Faith Lutheran Church - Newsletter

Sing To The Lord A New Song

noreply@blogger.com (Faith Moorpark) — Wed, 01 Apr 2026 12:00:00 +0000

Psalm 96:1-2
Oh, sing to the LORD a new song; sing to the LORD, all the earth! Sing to the LORD, bless his name; tell of his salvation from day to day.

Many songwriters have drawn inspiration from the opening words of Psalm 96. Yet the psalmist is not calling God’s people to compose new hymns. He is calling us to sing about a new and mighty act of God— an act so great that it demands fresh praise from the whole earth.

The “old song” was Israel’s deliverance from slavery in Egypt. Trapped between Pharaoh’s army and the sea, God opened a way through the waters, drowned the enemy, and set His people free (Exodus 14–15). That rescue became the song of Israel, and the center of Israel’s praise. Exodus 15, Psalms 78 and 136 sing the song of God’s deliverance, and this rescue is referenced countless times in the Old Testament.

But God had always planned something greater than deliverance from the Egyptians. He would deliver his people from sin, death, and the devil himself. In the fullness of time, He sent His Son. Through His atoning death on the cross, and His glorious resurrection, Jesus Christ crushed Satan’s power and opened the way to eternal life. This is the “new song”— the song of deliverance in Christ.

Our Lutheran hymnal overflows with this new song. Some hymns tell about his life on earth— his incarnation, his death and resurrection. Some are thematic, and tell about Christ as Redeemer, the Word of God, or Baptism. And some of them are about our Christian walk— songs of hope and comfort, songs of witnessing, songs of prayer, songs of stewardship. Yet, all of these songs grow out of the great new song about Christ who lived and died for us.

Singing “a new song” is therefore not a call to write yet another hymn— though faithful new hymns are always welcome. It is a call to lift our voices in praise of what God has done for us in Jesus Christ.

That is why Easter is the new song the psalmist foresaw. Because of Easter all the earth should be singing his praise and blessing His name. Because of Easter, we should tell of His salvation from day to day.

Oh, sing to the LORD a new song!

Alleluia! Christ is risen!

He is risen indeed! Alleluia!

✝️ Pastor Deming

The full newsletter can be found here:
https://www.faithmoorpark.com/files/pdf/2026/2026-04-Newsletter.pdf

Pray Without Ceasing

noreply@blogger.com (Faith Moorpark) — Sun, 01 Mar 2026 12:50:00 +0000

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

In Psalm 139:4, God says that He knows our thoughts before they form on our tongue. With that being the case, why does Paul encourage us to pray without ceasing? Prayer is not about you informing God— He already knows everything. Rather, God invites us to pray so we can know Him more deeply: His love, His care, and Fatherly concern for each one of His children in Christ. Just as an earthly father wants to hear everything his child wants to share, God wants you to come to Him, your Heavenly Father, in every need and in every moment of joy.

Fill the quiet moments in your day between tasks with quick check-ins with God. A friend shared with me that every time she hears a siren, she prays for everyone involved. What a wonderful habit!

So, talk to Him. When you think about your children, thank Him for the blessing of them, or ask Him to meet their needs. When you are pouring a cup of coffee, praise Him with the doxology. When commuting, use your time to ask Him for guidance. Before starting work, ask for His blessings upon your efforts.

Praying continually is not about long sessions with your eyes closed and hands folded. It’s about living every moment as His child—sharing with God throughout the day. And like any good habit, praying continually develops overtime, through small, incremental steps.

Start small. Pick one new moment to pray, such as when pouring coffee. And don’t try to add another until this one becomes a habit.

Psalm 145:18 says, “The Lord is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth.” So, call on Him, and let Him draw near to you, give you the comfort of His promises, and shape your heart to be more like His.

I pray that after adding some new moments of prayer, your days will become one ongoing conversation with your Heavenly Father.

✝️ Pastor Deming

The full newsletter can be found here:
https://www.faithmoorpark.com/files/pdf/2026/2026-03-Newsletter.pdf

Saint and Sinner

noreply@blogger.com (Faith Moorpark) — Sun, 01 Feb 2026 13:29:00 +0000

It is hard to believe Lent is nearly upon us, but on February 18th we will be celebrating Ash Wednesday, the beginning of a season of penitential contemplation. The whole idea of a season of penitence creates a tension within our Christian faith. If we are saved by Christ’s sacrifice on the cross and received into his family in our baptism, why set aside a season focused on our sin?

Luther described this tension with the phrase, simul justus et peccator — “at the same time righteous and sinner.” Though our Father in heaven sees us clothed in the righteousness of Christ, yet we know and experience our sinfulness daily, and we will until Christ comes again. Lent, therefore, is a season that allows the Church to humbly repent to reflect on Christ’s saving sacrifice. It is no accident that Lent leads us into Holy Week, where we celebrate the Crucifixion and Resurrection of our Lord.

I had never seen the imposition of ashes until I moved to New York. On Ash Wednesday, people throughout the city went about their business with these smudged crosses on their foreheads—carrying with them both a reminder of their sinfulness and a public profession of their faith.

