Please visit the web master - Adam Platts - at www.freewebs.com/adamsportfolio/ |
Adam Platts |
Recently published by TheLutheran.org; written by Lyn Jerde. Is Lutheran a beacon that compels people into the pews? Or is it a burden, with connotations of stuffiness, aging, and fast-fading connections to Northern European ancestry? Community Church of Life is located in a middle-class white neighborhood that was once rich in farms and oil fields. "By not including Lutheran in the name of the church," Pastor Ewbanks says, "the founding pastor was deliberately trying to reach out towhom traditional churches carry negative baggage." It wasn't so much baggage that Church of the Foothills, Sylmar, CA, was trying to avoid in this community of 60,000 in the San Fernando Valley. It's just that Lutheran doesn't mean so much, says Sam Platts, pastor. At Church of the Foothills, the quintessential Lutheran belief in salvation by grace trhough faith is essential, Platts says. As is liturgical worship. But in other ways, Platts says, the congregation is nothing like the Lutheran church in his Wisconsin home town. Of this 150 member congregation, 70 are high school youth - - most ot them Latino. Instead of an altar and pews the church has chairs surrounding a table, where the chalice and plate are displayed around the clock, and where communion is celbrated every Sunday. The effort to make Church of the Foothills "open, flexible, and welcoming," Platts says, includes a conscious effort to deemphasize the word Lutheran. "The congregation used to be called Lutheran Church of the Master," Platts says, "But people had no idea who the Master is. And in California they have no idea what a Lutheran is. ... When people hear the word Lutheran, he says, those familiar with the word associate it with old age and tenacious ties to a rapidly fading connection to German and Scaninavian ancestry. "We're not a rebel group. We're not anti-ELCA. We just don't want to re-create past barriers." |
Church of the Foothills In beautiful Sylmar, California! Visitors welcome! Members wanted! The Lord is risen! (818) 362-7700 email: pastorsamp@yahoo.com |
Church of the Foothills |
Genesis 1 In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters. And God said, Let there be light: and there was light. And God saw that it was good: and God divided the light from the darkness. And God called the light Day, and the darkness he called night. And the evening and the morning were the first day. |
Exodus 20 Thou shalt have no other gods before me. Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vane. Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy. Honor thy father and thy mother. Thou shalt not kill. Thou shalt not commit adultery. Thou shalt not steal. Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour. Thou shalt not covet thy neighbours house. Thou shalt not covet thy neighbours wife. |
Luke 2 And she brought forth her first born son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn. And there were in the same country sheperds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And, lo, the angel of the Lord shone upon them: and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. And suddenly there was with the angel a great multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men. |
Church of the Foothills In beautiful Sylmar, California! Visitors welcome! Members wanted! The Lord is risen! (818) 362-7700 email: pastorsamp@yahoo.com |
Ecclesiastes 3 To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven: A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted; A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance; A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing; A time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away; A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak; A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace. |
Recently published by TheLutheran.org; written by Lyn Jerde. Is Lutheran a beacon that compels people into the pews? Or is it a burden, with connotations of stuffiness, aging, and fast-fading connections to Northern European ancestry? Community Church of Life is located in a middle-class white neighborhood that was once rich in farms and oil fields. "By not including Lutheran in the name of the church," Pastor Ewbanks says, "the founding pastor was deliberately trying to reach out towhom traditional churches carry negative baggage." It wasn't so much baggage that Church of the Foothills, Sylmar, CA, was trying to avoid in this community of 60,000 in the San Fernando Valley. It's just that Lutheran doesn't mean so much, says Sam Platts, pastor. At Church of the Foothills, the quintessential Lutheran belief in salvation by grace trhough faith is essential, Platts says. As is liturgical worship. But in other ways, Platts says, the congregation is nothing like the Lutheran church in his Wisconsin home town. Of this 150 member congregation, 70 are high school youth - - most ot them Latino. Instead of an altar and pews the church has chairs surrounding a table, where the chalice and plate are displayed around the clock, and where communion is celbrated every Sunday. The effort to make Church of the Foothills "open, flexible, and welcoming," Platts says, includes a conscious effort to deemphasize the word Lutheran. "The congregation used to be called Lutheran Church of the Master," Platts says, "But people had no idea who the Master is. And in California they have no idea what a Lutheran is. ... When people hear the word Lutheran, he says, those familiar with the word associate it with old age and tenacious ties to a rapidly fading connection to German and Scaninavian ancestry. "We're not a rebel group. We're not anti-ELCA. We just don't want to re-create past barriers." |
Matthew 6 After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in Heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy Kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth as it is in Heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the Kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen. |
Prayer of the Day... Almighty God, you sent your Son, our Savior Jesus Christ, to take our flesh upon him and to suffer death on the cross. Grant that we may share in his obedience to your will and in the glorious victory of his resurrection; through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen. |
Church of the Foothills Calendar A Church of Hope and Joy -Regular Sunday Services begin at 9:30 AM. -Easter Sunday and Palm Sunday services start at 9:30 AM. Make 2009 a special year by becoming a member of Church of the Foothills. |
Church of the Foothills Web master: Adam Platts |
Adam Platts |
Please visit the web master - Adam Platts - at www.freewebs.com/adamsportfolio/ |