Which is it, Jesus? Peace or a sword?

Which is it, Jesus? Peace or a sword?

Dear Church Family, I hope you are enjoying the beginning of summer. It will be wonderful to gather for worship on this Father's Day weekend and give thanks for our heavenly Father whose love for us is beyond measure. I am delighted to welcome Dr. John Nunes as our guest preacher this weekend. Dr. Nunes became the ninth president of California Lutheran University on June 1, 2025, following a year of service as interim president. A respected educator, author, and speaker, he brings more than 30 years of leadership experience in higher education, nonprofit organizations, and ministry. His previous roles include serving as president of Concordia College New York and CEO of Lutheran World Relief. Grace & Peace, Pastor Chamie

People of Peace

Dear Church Family, How peaceful are you feeling these days? Between the headlines, the hurried schedules, and the worries we carry, peace can feel more like a distant hope than a present reality. Yet in this weekend's Gospel, Matthew 9:35–10:14, Jesus speaks these provocative words to his disciples: "Let your peace rest on it; if it is not, let your peace return to you." What does it mean to carry the peace of Christ into a world full of angst and uncertainty? How do we become people who offer peace without being consumed by the anxiety around us? This weekend in worship, we'll explore Jesus' words and ponder what it might look like to move through our daily lives grounded in his peace. As you come to worship this weekend, my prayer is that the peace of Christ would rest upon you and that you would leave strengthened to carry that peace into the week ahead. Grace & Peace, Pastor Chamie

Learning Mercy

This weekend we welcome Pastor Beth Gallen as our guest preacher. Pastor Beth is the campus pastor at California Lutheran University, fresh off completing her first academic year in this role. She is going to help us enter the next season of the Christian year: "Ordinary Time." Pastor Beth said this: "We move into the long, green season of Ordinary time with learning that what counts with God, finally, is not sacrifice or offerings, but mercy. In Jesus, we notice that life in the kingdom of God is rooted in healing, restoration, and steadfast love of neighbor. By the work of the Spirit, we are continually formed into the likeness of Christ–learning to practice mercy, to tend the wounds of the world, and to embody the fullness of God's compassion in daily life. Let us learn and live it together." Grace & Peace, Pastor Chamie

Carry These Words

Last weekend we celebrated Pentecost Sunday. Do you know what this weekend is called on the Christian calendar? Holy Trinity Sunday. Holy Trinity Sunday can feel a little mysterious. One God in three persons? Father, Son, and Holy Spirit? Christians have wrestled with the mystery for centuries, and even in this weekend's Gospel, some disciples worshiped Jesus while others doubted. Faith has always made room for both wonder and questions. This Sunday, we will reflect on Jesus' words to baptize "in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit," and on Paul's blessing: "The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all." Perhaps the Trinity is less a puzzle to solve and more a relationship into which we are held — in grace, love, and fellowship. Grace & Peace, Pastor Chamie

Filled & Sent

There are some Sundays in the church year that feel especially alive — and for me, Pentecost is one of them. Christmas tells us Christ has come. Easter proclaims Christ is risen. But Pentecost reminds us that Christ is still here — through the gift of the Holy Spirit. In a world that often defines power by politics, money, fame, or force, Pentecost points us to a different kind of power: the living presence of God dwelling within and among us, empowering us to love boldly, serve generously, and do good in the world. Pentecost is often called the "birthday of the Church," but it is more than a single story from long ago. It is the celebration of a global, Spirit-filled movement. In Acts 2, people from every nation heard the good news in their own language. The Spirit crossed every boundary of culture, nationality, and background — and still does today. Pentecost reminds us that the Church is beautifully diverse, yet united as one body in Christ. That is why I especially love this Sunday at Ascension. Instead of gathering in separate worship services, we will come together as ONE congregation for worship at 10:00 AM — one sanctuary full of voices, generations, stories, and songs. Come celebrate the Spirit who still fills, unites, and sends us into the world with hope. Grace & Peace, Pastor Chamie