The imposition of ashes does three things for us. First, they remind us of our sin. Second, it reminds us of our mortality. God warned Adam that if he ate of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil that he would die. The words we speak when imposing the ashes is what God declared to Adam after the fall, “You are dust and to dust you shall return.” (Genesis 3:19) These words confront us with the wages of sin. Third—and most importantly— the ashes are placed in the sign of the cross. Because we belong to Christ, we are not only sinners but saints, redeemed by His death.

Yes, Lent is a season of reflection and repentance. We may even choose to fast as an additional reminder of this. But, like the cross that is traced upon our foreheads, Lent points us to Christ—the One who died so that we might live.

✝️ Pastor Deming

The full newsletter can be found here:
https://www.faithmoorpark.com/files/pdf/2026/2026-02-Newsletter.pdf

Following Yonder Star

noreply@blogger.com (Faith Moorpark) — Mon, 05 Jan 2026 21:45:00 +0000

The account of the wise men visiting the Christ child is a post-Christmas event that launches the season of Epiphany. It is celebrated on January 6, and the text can be found in Matthew 2:1-12.

Throughout this season, we see the divine nature of Christ manifested in different ways. To the wise men, his unique nature was first manifested by a star. We don’t know exactly what this star was, but it inspired these wise men from the east to follow it. They recognized in its appearance that a new king of the Jews had been born.

According to the Herod’s scribes in Jerusalem, this child would be born in Bethlehem as the prophet Micah had prophesied. When the wise men left Jerusalem, they rejoiced to see that the star has reappeared and would guide them all the way to the newborn child.

Finding the child, the wise men bowed down and worship him. From the miraculous star they knew this child was special. They might not fully understand the incarnation, but God's divine hand and purpose is clearly upon him.

The wise men were gentiles from the east, and in sending them the star, God showed the entire world that this little Jewish child had come for all people. This little child would be king. But as He would say years later to Pilate, “My kingdom is not of this world.” Indeed, He rules over all creation. This child is worthy of having everyone from all nations bow down and worship him.

Herod had told the wise men to return and tell him where he could find the child. But in a dream, God told them to go home by another way. They had the choice to obey man or obey God. Thankfully, and rightly, they obeyed God.

The wise men should bring us great comfort. Through them, God announced that the long-promised Jewish Messiah came, not just for the Jews, but for you and for me. They can also serve as a reminder of how best to order our lives—to put obedience to God first over all other considerations.

God sent a star to guide the wise men to His Son. God gave us His Word to guide us to His Son. Finding Him in the waters of baptism, in the Word, and in the Sacrament of the Altar, let us also bow down and worship Him.

✝️ Pastor Deming

The full newsletter can be found here:
https://www.faithmoorpark.com/files/pdf/2026/2026-01-Newsletter.pdf

Good King Wenceslas

noreply@blogger.com (Faith Moorpark) — Thu, 04 Dec 2025 23:48:00 +0000

Do you know the Christmas carol, Good King Wenceslas? It’s included in many Christmas carol collections.

Good King Wenceslas is out on the Feast of Stephen (December 26th). It's snowing and cold. A poor man comes into view gathering wood. The end.

If that ending seems absurdly abrupt, it is because many Christmas carol collections only print the first verse of each carol. However, when you read/sing the whole carol you find a rich and compelling story.

The King isn’t alone. He asks his Page who this poor man is. The Page tells the King the poor man is a Peasant who lives near the forest. The King then decides to bless this Peasant. He tells his Page to gather wood and meat and wine, which they will bring to the Peasant. But as they go, the winter winds get colder and the Page discovers he can’t go any further. He's freezing. Then King Wenceslas tells his Page to tread in his own footsteps and then he won't be as cold. Here's the last verse:

In his master’s steps he trod
where the snow lay dinted;
Heat was in the very sod
which the saint had printed.
Therefore, Christian men, be sure,
wealth or rank possessing,
Ye who now will bless the poor,
shall yourselves find blessing.

When I first read the final verse, it completely floored me. The carol isn’t about the King blessing the Peasant, but about the Page—the Page who followed in his King’s steps, and received the blessing of warmth, so that he could continue to serve the Peasant. The storyteller then goes on to encourage Christian’s to do the same.

Christ is the King. You and I are His Page (1 Cor. 4:1-2). Christ sends blessings to others through us (1 Peter 4:10). And when things get really hard, by following Him, we can continue our work (Psalm 28:7) of blessing others (Phil. 2:4).

Christ came at Christmas to serve us by His life, death and resurrection. Christ our King asks us to serve others in His name. And He himself will provide whatever is needed to complete the tasks He sets before us. Though we all have our family responsibilities at this Christmas time, has He set someone else before you to bless?

If so, may I encourage you to also to trust and follow in the master’s steps, and feel the warmth that He will provide in your service to others.

God bless you. And Merry Christmas!

✝️ Pastor Deming

The full newsletter can be found here:
https://www.faithmoorpark.com/files/pdf/2025/2025-12-Newsletter.pdf

Giving Thanks

noreply@blogger.com (Faith Moorpark) — Sun, 02 Nov 2025 15:42:00 +0000

Giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ
—Ephesians 5:20

As I was driving up the 5 to my pastor's conference, I was contemplating what my message would be this month. It's November, so the thought of “giving thanks” was uppermost in my mind. I was about halfway to the conference when I received a text from one of my Seminary brothers. He was texting me to let me know that all of his tests following months of chemo and radiation treatments came back negative!

