Be holy, because I, the Lord your God, am holy (Lev 19:2). Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and
with all your strength and with all your mind, and love your neighbor as yourself. Do this and you will live (Luke 10:27-28).
Whoever keeps the whole law, and yet stumbles at just one point, is guilty of breaking all of it (James 2:10). All have sinned and
fall short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23). The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord
(Rom 6:23). God made him who had no sin (Jesus) to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God
(2Corinthians 5:21). You are no longer foreigners and aliens, but fellow citizens with God’s people and members of God’s
household (Ephesians 2:!9). Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life (John 3:36).
Lutheran Church
Rev. Jim Connell, Pastor
Welcome!
Sunday Service Time 10:00 AM
Fellowship/Sunday School/Bible Class 11:15 AM
Why we are here:
We exist as a church because we have come across a real treasure:
the treasure of having peace with God by faith in Jesus Christ. We
are eager to pass this treasure on to our Las Cruces community by
preaching and teaching the Word of God, in which God invites all
of us to recognize and repent of our sin, and to trust in Him alone to
save us from sin, death, and hell.
We offer excellent opportunities for fellowship and personal growth:
Adult Bible study
Baptisms
“Bible basics” courses
Counseling
Sunday School
Food Pantry
Worldwide mission support
Community Outreach
We are a member of the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod
2540 S. El Paseo Road, Las Cruces, New Mexico
Good Friday Sermon
The ninth sermon in our “Three Words of Truth” series, is “It is Finished.” What does this mean for us? Find out in our lesson from John 19:28-30.
Welcome!
Sunday Service Time: 10:00 AM
Fellowship/Sunday School/Bible Class 11:15 AM
Why we are here:
We exist as a church because we have come across a real treasure: the treasure of having peace with God by faith in Jesus Christ. We are eager to pass this treasure on to our Las Cruces community by preaching and teaching the Word of God, in which God invites all of us to recognize and repent of our sin, and to trust in him alone to save us from sin, death and hell. We offer excellent opportunities for fellowship and personal growth: Bible study for adults Baptisms "Bible basics" courses Counseling Children's Sunday School Food pantry Worldwide mission support Community outreach We are a member of the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod.
Lutheran Church
2540 S. El Paseo Road, Las Cruces, New Mexico
Be holy, because I, the Lord your God, am holy (Lev
19:2). Love the Lord your God with all your heart and
with all your soul and with all your strength and with
all your mind, and love your neighbor as yourself. Do
this and you will live (Luke 10:27-28). Whoever keeps
the whole law, and yet stumbles at just one point, is
guilty of breaking all of it (James 2:10). All have sinned
and fall short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23). The
wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life
in Christ Jesus our Lord (Rom 6:23). God made him
who had no sin (Jesus) to be sin for us, so that in him
we might become the righteousness of God
(2Corinthians 5:21). You are no longer foreigners and
aliens, but fellow citizens with God’s people and
members of God’s household (Ephesians 2:!9).
Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life (John
3:36).
Good Friday Sermon
The ninth sermon in our “Three Words of Truth” series, is “It is Finished.” What does this mean for us? Find out in our lesson from John 19:28- 30.
Be holy, because I, the Lord your God, am holy (Lev 19:2). Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and
with all your strength and with all your mind, and love your neighbor as yourself. Do this and you will live (Luke 10:27-28).
Whoever keeps the whole law, and yet stumbles at just one point, is guilty of breaking all of it (James 2:10). All have sinned and
fall short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23). The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord
(Rom 6:23). God made him who had no sin (Jesus) to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God
(2Corinthians 5:21). You are no longer foreigners and aliens, but fellow citizens with God’s people and members of God’s
household (Ephesians 2:!9). Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life (John 3:36).
About Us
Presently, Cross of Christ Lutheran Church is considered a “mission” church. We’ve been active since October
2012, and have 70+ members including children. We’ve outgrown three former homes, and on July 26, 2015,
we moved to our new site. We are located at 2540 S. El Paseo Rd., Las Cruces, NM, 88004. Map. We have
complete wheelchair access.
The Rev. Jim Connell — “Pastor Jim” — leads us in worship every week. He has more than 28 years of
experience as a pastor and circuit pastor in the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod.
We encourage you to join us in worshiping our awesome God! Come, and together we can make history as
we learn about the world’s Savior, Jesus Christ, and grow in Him.
Answers to Common Questions About Attending Our Church
It can be hard to go to a church for the first time. There are so many questions that aren’t answered in
mailings and newspaper ads.
For example, “Will I know how to get into the building for the service, or will I pick the wrong door?” “What do I
do with my children?” “What should I wear?” “What will the service be like?” Unknown factors like these can
make going to church intimidating.
With this section we hope to answer some of the questions you might have about our church before you visit.
We'd like to make your visit with us relaxed and enriching.
Please let us know if there are questions not answered by these pages. We want to add whatever will be
helpful to you to this visitor's guide.
Our deepest wish is that when you visit Cross of Christ, you will hear about your Savior, Jesus, and come to
know the grace and love of God more and more.
About Our Worship
Sunday service time is 10:00 AM. Fellowship begins at 11:15 AM, followed by Bible Class/Sunday School.
Every church has its own style of worship. We think you’ll enjoy the services at Cross of Christ Lutheran
Church, but as in any church you should expect it to take a couple of Sundays to become accustomed to our
way of praising God together.
