully known—even to the deepest vulnerabilities—and you are loved. In Christ, you are fully present—even in the furthest reaches—and you are welcome in the arms of the savior.

This devotional was drawn from a homily preached on Sunday, you can listen to the homily here.

Question of the Week
Why did Jesus have to leave?

Not every detail can be known by us mere humans. However, Jesus insisted that it must be so. He also promised that it is better for us that he leave the earth. He said that the Holy Spirit, the very presence of the One Triune God, would be with us in ways that would not be possible if Jesus remained on the earth. One way in which this plays out most visibly is through the life of the church. Dwelling in, with, and among every congregation of believers is the very presence of God. When we look at our neighbors across the altar every Sunday morning and throughout the week, God is there. He extends his mercy to us in the love and fellowship of our brothers and sisters in Christ.

Address

911 5th Avenue
Tuscaloosa, AL
35401

Opening Hours

Wednesday 5:30pm - 7pm
Sunday 9am - 1pm

Telephone

+12057528784

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when University Lutheran Church - Tuscaloosa posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Place Of Worship

Send a message to University Lutheran Church - Tuscaloosa:

Shortcuts

Share

Category