My friend had already fought cancer once when he was a child. Now in his second year of Seminary, this deadly specter made another appearance. He had surgery, but because the surgery wasn't completely successful, he had to postpone his vicarage so he could undergo chemo and radiation treatments. But now, at his first checkup, he is cancer free. I immediately thanked God for this result, and texted back expressing my joy at hearing this good news.

That night, I asked myself this question, “Would I have thanked God if the results were negative?” That might seem counterintuitive. But if all things work together for our good, as Scripture clearly teaches (Romans 8:3), should we not be ready to thank God in all circumstances, and even for the trials He sends us?

My friend might never know what good God was/is working in his life by letting cancer reappear. We might never know what good God is working in our life through our struggles. But since our God is not just good, but perfectly good and perfectly loving, should we not give thanks even for those difficulties in our lives, trusting that He is working good through them?

This isn’t to say that we ask for troubles. In fact, we pray “deliver us from evil.” But these trials allow God to work in us, and to show that He is strong and He is always with us.

As we approach Thanksgiving Day, take stock and start thanking God for the many blessings He richly and daily bestows upon us—not least of which is His constant forgiveness given on account of His Son. Then, if you are going through a time of trial, give thanks to God for this as well. Thank Him for the opportunity to exercise your faith in the face of adversity. Trust that He is working good in your life. And “may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope” (Romans 15:13).

✝️ Pastor Deming

The full newsletter can be found here:
https://www.faithmoorpark.com/files/pdf/2025/2025-11-Newsletter.pdf

Catechized in the Faith

noreply@blogger.com (Faith Moorpark) — Thu, 02 Oct 2025 20:58:00 +0000

In the introduction to his Large Catechism, Martin Luther wrote, “But for myself I say this: I am also a doctor and preacher, yea, as learned and experienced as all those may be who have such presumption and security; yet I do as a child who is being taught the Catechism, and every morning, and whenever I have time, I read and say, word for word, the Ten Commandments, the Creed, the Lord’s Prayer, the Psalms, etc. And I must still read and study daily, and yet I cannot master it as I wish, but must remain a child and pupil of the Catechism, and am glad so to remain.”

What a remarkable statement of humility. Though Martin Luther was the leader of the Reformation, a Doctor of Theology, and a magnificent preacher, he felt it necessary to read and study the Catechism every day— and he was the author!

In a few short days we will begin the Confirmation classes for 2025-2026. But remembering Luther’s words, I began to consider how well do we know our Catechism. Can we recite the Ten Commandments, the Creed and the Lord’s Prayer? Do we remember the answers to “what does this mean?” Can we ask and answer the questions about the Sacraments?

If not, it might be time to look at the Catechism again. Luther did not place such importance upon his Catechisms because he was the author, but because the Catechisms teach what the Bible teaches. The Small Catechism uses the simple question and answer format to present the essential truths. The Large Catechism reads like a series of sermons on each subject, so that it is more robust than the Small Catechism in explaining Scripture as well as applying Scripture to our lives. To study the Catechisms is to study Scripture.

Both Catechisms can be found online with a google search, but here is a web address for each.

Luther’s Small Catechism:
https://bookofconcord.org/small-catechism/
Luther’s Large Catechism:
https://bookofconcord.org/large-catechism/

I also have a couple copies of Luther’s Large and Small Catechisms I can loan out.

The church quickly recognized the value of the Catechisms. So much so that they were included in The Book of Concord, the defining documents of our faith. The Small Catechism, in particular, has served as a guide for Christians as they prepare to receive Holy Communion ever since it was first published in 1529.

As Reformation Day approaches, may I encourage you all to take some time to reacquaint yourself with these great gifts which Martin Luther gave to the church.

✝️ Pastor Deming

The full newsletter can be found here:
https://www.faithmoorpark.com/files/pdf/2025/2025-10-Newsletter.pdf

Feasts and Festivals

noreply@blogger.com (Faith Moorpark) — Wed, 03 Sep 2025 05:10:00 +0000

At the very beginning of October, we will be celebrating two events. First, on October 4th, Faith Lutheran Church will be participating in Moorpark’s Country Days — a time to connect with our neighbors and celebrate living together in this beautiful community. Then, the very next day, we celebrate the 40th Anniversary of Faith Lutheran Church!

This anniversary is a meaningful occasion is a time to thank God for His countless blessings to this congregation for the last 40 years, and most especially, that He has continually provided His Word and Sacrament to those who worshipped here.

These events remind me of how much God loves a party. While we rightly thank God for freeing us from our sins through all that Christ did for us, we can easily forget that celebrating is a Godly response to His many other blessings. In the parable of the Lost Sheep, when the shepherd finds the sheep again, he calls his friends and neighbors to celebrate with him. (Luke 15:6)

This is a pattern with God. When God gave the Law to Moses on Mt. Sinai, He also gave instructions for festivals. “Three times in the year you shall keep a feast to me.” (Ex. 23:14) The Feasts of Passover, Pentecost and Tabernacles were all times to celebrate.

