Spirit of Joy! Lutheran Church

Joy-filled. Faith-growing. Life-changing.

Worship

Christmas Worship 2018

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Messy Christmas

We’re Not Perfect

Christmas is often about putting our best face forward.

Cleaning the house before guests arrive.
Putting on our best clothes for holiday events.
Everyone being on good behavior.
Taking the perfect picture for our cards.

But we don’t live perfect lives. We live real lives. Messy lives.

And it is into the middle of our real, messy, and imperfect lives that Jesus shows up this Christmas.

Put away the perfect version of yourself and your family, and bring the real you – the messy you – to experience the power of Christmas.

Christmas Eve Worship
December 24, 6:30pm

 

Why Worship on Christmas?

Christmas is a busy time of celebration for many of us. There is a lot going on – meals to prepare, parties and gatherings to attend; work to do and fun to attend to. Why should we make time for worship in the middle of all that?

Our need for worship (yes, we need worship) at Christmas is precisely because it is so busy.

Because Christmas is hectic for many of us – we are rushed and exhausted – we can miss the wonder and joy of what happens at Christmas. Worship together allows us to stop, take a deep breath, and experience the power of the great love God has for us.

In addition, as we gather in community we are reminded that we are not in this alone – we are surrounded by a community that is loving and supportive. The joy of Christmas and the gift of God unites us, and draws us into something more than just ourselves.

What Should I Expect at Spirit of Joy?

It is always helpful to know what to expect when visiting a new church.

First, we hope you know that at Spirit of Joy!, we welcome people to worship – whether this is your first time to worship in years, you are part of a different tradition, or you worship every Sunday. You are welcome here.

Some people worry about what to wear to a new church. Don’t worry about that. At Spirit of Joy! people wear everything from a new suit to jeans and everything in-between. Be comfortable and be yourself – we are just glad you are with us.

Our worship tends to be casual, contemporary, and follows a traditional order. You will recognize many of the elements of our worship from traditional churches, and our music varies from contemporary worship songs to ancient hymns. We worry more about joyfully worshiping than what category our worship falls into.

Finally, it is worth pointing out that we are an intergenerational church – our worship space is filled with people of every age. Children are an important part of our community and we welcome them to worship with us and be a part of our celebration.

Candlelight Christmas Eve worship

 

Located in the Alden Bridge neighborhood of The Woodlands, Spirit of Joy! Lutheran Church is committed to creating joy-filled, faith-growing, life-changing community.

Advent 2018

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Fear is all around us.

Will we have enough for this month’s bills?
What should we do about border security, or school shootings?
What if we fall victim to an online scam?
Will my loved ones get sick?

Every time we turn on the tv, radio, or log in to social media we are reminded of all of the people, things, and situations we need to be afraid of. As if human beings aren’t good enough at generating fear and anxiety ourselves – we have even more thrown at us!

Where do we turn in the midst of all this fear?

Join us for worship this Advent as we encounter the words spoken by the angels, by God, and by Jesus:
Fear not

Join us as we encounter the one story that challenges all of our fears and transforms them into hope. 

Sundays, 10:00 am

Starting December 2

Advent Worship Fear Not

 

 

Making Christmas plans?

Join us for Christmas Eve worship on December 24, at 6:30pm. Our Christmas worship is a powerful, family friendly way to experience the story of God’s grace.

Reformation Sunday – What is it, and Why Does it Matter

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Every year on the last Sunday in October, many churches set aside the day as “Reformation Sunday.” If you didn’t grow up with this practice, you may wonder where this tradition comes from, and why some congregations continue to practice it.

So … what is Reformation Sunday, and why should we care?

The History of Reformation Sunday

Our story begins in the 16th century – 1517, to be exact. Bear with us here – what follows is a very simplified explanation of complex theological, political, and economic events that all coincided.

Across Europe, the Roman Catholic Church was engaged in one of the greatest fundraisers in all of history.

If a person – out of contrition for their sins and as a sign of repentance – made a financial gift to help with the building Saint Peter’s Basilica in Rome, then the church would furnish that person with a certificate acknowledging that gift and promising that they or their loved ones would be freed from a portion of the misery expected in the afterlife.

In short, the church at that time taught that even those bound for heaven had to be cleansed of their earthly sins and this cleansing (purging) in the afterlife took place in a place called Purgatory. The certificates offered by the church (called “Indulgences”) promised to lessen this time of cleansing for oneself or others who have already died.

There were some very nuanced explanations of this practice at the time.
And there were other very crass explanations that basically amounted to people paying to be forgiven.

November 1st was an important day for the selling and buying of these indulgences, known as All Saints Day on the church’s calendar.

The day before a German Monk named Martin Luther posted a list of 95 Theses – 95 reasons that he objected to this practice of selling indulgences. Along with other writings by Martin Luther, those 95 Reasons went viral.

Luther insisted that we are not forgiven because of anything we do – including the buying of Indulgences or doing enough good work. Instead, we are forgiven because of who God is. We are loved and forgiven because God is full of grace and mercy.

His teachings and writings got Martin Luther kicked out of the church. But he didn’t go alone. Others agreed with him, and after his death those who agreed with Luther became known as Lutherans and also as Protestants.

Every Protestant church traces their roots back to this moment in history.

Why Does Reformation Sunday Matter?

October 31st, 1517 was a long time ago. Why does it continue to matter and be remembered in our churches today?

1. Reformation Sunday gives us a chance to tell our story – a chance to remember.

We all have a family story – how we got to this point in history. Stories about parents and grandparents, about the things that have shaped our families over the years. Reformation Sunday is a day when we remember and re-tell the family stories of our faith. Stories about men and women who came before us and taught us about the faith. Stories about people who risked everything so that we would be able to gather and worship in the manner that we do.

2. Reformation Sunday reminds us of the most important things.

Throughout the year we preach about many things in church. About how we live our daily lives, the choices we make, the habits of our faith. On Reformation Sunday we are brought back to the most important thing – the thing that compelled Luther and others to risk their lives.

On Reformation Sunday, we return to the core of our faith: God loved us first, and God continues to shower us with grace and mercy.

3. Reformation Sunday challenges us to do better

Through re-telling our story and returning to the core of our faith, Reformation Sunday prods us to do better.

We are called to be more loving and grace-filled, because God was gracious and merciful to us. We are called to repent of the times that we have placed barriers that have kept others from hearing the Good News. We are called to remember that all that we are is a gift from God.

In the church in Wittenberg where Martin Luther preached, there is a wonderful painting. In it Luther stands in the pulpit on the right hand side, and the people stand on the left. In between people and the preacher is Christ on the cross. Reformation Sunday is a reminder that this is the bedrock of our faith – the grace and mercy given to us in Jesus Christ. Keeping the most important thing in the center of the picture is the only hope for for our faith and for this community that we call “church.”

Happy Reformation Sunday!

If you would like to be a part of our Reformation Sunday celebration, join us on October 28 at 10:00 am for worship at Spirit of Joy! Lutheran Church