Each week we follow the various worship guides (liturgies) in our service folder which will be provided. The
services focus on readings from the Bible, and you are welcome to bring your own and follow along if you
choose. There we hear God talk to us. Music and singing are an important part of our services, too. Loud or
soft, in monotone or rich harmony, all our praises are music to God. We rejoiced with those who said to me,
"Let us go to the house of the LORD." (Psalm 122:1)
The Lord's Supper
We celebrate the Lord's Supper bi-weekly. We believe that in the Lord's Supper, Jesus offers his body and
blood to us for the forgiveness of our sins. The Bible also teaches us that Holy Communion is an expression
of our complete "oneness," or unity of faith. For this reason, we invite to the Lord's Supper those who have
confessed their agreement with our beliefs through membership in this congregation or one of our sister
congregations of the WELS (Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod) or the ELS (Evangelical Lutheran Synod). If
you are a member of another Lutheran denomination or another Christian church, and you would like to
commune with us in the future, please speak to our pastor after the service and he will be happy to explain
what that entails. We don't want to be presumptuous and put you in the position of stating your agreement
with our convictions before we have had an opportunity to explain them. For more information on our
practice, we have pamphlets that describe our beliefs in greater detail, entitled "What about Closed
Communion?", or please contact our pastor.
Dress
Sometimes people wonder how they are expected to dress at a church they’ve never visited before.
Since the Bible presents no dress code, aside from simple decency and Christian humility, Cross of Christ
Lutheran Church doesn’t make any rules either.
Like most people, our members try to make their worship time at church a special time. This is often reflected
in the way they dress.
But dress is a personal matter of worship before God. One may dress casually and rejoice that we have a God
who accepts us as we are. Another may dress to reflect the awe and reverence we have for our Savior King.
On any Sunday at our church you may see running shoes and high heels, jeans and suits, and open collars or
ties. When a person dresses out of love for God, the choice of dress (casual or more formal) is acceptable to
God . . . and us.
Offerings
We don’t expect guests to put money in the collection plate, so please don’t feel obligated to do so. It’s
perfectly okay to pass the plate to the next person. And you shouldn’t feel singled out either. Many of our
members donate once per month, so a number of hands will simply pass the plate on. But if you feel
compelled to donate, we’ll gladly and humbly accept your gracious gift, “for God loves a cheerful giver” (2
Corinthians 9:7).
The Worst That Can Happen
Attending church somewhere for the first time can be intimidating. Here are some common worries:
"I would just die if they made me stand up and say something." We assure you, we won’t embarrass you in
this or any other way. We want you to feel comfortable and at home with us. Church should be an enjoyable
and uplifting experience. We promise to do all we can so you can learn about your Savior.
"I know my child is going to be too noisy." Don't sweat it. We've seen and heard our share of energetic
children over the years. The worship service has always continued in a God pleasing way. If you feel more
comfortable stepping out for awhile, we have a nursery and other separate rooms in which you can relax.
And, of course, bathrooms are also available.
"I know I will feel out of place." We hope that this visitor's guide will ease your mind, but if you have a
question, please ask someone for help. Don’t hesitate to say, "I am new. What is this about?"
"I am afraid I will say or do something wrong." All of us have felt this way when in a new situation. But we
hope you see the people of Cross of Christ to be ordinary people like yourself. We want to accept you as you
are and help you become what Christ wants you to be. We do not want to throw cold water on that by a
critical spirit.
"I just want to watch at first and I know that they will try to involve me or sign me up." It is unpleasant to be
pressured or to be part of a "membership drive" as though we were heads of cattle, isn’t it? We believe that
church membership should be a voluntary thing, and that the most important thing is to trust in the Lord
Jesus Christ for forgiveness and salvation. It takes time for this to be cultivated. People need time to evaluate
and decide if they wish further involvement. We believe we should respect that need.
"I don’t know that much about the Bible." Church and Bible Study are opportunities to grow in our knowledge
of the Bible and faith in Jesus. You won’t have to answer any questions you don’t want to answer. And
remember, sometimes the wisest words we say are, "I don’t know."
To Find Out More
If you would like to read more about our beliefs and practices, click on the Resources button at the top of the
page, or check out our denominational website: www.wels.net.
About Our Church Body
Cross of Christ Lutheran Church is a member of the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod (WELS). This
church body got its name because it was formed in Wisconsin in the 1850's. Our membership in this Synod
unites us with Christians across our country and the world. It allows us to pool our resources for mission
work as well as for writing hymnals, Bible classes, and other materials. But above all, we can be comforted by
the fact that we know there are Christians throughout the world who share a common faith with us.
Our congregation and Synod are solidly based in the Bible. We believe that Jesus is our Savior and the only
way to heaven. Through faith in Jesus we are united to him and each other.
The name "Lutheran" comes from the great reformer Martin Luther (16th Century). In a period in history
when the Church had lost sight of its Savior and the truth of his Word, Martin Luther boldly challenged these
errors and preached Jesus Christ as Savior. We are proud to remember his work in bringing to light the truth
of God’s Word by using his name to identify ourselves.
A Final Thought
We pray that this has helped to answer some of your questions and alleviate your fears. Our goals as a
congregation are quite simple. We want to grow in faith and share that faith with people like you. Everything
we do is meant to accomplish these two goals. We pray that there is nothing that stands in your way from
learning more about your Savior.
Please do not hesitate to contact us if you have any questions, or if there is anything we can do for you.
God's blessings to you, and we look forward to seeing you in church.
Lutheran Church
Lutheran Church
About Us
Presently, Cross of Christ Lutheran Church is
considered a “mission” church. We’ve been active
since October 2012, and have 70+ members including
children. We’ve outgrown three former homes, and
on July 26, 2015, we moved to our new site. We are
located at 2540 S. El Paseo Rd., Las Cruces, NM,
88004. Map. We have complete wheelchair access.
The Rev. Jim Connell — “Pastor Jim” — leads us in
worship every week. He has more than 28 years of
experience as a pastor and circuit pastor in the
Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod.