The family and guests ate the Passover meal. During the other festivals, peace offerings were made. Priests received a portion of the offering, but the rest was eaten by the person offering the sacrifice with their family. (Lev. 7:15) In other words, there was regularly a huge barbeque happening at the tabernacle, where people rejoiced and shared a meal.

Christ instituted another feast in the Lord’s Supper. We regularly sing, “This is the feast of victory to our God.” The feast we sing about is our Lord’s body and blood, given and shed for you – a joyful reminder of His sacrifice for us.

I would encourage everyone to join in both upcoming celebrations. And please invite non-Faith members to share these moments with us. We have the greatest cause to celebrate – salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ.

Participating in Country Days is a way to share our joy in the Lord with the wider community. And our 40th year anniversary gives us the chance spend quality time together, to deepen our bonds, and to thank our Lord for all the blessings He has bestowed upon us.

And let’s keep our eyes open to find more ways like these to spend time together, share a meal, and bless His holy name.

✝️ Pastor Deming

The full newsletter can be found here:
https://www.faithmoorpark.com/files/pdf/2025/2025-09-Newsletter.pdf

Prayer

noreply@blogger.com (Faith Moorpark) — Fri, 01 Aug 2025 17:53:00 +0000

On Sunday July 27th, the gospel reading was the Lord’s Prayer, and both the sermon and the Bible study after the service focused on God calling on us to pray to Him for whatever it is we need. Following the class one of our members asks me a follow up question: Jesus said, “if two of you agree on earth about anything they ask, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven (Mathew 18:19).” Does this mean having two or three people praying makes a prayer more effective?

What a great question! Do the numbers of people praying for something affect God's response? But first we need to look at the context of Matthew 18:19.

In this passage, Jesus is addressing how the church should respond to a brother or sister who has fallen into sin. If he will not listen to correction, it will be lovingly necessary for the church to exclude him from the congregation, with the hope this action will bring him to repentance. In this instance Jesus is not speaking about prayer in general but assuring and comforting the church that when it makes important decisions, that He is present with them in making their decision.

The question then remains: Do the numbers of people praying for something affect God's response?

Throughout Scripture, we are called to pray by Jesus, by the prophets, by the apostles.

Sometimes we pray by ourselves in our secret closet (…go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret… -Matthew 6:6). Other times we are instructed to pray as a group. “Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him… (James 5:13).”

To answer the question, it would appear there are times that God waits for more than one person to pray for something before He responds, such as when the church prayed for Peter after he was arrested (Acts 12:5-9). Yet Daniel alone offers a prayer to God that He would forgive His people and bring them out of exile and back to the land (Daniel 9).

Since we do not know His divine will, we should not think that more people praying is necessary for Him to hear the prayer. Yet, since we are called to share one another’s burdens, we should faithfully pray for each other in every need. And whether it is one, two, or many people praying, we can trust that God hears our prayers and trust Him to provide for us according to His good and gracious will.

✝️ Pastor Deming

The full newsletter can be found here:
https://www.faithmoorpark.com/files/pdf/2025/2025-08-Newsletter.pdf

July 2025

noreply@blogger.com (Faith Moorpark) — Tue, 01 Jul 2025 17:55:00 +0000

“Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep.”
– Romans 12:15

At the end of the 12th Chapter of Romans, Paul gives us some very clear commands on how we are to behave. The verse I’ve chosen today stands out because it requires us to know the people around us. We can always try to be humble and hospitable (two other commands from Paul), but we can do this even when we barely know our neighbor. To be able to truly rejoice or mourn with another means not just acknowledging their joy or sorrow, but knowing them and caring for them. I am having a wonderful time meeting and getting to know the members of FLC. As Christians, we are all a part of the body of Christ. May I encourage you to reach out beyond your close circle to those members you may not know so well, learn who they are and what their life concerns are, so that we can live together as one, and can then deeply rejoice and mourn with each other as brothers and sisters in the one family of Christ.

✝️ Pastor Deming

The full newsletter can be found here:
https://www.faithmoorpark.com/files/pdf/2025/2025-07-Newsletter.pdf

June 2025

noreply@blogger.com (Faith Moorpark) — Sun, 08 Jun 2025 20:21:00 +0000

Pastor Deming Installation Service & Reception
Sunday, June 15 @ 3pm

"How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news, who proclaim peace, who bring good tidings, who proclaim salvation, who say to Zion, “Your God reigns!” - Isaiah 52:7"

Pastor Sean Deming will be installed as the next Pastor at Faith Lutheran on Sunday, June 15th. The Installation Service will begin at 3:00 and will be followed by a dinner reception at Faith. Visitors are welcome. This is a very important occasion in the life of our Church and we hope that you are all able to attend. We understand that this is Father's Day, but what would be better than spending time with our Heavenly Father as we gather as His children!

If you are able to stay for the dinner reception, please sign up in the Fellowship Hall, or at FLC.ms/RSVP so that we know how many to plan for.

