A Message from Pastor Stephanie

Dear Saints of Cross and Crown,

As more and more of you return to church, it has been such a pleasure to see your bright and shining faces again! Going to church is most certainly not the same thing as being a Christian. Yet we know that being a part of a church community reminds us of truth, offers us a chance to receive Christ in Word and sacrament, gives us the ability to freely worship and praise God, and connects us together in community. Now that Covid numbers are lower and most of us are vaccinated, we are so grateful we can be together again in worship and Bible study. Thank you for coming back among us to love God and one another. We have all missed everyone at Cross and Crown, and it is great to be with our church family once again.

We had a wonderful congregation picnic and concert last Friday night and it was great to see you there! Thanks for bringing friends and family out and shopping for/grilling/preparing food and playing fantastic music! Our Fellowship Committee is planning lots of other fun activities for the months ahead, so stay tuned for more information to arrive shortly. We are collecting as much food as we can for the Rancho Cucamonga Family Resource Center. For August, we ask you all to bring out your tomato sauce and pasta sauce. Plans are underway for Rally Day (September 5), God's Work Our Hands Sunday (September 12), and a two-person play after worship presented by David and Sharon Hoover (September 19). October will follow with an Octoberfest for all ages, complete with lots of good food and fun music.

There is so much for which to be grateful and to God we offer our sincere thanks and praise. Let us never take for granted our gift to be the Church together -- the very Body Of Christ. I look forward to seeing you soon.

Much love,

Pastor Stephanie

Fun Fact

Martin Luther lived during the bubonic plague, which is attributed to the destruction of half of Europe's population. Amid the plague ravaging his home of Wittenberg, Germany, Luther continued to minister to his people, but he had to be extra careful so as to not spread this deadly disease. One of the ways he ministered from a distance was through his writing. As one example among many, Luther wrote his arguably most important hymn, A Mighty Fortress is Our God, during those plague years. May these ancient words comfort you. God is truly our mighty fortress during every epidemic, pandemic, plague, and trial.

(English translation from the original German)

A mighty fortress is our God,
A bulwark never failing:
Our helper He, amid the flood
Of mortal ills prevailing.
For still our ancient foe
Doth seek to work his woe;
His craft and power are great,
And armed with cruel hate,
On earth is not his equal.

Did we in our own strength confide,
Our striving would be losing;
Were not the right Man on our side,
The Man of God's own choosing.
Dost ask who that may be?
Christ Jesus, it is he;
Lord Sabaoth is his name,
From age to age the same,
And He must win the battle.

And though this world, with devils filled,
Should threaten to undo us,
We will not fear, for God hath willed
His truth to triumph through us.
The Prince of Darkness grim,—
We tremble not for him;
His rage we can endure,
For lo! His doom is sure,—
One little word shall fell him.

That word above all earthly powers—
No thanks to them—abideth;
The Spirit and the gifts are ours
Through him who with us sideth.
Let goods and kindred go,
This mortal life also:
The body they may kill:
God's truth abideth still,
His kingdom is for ever.

Cross and Crown Lutheran Church

Cross and Crown Lutheran Church in Rancho Cucamonga

A Message from Pastor Stephanie

Sermon Series

Fun Fact

Pastor Stephanie published in Living Lutheran

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