We encourage you to join us in worshiping our
awesome God! Come, and together we can make
history as we learn about the world’s Savior, Jesus
Christ, and grow in Him.
Answers to Common Questions About Attending
Our Church
It can be hard to go to a church for the first time.
There are so many questions that aren’t answered in
mailings and newspaper ads.
For example, “Will I know how to get into the building
for the service, or will I pick the wrong door?” “What
do I do with my children?” “What should I wear?”
“What will the service be like?” Unknown factors like
these can make going to church intimidating.
With this section we hope to answer some of the
questions you might have about our church before
you visit. We'd like to make your visit with us relaxed
and enriching.
Please let us know if there are questions not
answered by these pages. We want to add whatever
will be helpful to you to this visitor's guide.
Our deepest wish is that when you visit Cross of
Christ, you will hear about your Savior, Jesus, and
come to know the grace and love of God more and
more.
About Our Worship
Sunday service time is 10:00 AM. Fellowship begins at
11:15 AM, followed by Bible Class/Sunday School.
Every church has its own style of worship. We think
you’ll enjoy the services at Cross of Christ Lutheran
Church, but as in any church you should expect it to
take a couple of Sundays to become accustomed to
our way of praising God together.
Each week we follow the various worship guides
(liturgies) in our service folder which will be provided.
The services focus on readings from the Bible, and
you are welcome to bring your own and follow along
if you choose. There we hear God talk to us. Music
and singing are an important part of our services, too.
Loud or soft, in monotone or rich harmony, all our
praises are music to God. We rejoiced with those who
said to me, "Let us go to the house of the LORD."
(Psalm 122:1)
The Lord's Supper
We celebrate the Lord's Supper bi-weekly. We believe
that in the Lord's Supper, Jesus offers his body and
blood to us for the forgiveness of our sins. The Bible
also teaches us that Holy Communion is an
expression of our complete "oneness," or unity of
faith. For this reason, we invite to the Lord's Supper
those who have confessed their agreement with our
beliefs through membership in this congregation or
one of our sister congregations of the WELS
(Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod) or the ELS
(Evangelical Lutheran Synod). If you are a member of
another Lutheran denomination or another Christian
church, and you would like to commune with us in the
future, please speak to our pastor after the service
and he will be happy to explain what that entails. We
don't want to be presumptuous and put you in the
position of stating your agreement with our
convictions before we have had an opportunity to
explain them. For more information on our practice,
we have pamphlets that describe our beliefs in
greater detail, entitled "What about Closed
Communion?", or please contact our pastor.
Dress
Sometimes people wonder how they are expected to
dress at a church they’ve never visited before.
Since the Bible presents no dress code, aside from
simple decency and Christian humility, Cross of Christ
Lutheran Church doesn’t make any rules either.
Like most people, our members try to make their
worship time at church a special time. This is often
reflected in the way they dress.
But dress is a personal matter of worship before God.
One may dress casually and rejoice that we have a
God who accepts us as we are. Another may dress to
reflect the awe and reverence we have for our Savior
King.
On any Sunday at our church you may see running
shoes and high heels, jeans and suits, and open
collars or ties. When a person dresses out of love for
God, the choice of dress (casual or more formal) is
acceptable to God . . . and us.
Offerings
We don’t expect guests to put money in the collection
plate, so please don’t feel obligated to do so. It’s
perfectly okay to pass the plate to the next person.
And you shouldn’t feel singled out either. Many of our
members donate once per month, so a number of
hands will simply pass the plate on. But if you feel
compelled to donate, we’ll gladly and humbly accept
your gracious gift, “for God loves a cheerful giver” (2
Corinthians 9:7).
The Worst That Can Happen
Attending church somewhere for the first time can be
intimidating. Here are some common worries:
"I would just die if they made me stand up and say
something." We assure you, we won’t embarrass you
in this or any other way. We want you to feel
comfortable and at home with us. Church should be
an enjoyable and uplifting experience. We promise to
do all we can so you can learn about your Savior.
"I know my child is going to be too noisy." Don't sweat
it. We've seen and heard our share of energetic
children over the years. The worship service has
always continued in a God pleasing way. If you feel
more comfortable stepping out for awhile, we have a
nursery and other separate rooms in which you can
relax. And, of course, bathrooms are also available.
"I know I will feel out of place." We hope that this
visitor's guide will ease your mind, but if you have a
question, please ask someone for help. Don’t hesitate
to say, "I am new. What is this about?"
"I am afraid I will say or do something wrong." All of
us have felt this way when in a new situation. But we
hope you see the people of Cross of Christ to be
ordinary people like yourself. We want to accept you
as you are and help you become what Christ wants
you to be. We do not want to throw cold water on that
by a critical spirit.
"I just want to watch at first and I know that they will
try to involve me or sign me up." It is unpleasant to be
pressured or to be part of a "membership drive" as
though we were heads of cattle, isn’t it? We believe
that church membership should be a voluntary thing,
and that the most important thing is to trust in the
Lord Jesus Christ for forgiveness and salvation. It
takes time for this to be cultivated. People need time
to evaluate and decide if they wish further
involvement. We believe we should respect that need.
"I don’t know that much about the Bible." Church and
Bible Study are opportunities to grow in our
knowledge of the Bible and faith in Jesus. You won’t
have to answer any questions you don’t want to
answer. And remember, sometimes the wisest words
we say are, "I don’t know."
To Find Out More
If you would like to read more about our beliefs and
practices, click on the Resources button at the top of
the page, or check out our denominational website:
www.wels.net.