The full newsletter can be found here:
https://www.faithmoorpark.com/files/pdf/2025/2025-06-Newsletter.pdf

May 2025

noreply@blogger.com (Faith Moorpark) — Thu, 15 May 2025 15:58:00 +0000

On April 30th, the church gathered for pizza & salad in the fellowship hall. We had a great turnout and filled up the fellowship hall. Thank you to all that provided food and for the call committee to organize this event. Thank you for all your prayers during this time as we prayed for the Lord to provide us with our next under-shepherd. At 5pm we gathered in the sanctuary to watch the live stream of the call day service from Concordia Seminary, St Louis. The Lord is faithful and has blessed us with our next Pastor, Sean Deming.

Over the past week we have been coordinating with Pastor Sean and President Gibson to schedule the Installation Service. The service will be held at Faith Lutheran on Sunday, June 15th at 3:00 p.m. We hope that you can all attend!

Please continue to pray for Pastor Sean as he completes his studies (he officially graduates on May 15th), packs up, finds a place to live and travels to California to assume his call as the next Pastor of Faith!

The full newsletter can be found here:
https://www.faithmoorpark.com/files/pdf/2025/2025-05-Newsletter.pdf

April 2025

noreply@blogger.com (Faith Moorpark) — Wed, 09 Apr 2025 21:54:00 +0000

Call Process Update

At the beginning of March, the Call Committee completed the Call Document which is the required document that needs to be sent to the Seminary prior to the Seminary completing the placement decisions. The main portion of the Call Document is the compensation package that we will provide to the Pastor. The Call Committee worked with the Church Council to determine the appropriate salary and benefits package based on the LCMS Pacific Southwest District guidelines. The completed Call Document was forwarded to our District President, Pastor Gibson for his review and signature. President Gibson has signed the Call Document and has sent it on to the Seminary. And now we wait... with the knowledge and assurance that God is Faithful and will provide the Pastor that He has determined to shepherd His Church in Moorpark. We anticipate that we will be notified sometime in late April if we will receive a Pastor from Seminary. Please continue to pray for God's will to be done through the Call Process.

The full newsletter can be found here:
https://www.faithmoorpark.com/files/pdf/2025/2025-04-Newsletter.pdf

noreply@blogger.com (Faith Moorpark) — Fri, 07 Mar 2025 16:50:00 +0000

“The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God endures forever”

Isaiah 40:8

The beauty of being Lutheran is our faith in the Word of God. From the Gospel and the Sacraments, these gifts indicate that our faith rests upon what He has done for us. And thus, as Christ is our chief cornerstone, we rest upon His Word, His Truth, His promises, for “I believe that I cannot by my own reason or strength believe in Jesus Christ, my Lord, or come to Him; but the Holy Spirit has called me by the Gospel, enlightened me with His gifts, sanctified and kept me in the true faith”. The Lord works and thus as you gather time and time again for Sunday Bible Study, and Divine Service, it is our Lord who is working on you. From calling you by the Gospel [2Thess2:14], to enlightening you with His gifts [the Sacraments] our Lord sanctifies and keeps you [Rom10:17] through the word. And thus as hearers of the Word, your faith rests upon Christ [1Cor1:23] who declares your righteous and forgives you all your sins. And of course, where there is forgiveness there is also eternal life and salvation. Therefore, take heart, because your faith in Christ has made you well [Lk17:19].

Friends, it has been a privilege to be your pastor since the summer of 2017. Reflecting on my time here at Faith, it truly has been a joy to serve you through the Word and Sacrament. It has been very special to get to know each and every one of you, and surely you will be missed. But the Lord has His time for everything and now it is time to go. Yet as I go, I pray that the Word will dwell within you richly [Col3:16] as the Holy Spirit continues to sustain you in the one true faith. Continue to attend Sunday’s Divine service, continue to attend Sunday bible study, continue to gather together because the Word is working. I have seen how God has shaped you through the word these past seven + years and it has been a marvel and blessing to see! From those who were here when I was installed, to those that became new members, and of course all of our precious little children at Faith, I know that God has great plans for you and I pray that the Word continues to be your enduring faith as you await the next pastor.

With that being said, I am encouraged to see many of you stepping up and helping out as you prepare for what is to come. Continue to be integral part in the life of this congregation. And if you are wondering how you can contribute your time and talents, please speak to any of our leadership and they will gladly assist you! Lastly, thank you for everything. It truly has been a blessing to be your pastor. But thanks be to God, that even as pastors come and go, it does not change a thing, for it is the Word that endures forever. Love you all, praying for you all, and until next time... adios and goodbye.

✝️ Pastor Jeong

The full newsletter can be found here:
https://www.faithmoorpark.com/files/pdf/2025/2025-03-Newsletter.pdf

One Thing Is Certain

noreply@blogger.com (Faith Moorpark) — Sun, 09 Feb 2025 00:24:00 +0000

“The God before whom my fathers Abraham and Isaac walked, the God who has been my shepherd all my life long to this day, the angel who has redeemed me from all evil, bless the boys; and in them let my name be carried on, and the name of my fathers Abraham and Isaac; and let them grow into a multitude in the midst of the earth”
Genesis 48:15-16

Nearing the end of his life, Jacob gives a blessing to Joseph’s two sons [Ephraim and Manasseh]. Jacob, who is known for supplanting Esau’s birthright [Gen25], toiling under Laban for far too many years [Gen28-31], wrestling with God [Gen28], and living with the supposed loss of his favorite son Joseph [Gen37], it was [to say the least] a storied life for Jacob. Yet, now nearing his 147 th year, he thanks the Lord for His faithfulness. From Abraham [Gen12:1-3] to Isaac [Gen26:2-4], and Jacob [Gen28:10-15], the Lord’s promise continued from generation to generation. And therefore, the Lord’s will be done as Joseph would protect and lead the people through what could have been a life-ending famine. Looking back on his life, Jacob invokes the name of the one true God who had, along with his father and grandfather, been the Shepherd throughout his entire life. Through it all, we learn that there are no guarantees in this world, but one thing is certain: God and His Word.

