Faith Community

Being a blessing to others

From Eddie McCoven, church staff member:

The Sanctuary looked a little different on Sunday as we gathered for worship. About 130 quilts were spread out over the pews. 

Members of our Women's Ministry's Mission Quilters made all of these quilts in the last year. It's the seventh consecutive year of quilting as a part of our work with Lutheran World Relief.  

These quilts will be sent out with the quilts made by volunteers at other congregations in our area. Last year's shipment of quilts were sent to Lebanon and Iran, among other places. We said a blessing for these quilts and for the lives they will touch and bring warmth and healing to.

Janet Wood, one of our Women's Ministry board members, gave a talk of the importance of the quilt-making ministry as well as the Thank-offering Sunday, where donations helps to further the  women's ministry in our own congregation and as well as those throughout the U.S. and the Caribbean. 

Did I mention The Campanile Ringers, our hanbell choir, provided music for the worship as well?

You can watch the full worship gathering, including the blessing of the quilts and Janet's talk about the quilting ministry and Thank-offering Sunday here:

A gathering of God's family

From Eddie McCoven, church staff member:

On the afternoon of Sunday, January 27th, we did what few Christians of different denominations do: we came together for a joint worship gathering.

We were lead by Bishops John Dolan (Roman Catholic Diocese of San Diego), Katherine Jefferts Shori (Episcopal Diocese of San Diego) and Andrew Taylor (Pacifica Synod, Evangelical Lutheran Church in America).

We read the scriptures together... 

... and Bishop Katherine delivered a message.

We shared prayers and words of forgiveness...

...and we renewed our commitment to each other as brothers and sisters in Christ.

Our Bishop, the Rev. Dr. Andrew Taylor (center) was one of the worship leaders.

Special thanks to those who helped coordinate the ecumenical gathering, including Rev. Karon Marohn of St. Peter's by-the-Sea Lutheran Church in Ocean Beach (right).

You can watch the entire worship gathering below.