About Our Church Body
Cross of Christ Lutheran Church is a member of the
Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod (WELS). This
church body got its name because it was formed in
Wisconsin in the 1850's. Our membership in this
Synod unites us with Christians across our country
and the world. It allows us to pool our resources for
mission work as well as for writing hymnals, Bible
classes, and other materials. But above all, we can be
comforted by the fact that we know there are
Christians throughout the world who share a
common faith with us.
Our congregation and Synod are solidly based in the
Bible. We believe that Jesus is our Savior and the only
way to heaven. Through faith in Jesus we are united
to him and each other.
The name "Lutheran" comes from the great reformer
Martin Luther (16th Century). In a period in history
when the Church had lost sight of its Savior and the
truth of his Word, Martin Luther boldly challenged
these errors and preached Jesus Christ as Savior. We
are proud to remember his work in bringing to light
the truth of God’s Word by using his name to identify
ourselves.
A Final Thought
We pray that this has helped to answer some of your
questions and alleviate your fears. Our goals as a
congregation are quite simple. We want to grow in
faith and share that faith with people like you.
Everything we do is meant to accomplish these two
goals. We pray that there is nothing that stands in
your way from learning more about your Savior.
Please do not hesitate to contact us if you have any
questions, or if there is anything we can do for you.
God's blessings to you, and we look forward to seeing
you in church.
Be holy, because I, the Lord your God, am holy (Lev 19:2). Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and
with all your strength and with all your mind, and love your neighbor as yourself. Do this and you will live (Luke 10:27-28).
Whoever keeps the whole law, and yet stumbles at just one point, is guilty of breaking all of it (James 2:10). All have sinned and
fall short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23). The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord
(Rom 6:23). God made him who had no sin (Jesus) to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God
(2Corinthians 5:21). You are no longer foreigners and aliens, but fellow citizens with God’s people and members of God’s
household (Ephesians 2:!9). Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life (John 3:36).
Lutheran Church
Resources
Sermons
Outreach Newsletter
God’s Yellow Pages
Photo Gallery
e-Devotions
Daily Prayer
One-year Bible Reading
The WELS
"In Him was life, and that life was the light of men."
Lutheran Church
Resources
Sermons
Outreach Newsletter
God’s Yellow Pages
Photo Gallery
e-Devotions
Daily Prayer
One-year Bible Reading
The WELS
"In Him was life, and that life was the light of men."
ON-GOING EVENTS
Lutheran Church
Worship Services
Women’s Bible Study
“Sip, Savor, & Drink Deeply” April 23, 6:30 PM Libby’s HouseAlabare
April 27, 6:00 PM Salud De MesillaROMEOs
April 16, 8:00 AM Cracker Barrel
Be holy, because I, the Lord your God, am holy (Lev 19:2). Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and
with all your strength and with all your mind, and love your neighbor as yourself. Do this and you will live (Luke 10:27-28).
Whoever keeps the whole law, and yet stumbles at just one point, is guilty of breaking all of it (James 2:10). All have sinned and
fall short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23). The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord
(Rom 6:23). God made him who had no sin (Jesus) to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God
(2Corinthians 5:21). You are no longer foreigners and aliens, but fellow citizens with God’s people and members of God’s
household (Ephesians 2:!9). Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life (John 3:36).
New Lenten sermon series begins March 6
“Three Words of Truth”
March 10 -- “Love One Another”
Worship: 10:00 AM
Fellowship/Bible Class/Sunday School: 11:15 AM
March 17 -- “Watch and Pray”
Children’s Service: 10:00 AM
Fellowship/Bible Class/Sunday School: 11:15 AM
March 24 -- “I Am He”
Worship: 10:00 AM
Fellowship/Bible Class/Sunday School: 11:15 AM
March 31 -- ”What Is Truth?”
Worship: 10:00 AM
Followship/Bible Class/Sunday School; 11:15 AM
April 7 -- “Take Him Away!”
Worship: 10:00 AM
Fellowship/Bible Class/Sunday School: 11:15 AM
April 14 PALM SUNDAY -- “Save Us Now!”
Worship: 10:00 AM
Fellowship/Bible Class/Sunday School: 11:15 AM
April 18 MAUNDY THURSDAY-- “Take and Eat”
Soup, Salad, and Sweets Supper: 6:00 PM
Worship: 7:00 PM
March 3 -- ”Final Days”
Worship: 10:00 AM
Followship/Bible Class/Sunday School; 11:15 AM
Council Meeting
April 21 EASTER SUNDAY -- “He Has Risen!”
Worship: 10:00 AM
Brunch: 11:15 AM
March 6 ASH WEDNESDAY -- “Is It I?”
Soup, Salad, and Sweets Supper: 6:00 PM
Worship: 7:00 PM
April 19 GOOD FRIDAY -- “It Is Finished”
Pizza dinner: 6:00 PM
Worship: 7:00 PM
Lutheran Church
Worship Services
ON-GOING EVENTS
Women’s Bible Study
“Sip, Savor, & Drink Deeply” April 23, 6:30 PM Libby’s HouseAlabare
April 27, 6:00 PM Salud De MesillaROMEOs
April 16, 8:00 AM Cracker Barrel
New Lenten sermon series begins March 6
“Three Words of Truth”
March 10 -- “Love One Another”
Worship: 10:00 AM
Fellowship/Bible Class/Sunday School: 11:15 AM
March 17 -- “Watch and Pray”
Children’s Service: 10:00 AM
Fellowship/Bible Class/Sunday School: 11:15 AM
March 24 -- “I Am He”
Worship: 10:00 AM
Fellowship/Bible Class/Sunday School: 11:15 AM
March 31 -- ”What Is Truth?”
Worship: 10:00 AM
Followship/Bible Class/Sunday School; 11:15 AM
April 7 -- “Take Him Away!”