As you dwell upon your life, we too thank the Lord for being the Shepherd “all my life long to this day”. For this is certainty: our Lord’s faithful and enduring word. For by His Word, we are not only convicted by the law but we also are comforted by the promise of the Gospel for the forgiveness of sins. And therefore, in faith, we continue with certainty in Christ alone.

How thankful we are that Christ has brought us safely to this day. For through His Word and Sacraments, we rest upon the newness of life to which He has given to us by His promise-filled work. So take heart, my friends, for one thing is certain. You are forgiven by the blood of Christ won for you by His death and resurrection. You are robed in His righteousness by the power of God’s Word in the water of Holy Baptism. You have been given the medicine of immortality to which you receive in the body and blood of Jesus at the Lord’s Table for the forgiveness of your sins. Here is where we rest. Not in wonder or bewilderment, but rather in certainty, assurance, and confidence in God and His Word. For this is the certain thing: it is Christ for you.

Have a wonderful February

✝️ Pastor Jeong

The full newsletter can be found here:
https://www.faithmoorpark.com/files/pdf/2025/2025-02-Newsletter.pdf

Happy New Year 2025

noreply@blogger.com (Faith Moorpark) — Sun, 05 Jan 2025 15:28:00 +0000

Happy New Year!

Here are a few highlights of this month's newsletter.

Epiphany Dinner
Tonight from 5:30pm - 7:30pm.

Wednesday Bible Study
Resumes January 15th.

Sunday School Teachers
We have limited teachers and are in need of a few more to join the rotation. Please sign up to teach at FLC.ms/team

Sunday Flowers
Sign up to bring flowers on Sunday. You can sign up at FLC.ms/team

The full newsletter can be found here:
https://www.faithmoorpark.com/files/pdf/2025/2025-01-Newsletter.pdf

I am The Light of the World

noreply@blogger.com (Faith Moorpark) — Fri, 06 Dec 2024 21:12:00 +0000

It is that time of the year when we see the lights filling the dark sky. From Christmas tree lots, to shopping malls, to houses strewn with beautiful lights, it is a reminder that Christmas is near. For the past seven years, it has been a tradition to drive through Candy Cane Lane in Moorpark. I know most of you are familiar with this neighborhood, but for those who are not, it is a sight to be seen. So majestic and beautiful it is to see the lights shining through the night sky! Indeed, Christmas is a season of light, a season of hope, a season that points to the eternal light of our Savior Jesus Christ!

“I am the Light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” John 8:12

Ever since the fall, the darkness of sin and death had come into the world. And therefore, walking in darkness should have been our eternal demise. Without Christ there is no escaping such sentence. And though the world will tout its own ability to overcome such darkness with human reason and strength, Luther writes,

“There are many doctrines in the world. The most exalted among them, when properly taught, is Moses’ Law, the Ten Commandments. Yet these do not lead man from darkness into light. The Law does not inform man how to live eternally and how to be saved. There we are told what we must do, for the Ten Commandments preach about our works; but we cannot keep them. This message by itself does not lead us to the light. It does teach good works, but man cannot perform these if he has only the Law. Man needs another doctrine, namely, that of the Gospel, which declares: I, Christ, am the Light. Without this you cannot be saved…” LW AE 23:324

Indeed, without the Light of Christ, all would be left despairingly in eternal darkness. Some may claim that they are able to merit their way to God but the law cannot lead us to the light nor save us but rather, the law convicts and shows us our sin. In our sorrow and godly grief, we very well know what we deserve. Yet, in faith we repent and rest upon the Light of Christ and the light of life that our Savior delivers through His death and resurrection. Thanks be to God for this life-saving gift for without The Light, where would we be?

So rejoice and be glad because the Light is yours. Through the Gospel and the Sacraments, our gracious God has given you the light-filled gift of eternal life, forgiveness and salvation! Have a wonderful Advent and Christmas as you rejoice in Christ who is The Light for you.

Have a blessed December!