Worship: 10:00 AM
Fellowship/Bible Class/Sunday School: 11:15 AM
April 14 PALM SUNDAY -- “Save Us Now!”
Worship: 10:00 AM
Fellowship/Bible Class/Sunday School: 11:15 AM
April 18 MAUNDY THURSDAY-- “Take and Eat”
Soup, Salad, and Sweets Supper: 6:00 PM
Worship: 7:00 PM
March 3 -- ”Final Days”
Worship: 10:00 AM
Followship/Bible Class/Sunday School; 11:15 AM
Council Meeting
April 21 EASTER SUNDAY -- “He Has Risen!”
Worship: 10:00 AM
Brunch: 11:15 AM
March 6 ASH WEDNESDAY -- “Is It I?”
Soup, Salad, and Sweets Supper: 6:00 PM
Worship: 7:00 PM
April 19 GOOD FRIDAY -- “It Is Finished”
Pizza dinner: 6:00 PM
Worship: 7:00 PM
Contact Us
Lutheran Church
Jim Connell, Pastor (915) 740-7714
Larry Miller, President (575) 202-6610
Allan Baker, Treasurer (575) 649-5458
James Bell, Secretary (575) 682-1245
Ken Thalmann, Financial Secretary (575) 263-1527
Renee Thalmann, Ladies Guild President (575) 636-5515
If you would like our pastor to contact you via email, please leave your
information below. If you would like to speak with him directly, please
use the first phone number to the right or below. If he's unavailable,
please try the secondary numbers. Thank you, and God bless you!
Be holy, because I, the Lord your God, am holy (Lev 19:2). Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and
with all your strength and with all your mind, and love your neighbor as yourself. Do this and you will live (Luke 10:27-28).
Whoever keeps the whole law, and yet stumbles at just one point, is guilty of breaking all of it (James 2:10). All have sinned and
fall short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23). The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord
(Rom 6:23). God made him who had no sin (Jesus) to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God
(2Corinthians 5:21). You are no longer foreigners and aliens, but fellow citizens with God’s people and members of God’s
household (Ephesians 2:!9). Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life (John 3:36).
Contact Us
Lutheran Church
If you would like our pastor to contact you via email, please leave your
information below. If you would like to speak with him directly, please
use the first phone number to the right or below. If he's unavailable,
please try the secondary numbers. Thank you, and God bless you!
Jim Connell, Pastor (915) 740-7714
Larry Miller, President (575) 202-6610
Allan Baker, Treasurer (575) 649-5458
James Bell, Secretary (575) 682-1245
Ken Thalmann, Financial Secretary (575) 263-1527
Renee Thalmann, Ladies Guild President (575) 636-5515
Be holy, because I, the Lord your God, am holy (Lev 19:2). Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and
with all your strength and with all your mind, and love your neighbor as yourself. Do this and you will live (Luke 10:27-28).
Whoever keeps the whole law, and yet stumbles at just one point, is guilty of breaking all of it (James 2:10). All have sinned and
fall short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23). The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord
(Rom 6:23). God made him who had no sin (Jesus) to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God
(2Corinthians 5:21). You are no longer foreigners and aliens, but fellow citizens with God’s people and members of God’s
household (Ephesians 2:!9). Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life (John 3:36).
Sermons
Lutheran Church
Ash Wednesday -- Is It I?
March 10 -- Love One Another
March 17 -- Watch and Pray
March 24 -- I AM He
March 31 -- What is Truth?
April 7 -- Take Him Away!
April 14 -- Save Us Now!
Maundy Thursday -- Take and Eat; Take and Drink
Good Friday -- It is Finished
Sermons
Lutheran Church
Ash Wednesday -- Is It I?
March 10 -- Love One Another
March 17 -- Watch and Pray
March 24 -- I AM He
March 31 -- What is Truth?
April 7 -- Take Him Away!
April 14 -- Save Us Now!
Maundy Thursday -- Take and Eat; Take and Drink
Good Friday -- It is Finished
Be holy, because I, the Lord your God, am holy (Lev 19:2). Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and
with all your strength and with all your mind, and love your neighbor as yourself. Do this and you will live (Luke 10:27-28).
Whoever keeps the whole law, and yet stumbles at just one point, is guilty of breaking all of it (James 2:10). All have sinned and
fall short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23). The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord
(Rom 6:23). God made him who had no sin (Jesus) to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God
(2Corinthians 5:21). You are no longer foreigners and aliens, but fellow citizens with God’s people and members of God’s
household (Ephesians 2:!9). Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life (John 3:36).
Lutheran Church
Outreach Newsletters
April
Canceled Debts
Jesus said, “Two men owed money to a certain moneylender. One owed him five hundred denarii,
and the other fifty. Neither of them had the
money to pay him back, so he canceled the debts of both. Now which of them will love him more?” (Luke 7:41-42)
One day Jesus was invited to dinner at the home of a religious leader named Simon. He was a member of the group called Pharisees that
believed their good works made them worthy before God; they didn’t believe that they needed to be saved from their sins. There was an
unexpected guest at the gathering – a sinful woman, a prostitute. She had come to honor Jesus by pouring expensive perfume and even her
own tears on his feet. Simon was upset that Jesus was welcoming the praise of this sinful woman. He thought that if Jesus really knew who
she was, he would not even let her touch him. The truth is that Jesus knew that she had lived a sinful life. He also knew that her joyful tears
were born of his forgiving love for her.
So Jesus told a story to teach Simon and us a lesson about forgiveness. There were two men who were in debt. One of them owed a money
lender about three years’ worth of wages. The other owed the same money lender about 50 days of wages. Neither was able to repay, so the
money lender graciously canceled both debts. Jesus posed a question: “Now which one of them will love him more?” Simon answered
correctly that the one who had the larger debt canceled would have loved the money lender more.
Jesus’ short story speaks volumes for our lives. We all have a huge debt that we cannot pay. We cannot make up for all the sinful things we
do, not by doing more good things or by doing less bad things. We can’t cancel the debt of sin by anything we think, do, or say.
But God saw our desperate need and loves us so much that he canceled our debt of sin. He did that by having his Son, Jesus, pay it completely
for everyone. The price he paid was his death. As the sinless Son of God, he was able to take all of our sins on himself and suffer their
punishment for us. By his death, he canceled the debt of our sin. Three days after he died, he rose from the dead to prove that his sacrifice
counted for all of us.
It’s springtime and Christians are celebrating the resurrection of Jesus from the dead. What a great time of the year to be reminded that Jesus
has canceled our debt of sin and given us new life with him!
Lutheran Church
Outreach Newsletters
April
Canceled Debts
Jesus said, “Two men owed money to a certain moneylender. One
owed him five hundred denarii,
and the other fifty. Neither of them had
the money to pay him back, so he canceled the debts of both. Now
which of them will love him more?” (Luke 7:41-42)
One day Jesus was invited to dinner at the home of a religious leader
named Simon. He was a member of the group called Pharisees that
believed their good works made them worthy before God; they didn’t
believe that they needed to be saved from their sins. There was an
unexpected guest at the gathering – a sinful woman, a prostitute. She
had come to honor Jesus by pouring expensive perfume and even her
own tears on his feet. Simon was upset that Jesus was welcoming the
praise of this sinful woman. He thought that if Jesus really knew who
she was, he would not even let her touch him. The truth is that Jesus
knew that she had lived a sinful life. He also knew that her joyful tears
were born of his forgiving love for her.
So Jesus told a story to teach Simon and us a lesson about forgiveness.
There were two men who were in debt. One of them owed a money
lender about three years’ worth of wages. The other owed the same
money lender about 50 days of wages. Neither was able to repay, so
the money lender graciously canceled both debts. Jesus posed a
question: “Now which one of them will love him more?” Simon
answered correctly that the one who had the larger debt canceled would
have loved the money lender more.
Jesus’ short story speaks volumes for our lives. We all have a huge
debt that we cannot pay. We cannot make up for all the sinful things
we do, not by doing more good things or by doing less bad things. We
can’t cancel the debt of sin by anything we think, do, or say.
But God saw our desperate need and loves us so much that he canceled
our debt of sin. He did that by having his Son, Jesus, pay it completely
for everyone. The price he paid was his death. As the sinless Son of
God, he was able to take all of our sins on himself and suffer their
punishment for us. By his death, he canceled the debt of our sin.
Three days after he died, he rose from the dead to prove that his
sacrifice counted for all of us.
It’s springtime and Christians are celebrating the resurrection of Jesus
from the dead. What a great time of the year to be reminded that Jesus
has canceled our debt of sin and given us new life with him!
Be holy, because I, the Lord your God, am holy (Lev 19:2). Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and
with all your strength and with all your mind, and love your neighbor as yourself. Do this and you will live (Luke 10:27-28).
Whoever keeps the whole law, and yet stumbles at just one point, is guilty of breaking all of it (James 2:10). All have sinned and
fall short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23). The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord
(Rom 6:23). God made him who had no sin (Jesus) to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God
(2Corinthians 5:21). You are no longer foreigners and aliens, but fellow citizens with God’s people and members of God’s
household (Ephesians 2:!9). Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life (John 3:36).
Lutheran Church
God’s Yellow Pages
SECTION 1.
WHERE SHOULD I LOOK WHEN...
Afraid: Psalm 34:4 / Matthew 10:28 / 2 Timothy 1:7 / Hebrews 13:5,6
Anxious: Psalm 46 / Matthew 6:1934 / Philippians 4:6 / 1 Peter 5:6-7
Bereaved: Matthew 5:4 / 2 Corinthians 1:3,4
Bitter: 1 Corinthians 13
Conscious of Sin: Proverbs 28:13
Defeated: Romans 8:31-39
Depressed: Psalm 34
Disaster Threatens: Psalm 91 / Psalm 118:5,6 / Luke 8:22-25
Discouraged: Psalm 23 / Psalm 55:22 / Matthew 5:11,12 / 2 Corinthians 4:8-18
Doubting: Matthew 8:26 / Hebrews 11
Facing Crisis: Psalm 121 / Matthew 6:25-34
Faith Fails: Psalm 42:5 / Hebrews 11
Friends Fail: Psalm 41:9-13 / Luke 17:3,4 / Romans 12:14,17,19,21
Leaving Home: Psalm 121 / Matthew 10:16-20
Lonely: Psalm 23 / Hebrews 13:5,6
Needing Protection: Psalm 17:1-6 / Psalm 91 / Philippians 4:19
Needing Guidance: Psalm 32:8 / Proverbs 3:5,6
Needing Peace: John 14:14 / John 16:33 / Romans 5:1-5 / Philippians 4:6-7
Needing Rules for Life: Romans 12
Overcome: Psalm 6 / Romans 8:31-39 / 1 John 1:4-9
Prayerful: Psalm 4 / Psalm 42 / Luke 11:1-13 / John 17 / 1 John 5:14,15
Sad: Psalm 51 / Matthew 5:4 / John 14 / 2 Corinthians 1:3,4 / 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18
Sick or in Pain: Psalm 38 / Matthew 26:39 / Romans 5:3-5 / 2 Corinthians 12:9,10 / 1 Peter 4:12,13,19
Tempted: Psalm 1 / Psalm 139:23,24 / Matthew 26:41 / 1 Corinthians 10:12-14 / Philippians 4:8 / James 4:7
/ 2 Peter 2:9 / 2 Peter 3:17
Thankful: Psalm 100 / 1 Thessalonians 5:18 / Hebrews 13:15
Traveling: Psalm 121
Trouble, in: Psalm 16 / Psalm 31 / John 14:1-4 / Hebrews 7:25
Weary: Psalm 90 / Matthew 11:28-30 / 1 Corinthians 15:58 / Galatians 6:9,10
Worried: Matthew 6:19-34 / 1 Peter 5:6,7
SECTION 2.