✝️ Pastor Jeong

The full newsletter can be found here:
https://www.faithmoorpark.com/files/pdf/2024/2024-12-Newsletter.pdf

Arranged by the Word

noreply@blogger.com (Faith Moorpark) — Sat, 09 Nov 2024 17:55:00 +0000

“Then he said, I am God, the God of your father. Do not be afraid to go down to Egypt, for there I will make you into a great nation. I myself will go down with you to Egypt, and I will also bring you up again…” Genesis 46:3-4

Though he would leave Canaan [the land to which the Lord had promised in Gen12], Jacob departs for Egypt with the Word. Not just any word but the word of God. In the same way, we too proceed in the Word as Jesus says, “And behold, I am with you always to the end of the age” [Mt28:20]. However, though God gives us His promises, we still face the spiritual struggles of the world, the flesh and the devil that attempt to bury us in fear. “Do not be afraid”, the Lord said to Jacob because God is with him. Of course, we can all agree how comforting this promise is yet when we encounter suffering [physically and spiritually], we soon find ourselves frightfully fleeing our frail flesh rather than the Word.

Luther writes, “But we are taught by this example that nothing should be undertaken and attempted contrary to or without the Word of God. Therefore we should arrange our life in such a way that we are sure of walking according to the rule of the Word, whether we are awake or asleep. Finally, we should know that everything we do is of God, who commands, calls, and blesses. For human life is most wretched and is subject to the devil, death, and countless trials, full of the most burdensome troubles and hardships. Therefore it is necessary for the godly to be fortified by the Word of God against Satan, sins, and dangers” Luther’s Works Vol 8:82

At a recent pastor installation that I attended, I heard the preached word based on Acts 20:28, “Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the church of God, which he obtained with his own blood”. Though this biblical text refers to pastors and overseers, in a broader scope, all the faithful ought to be spiritual aware of the battles that are before them. And therefore, we must ask ourselves, “Am I arranged by the Word?”

Being arranged by the Word is the most important arrangement in your life. Though we see eating, drinking, working, sleeping as essential arrangements, the Word is vastly more important than these. Do you believe this? Of course, the world, the flesh and the evil foe will offer you arrangements that are not of the Word, that even seem palatable for you. But then again, we must ask ourselves, “Am I arranged by the Word?” or, “Am I arranged by the flesh, the world and the sinful flesh?”.

This is the spiritual battle that we face. At times, we are so caught in ourselves that we fail to see the idols that are arranging us. And soon enough the busyness, the priorities, the schedules, the covetous flesh [the list goes on and on] become the arrangement rather than God and His Word.

Friends, I encourage you to always be in the Word. For this Word, from the Law to the Gospel, is not dead but living. Through the work of the Holy Spirit, the Word convicts [2 nd use of the law] but also comforts you in the righteousness of Christ: the forgiveness of all you sins. So continue to be in the Word, attend the Divine Service every Sunday, join us for bible study, read the scriptures daily and pray, pray and pray even more. For by His Word you are arranged.

Have a blessed November

✝️ Pastor Jeong

The full newsletter can be found here:
https://www.faithmoorpark.com/files/pdf/2024/2024-11-Newsletter.pdf

Hearing Christ For You

noreply@blogger.com (Faith Moorpark) — Sat, 05 Oct 2024 20:23:00 +0000

“Learn, yea, learn, I say, what a treasure you have in the Word of our Lord Jesus Christ: that there is no other help and aid against the devil, sin, and eternal death than to cling to the Word of Christ, that is, to believe His promise and to take Him at His word” – Martin Luther

For the past seven years, it has been a great honor and joy to be your pastor. Of course, a pleasure it has been to get to know each and every one of you. Our chats in passing after Sunday service, our discussions at church bible studies, or even after surgery or sickness in the hospital or home. These are wonderful moments in ministry. Yet even more so, it has been a great blessing to preach and teach the Word to you.

As we began the Didache Sunday bible study several months back, I have seen the attendance grow. And yes, increased numbers are always a blessing to see, yet the greater blessing is how the Word is working as we study the scriptures and relish in what it means to be truly Lutheran. For just as Luther says, “what a treasure you have in the Word of our Lord Christ”. Indeed, this is the beauty of Lutheran doctrine for it is truly only about Christ and what He has done for you. This is not a catchphrase or pious platitude but rather, in Christ, this is the totality of who we are as we live move and have our being. And thus, for those who have been attending, it has been a blessing to converse and discuss the Holy Scriptures and the catechism with you. This has always been a prayer of mine that we are united in doctrine, rooted in the faith together, that we are attending the Divine Service consistently, and studying the Word together [Sundays and midweeks]. For, at the end of the day, whether it is the preaching, teaching, and administering the sacraments, you will hear and receive Christ for you. Therefore, I encourage you to make it a priority to attend church and one [or even two :)] of our bible studies. I know we are all busy but in these gray and latter days, we need to read, mark, learn and inwardly digest the Word of Christ. “There is no other help and aid against the devil, sin, and eternal death than to cling to the Word of Christ”.

So come one, come all.

This is my encouragement and prayer to you.

Have a blessed October

✝️ Pastor Jeong

The full newsletter can be found here:
https://www.faithmoorpark.com/files/pdf/2024/2024-10-Newsletter.pdf

Routines

noreply@blogger.com (Faith Moorpark) — Sun, 08 Sep 2024 20:11:00 +0000

“Hey Abe, I need to go to the store, would you like to come with me?”

“No, Dad. I need to work out”.

The first time I heard this response, I was taken aback. “Work out?” I thought to myself, “ah, maybe this is just a phase”. Yet the next day, I asked, “Hey Abe, I need to go to church, would you like to come with me?”