CHRISTIAN VIRTUES AND CHARACTER
Abundant Life: John 10:10
Citizenship: Romans 13:1-7 / Titus 3:1
Cleanliness: 2 Corinthians 7:1
Consecration: Romans 12:1,2
Contentment: Philippians 4:11-13 / 1 Timothy 6:6
Courage: Psalm 27:14
Diligence: Romans 12:11
Duty: Luke 20:21-25
Endurance: Luke 21:9-19 / 2 Timothy 2:3
Faith: Matthew 8:5-13 / Mark 1:22-24
Faithfulness: Matthew 25:23
Forgiveness: Mark 11:25,26 / Ephesians 4:31,32
Freedom: John 8:31-36
Fruitfulness: John 15:1-18
Godliness: Titus 2:11-14
Happiness: Matthew 5:3-12
Holiness: 1 Peter 1:13-16
Honesty: 2 Corinthians 8:21
Honor: 1 Peter 2:17
Honor to Parents: Ephesians 6:1-3
Hope: 1 Peter 1:13
Humility: Luke 18:9-14 / Philippians 2:3-11
Joy: Luke 10:20 / John 15:11
Kindness: Colossians 3:12,13
Labor: John 9:4
Love: Luke 10:27 / 1 Corinthians 13
Obedience: John 14:15-24 / Acts 5:29
Overcoming: John 16:33 / Revelation 3:12
Patience: Hebrews 10:36
Peacefulness: John 14:27 / Romans 12:18
Perseverance: Mark 12:5-13
Prayer: Luke 11:1-13 / Ephesians 6:18
Pure Thinking: Philippians 4:8
Purity: Matthew 5:27-32 / 2 Timothy 2:22
Reading the Bible: John 5:39 / Psalm 1:2 / Psalm 119:97
Resolution: Ephesians 6:10-18
Reverence: Psalm 89:7
Righteousness: Matthew 5:6 / Matthew 6:33
Sincerity: Philippians 1:9,10
Steadfastness: 1 Corinthians 15:58
Stewardship: 1 Corinthians 4:2 / 2 Corinthians 9:6,7
Temperance: 1 Thessalonians 5:6-8
Trust: Psalm 37:3-5 / Proverbs 3:5,6
Truth: John 14:6 / John 17:17 / Ephesians 4:14,15
Victory: 1 Corinthians 15:57 / 1 John 5:4
Watchfulness: Mark 13:34-37
Worshipful: John 4:23,24
Zeal: John 6:27
SECTION 3.
TEACHINGS ABOUT LIFE'S PROBLEMS
Adultery: Matthew 5:27-32
Adversity: Matthew 10:16-39
Anger: Matthew 5:22-24
Anxiety: Matthew 6:19-34
Conceit: Luke 18:9-14
Covetousness: Mark 7:21-23
Crime: Matthew 15:17-20
Death: John 11:25,26
Depravity: John 3:19-21
Divorce: Mark 10:2-12
Doubt: Matthew 14:28-31
Drunkenness: Luke 21:34-36
Enemies: Matthew 5:43-48
Excuses: Luke 14:15-24
Extravagance: 1 Timothy 6:7-12
Fault-finding: Matthew 7:1-5
Fear: Luke 12:5
Flesh: Romans 13:14
Greed: Luke 12:15-31
Hatred: Matthew 5:43-48
Hypocrisy: Matthew 23:27,28
Judging: Matthew 7:1
Lip Service: Matthew 7:21
Lust: Mark 4:18-19
Self-Exaltation: Luke 14:11
Self-Righteousness: Luke 18:11,12
Sin: John 8:34-36
Submission: 1 Peter 2:13-17
Swearing: Colossians 3:8
Tribulation: John 16:33
Worldliness: 1 John 2:15-17
Lutheran Church
God’s Yellow Pages
SECTION 1.
WHERE SHOULD I LOOK WHEN...
Afraid: Psalm 34:4 / Matthew 10:28 / 2 Timothy 1:7 /
Hebrews 13:5,6
Anxious: Psalm 46 / Matthew 6:1934 / Philippians 4:6
/ 1 Peter 5:6-7
Bereaved: Matthew 5:4 / 2 Corinthians 1:3,4
Bitter: 1 Corinthians 13
Conscious of Sin: Proverbs 28:13
Defeated: Romans 8:31-39
Depressed: Psalm 34
Disaster Threatens: Psalm 91 / Psalm 118:5,6 / Luke
8:22-25
Discouraged: Psalm 23 / Psalm 55:22 / Matthew
5:11,12 / 2 Corinthians 4:8-18
Doubting: Matthew 8:26 / Hebrews 11
Facing Crisis: Psalm 121 / Matthew 6:25-34
Faith Fails: Psalm 42:5 / Hebrews 11
Friends Fail: Psalm 41:9-13 / Luke 17:3,4 / Romans
12:14,17,19,21
Leaving Home: Psalm 121 / Matthew 10:16-20
Lonely: Psalm 23 / Hebrews 13:5,6
Needing Protection: Psalm 17:1-6 / Psalm 91 /
Philippians 4:19
Needing Guidance: Psalm 32:8 / Proverbs 3:5,6
Needing Peace: John 14:14 / John 16:33 / Romans
5:1-5 / Philippians 4:6-7
Needing Rules for Life: Romans 12
Overcome: Psalm 6 / Romans 8:31-39 / 1 John 1:4-9
Prayerful: Psalm 4 / Psalm 42 / Luke 11:1-13 / John
17 / 1 John 5:14,15
Sad: Psalm 51 / Matthew 5:4 / John 14 / 2 Corinthians
1:3,4 / 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18
Sick or in Pain: Psalm 38 / Matthew 26:39 / Romans
5:3-5 / 2 Corinthians 12:9,10 / 1 Peter 4:12,13,19
Tempted: Psalm 1 / Psalm 139:23,24 / Matthew 26:41
/ 1 Corinthians 10:12-14 / Philippians 4:8 / James 4:7
/ 2 Peter 2:9 / 2 Peter 3:17
Thankful: Psalm 100 / 1 Thessalonians 5:18 /
Hebrews 13:15
Traveling: Psalm 121
Trouble, in: Psalm 16 / Psalm 31 / John 14:1-4 /
Hebrews 7:25
Weary: Psalm 90 / Matthew 11:28-30 / 1 Corinthians
15:58 / Galatians 6:9,10
Worried: Matthew 6:19-34 / 1 Peter 5:6,7
SECTION 2.
CHRISTIAN VIRTUES AND CHARACTER
Abundant Life: John 10:10
Citizenship: Romans 13:1-7 / Titus 3:1
Cleanliness: 2 Corinthians 7:1
Consecration: Romans 12:1,2
Contentment: Philippians 4:11-13 / 1 Timothy 6:6
Courage: Psalm 27:14
Diligence: Romans 12:11
Duty: Luke 20:21-25
Endurance: Luke 21:9-19 / 2 Timothy 2:3
Faith: Matthew 8:5-13 / Mark 1:22-24
Faithfulness: Matthew 25:23
Forgiveness: Mark 11:25,26 / Ephesians 4:31,32
Freedom: John 8:31-36
Fruitfulness: John 15:1-18
Godliness: Titus 2:11-14
Happiness: Matthew 5:3-12
Holiness: 1 Peter 1:13-16
Honesty: 2 Corinthians 8:21
Honor: 1 Peter 2:17
Honor to Parents: Ephesians 6:1-3
Hope: 1 Peter 1:13
Humility: Luke 18:9-14 / Philippians 2:3-11
Joy: Luke 10:20 / John 15:11
Kindness: Colossians 3:12,13
Labor: John 9:4
Love: Luke 10:27 / 1 Corinthians 13
Obedience: John 14:15-24 / Acts 5:29
Overcoming: John 16:33 / Revelation 3:12
Patience: Hebrews 10:36
Peacefulness: John 14:27 / Romans 12:18
Perseverance: Mark 12:5-13
Prayer: Luke 11:1-13 / Ephesians 6:18
Pure Thinking: Philippians 4:8
Purity: Matthew 5:27-32 / 2 Timothy 2:22
Reading the Bible: John 5:39 / Psalm 1:2 / Psalm
119:97
Resolution: Ephesians 6:10-18
Reverence: Psalm 89:7
Righteousness: Matthew 5:6 / Matthew 6:33
Sincerity: Philippians 1:9,10
Steadfastness: 1 Corinthians 15:58
Stewardship: 1 Corinthians 4:2 / 2 Corinthians 9:6,7
Temperance: 1 Thessalonians 5:6-8
Trust: Psalm 37:3-5 / Proverbs 3:5,6
Truth: John 14:6 / John 17:17 / Ephesians 4:14,15
Victory: 1 Corinthians 15:57 / 1 John 5:4
Watchfulness: Mark 13:34-37
Worshipful: John 4:23,24
Zeal: John 6:27
SECTION 3.
TEACHINGS ABOUT LIFE'S PROBLEMS
Adultery: Matthew 5:27-32
Adversity: Matthew 10:16-39
Anger: Matthew 5:22-24
Anxiety: Matthew 6:19-34
Conceit: Luke 18:9-14
Covetousness: Mark 7:21-23
Crime: Matthew 15:17-20
Death: John 11:25,26
Depravity: John 3:19-21
Divorce: Mark 10:2-12
Doubt: Matthew 14:28-31
Drunkenness: Luke 21:34-36
Enemies: Matthew 5:43-48
Excuses: Luke 14:15-24
Extravagance: 1 Timothy 6:7-12
Fault-finding: Matthew 7:1-5
Fear: Luke 12:5
Flesh: Romans 13:14
Greed: Luke 12:15-31
Hatred: Matthew 5:43-48
Hypocrisy: Matthew 23:27,28
Judging: Matthew 7:1
Lip Service: Matthew 7:21
Lust: Mark 4:18-19
Self-Exaltation: Luke 14:11
Self-Righteousness: Luke 18:11,12
Sin: John 8:34-36
Submission: 1 Peter 2:13-17
Swearing: Colossians 3:8
Tribulation: John 16:33
Worldliness: 1 John 2:15-17
Be holy, because I, the Lord your God, am holy (Lev 19:2). Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and
with all your strength and with all your mind, and love your neighbor as yourself. Do this and you will live (Luke 10:27-28).
Whoever keeps the whole law, and yet stumbles at just one point, is guilty of breaking all of it (James 2:10). All have sinned and
fall short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23). The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord
(Rom 6:23). God made him who had no sin (Jesus) to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God
(2Corinthians 5:21). You are no longer foreigners and aliens, but fellow citizens with God’s people and members of God’s
household (Ephesians 2:!9). Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life (John 3:36).
Lutheran Church
Photo Gallery
A small viewing of how God has blessed us during our five-year history.