“No, Dad, I need to work out”. I thought to myself, “well, I guess this is not simply an aberration, but rather, it has become a routine”.

Routines... we all have routines. Whether it be, our morning start with prayer, word and of course, coffee! Or at meal time as we pray and give thanks to the Lord for all that He has done and continues to do. We even have routines in all the vocations that God has given to us. Indeed, routines are beneficial.

And so it is in this life of faith. Attending consistently Sunday’s Divine Service, studying the Word at Sunday and mid-week bible studies, daily devotions through the portals of prayer, confirmation [beginning in October] children’s reading calendars, and FLC’s ongoing you-tube content, [listening again to the Sunday sermon, law and gospel, and what’s the big deal] the routine is in full swing and truly it is to our own benefit because the Word is living and active, sustaining us in the one true faith.

Yet, there is the so-called “treadmill disease”. Yes at first, we are enthused at first. We buy the treadmill and we use the machine daily for a few months, yet there is that one day, when we tell ourselves, “Oh, let’s take a day off”. And as soon as the routine is broken, how difficult it is to restart that as the next month begins and lo and behold, the treadmill has collected dust and has solely become a place to hang our clothes!

The question is, what is deterring you from the routine in the Word?

• Is it the busyness of the weekly schedule?

• Is it the upside down priorities that have taken precedence over the Word?

• What is turning you from the routine in the Word?

“Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour” [1Pt5:8]. Indeed, our greatest deterrent is the devil, the world and the flesh! Therefore friends, I encourage you continually to be in the Word. Trust me, as sinners, it is very difficult. After a long day and returning home at night, just as I open the door, the children say, “Hurry up Dad, it’s bible time!”. Indeed it is, another reminder that even after a long and exhausting day, where I could have made many excuses on why we should forego the Word, what a blessing and comfort it is to have this most gracious routine.

“And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and you shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down and when you rise” [Dt 6:6-7]

Have a blessed September in the Word.

✝️ Pastor Jeong

The full newsletter can be found here:
https://www.faithmoorpark.com/files/pdf/2024/2024-09-Newsletter.pdf

July & August 2024 Newsletter

noreply@blogger.com (Faith Moorpark) — Sat, 13 Jul 2024 12:37:00 +0000

Wednesday Bible Study

Bible Study on the book of Genesis will resume in September.

Altar Guild

The Altar Guild assists with communion setup and cleanup. They prepare and cleanup the Holy Sacrament for Sunday worship service. Please let us know if you would like to serve on the Altar Guild! Here are the members that will assist this summer:

July 2024: Lois Jeong
August 2024: The Elders

Higher Things - July 23-26, 2024

The youth (Abe, Zoey, Emily) along with chaperones (Pete & Sydney) attended the youth conference in Portland Oregon. Thank you for all the support to get them to conference. Look for a summary of what they learned coming soon!

VBS - Celebrate the Savior - July 30 - August 2, 2024

Thank you to all the members that helped with running and preparing for VBS.

The full newsletter can be found here:
https://www.faithmoorpark.com/files/pdf/2024/2024-07-08-Newsletter.pdf

The Fog

noreply@blogger.com (Faith Moorpark) — Sat, 15 Jun 2024 15:38:00 +0000

As we paralleled the stories of Judah & Tamar [Gen38] along with David & Bathsheba [2Sm12] in bible study this week, the fog continued to be the prevailing theme. Whether it was Judah quietly avoiding to uphold the levirate marriage laws or David concealing the sins of adultery and murder, the fog continued to surround them. Though Judah and David would hide in the fog, this would soon be wiped away. As the signet, cord and staff were presented [Gen38:25] and after Nathan saying to David, “You are the man!”, they were exposed of their sin.

After every warm shower, we are always met with a foggy covered mirror. Our first reaction is to wipe the mirror in order to see our reflection. How foolish it would be if we did not! And so it is with the 2 nd use of the Law [mirror]. For the chief use of the law is to show us the reflection of our sins.

“Yet if it had not been for the law, I would not have known sin. For I would not have known what it is to covet of the law had not said, “you shall not covet”.[Rm7:7]

However, the greatest temptation is to hide in the fog. Initially, it seems pleasant to hide in our sin, yet it is not so.

“For when I kept silent, my bones wasted away though my groaning all day long. For day and night your hand was heavy upon me; my strength was dried up as by the heat of summer” [Ps 32:3-4]

Indeed, to hide in the fog is to see our bones wasting away, therefore it is the Lord’s hand tthat is heavy on us [by the Word] to the call of repentance. For the Lord wipes away the fog and reveals our true reflection according to the law. Luther writes based on Psalm 32,

“First, for one who keeps silent (that is, who does not confess), his bones quickly grow old, that is, his powers in which he formerly stood in good things are always reduced more and more by sins. For sin which is not washed away by repentance soon draws another sin by its own weight, as is clear in the case of David…But this can be understood in another way: the bones, which are the firmness of faith and hope, are reduced in their capacity to trust in God by the fact that he puts off confessing. And for that reason he roars, because he feels and fears the vengeance and the hand of God”. Luther’s Works AE 10:147

I asked Eliott the other day, “if you saw a foggy mirror, what would you do?” He said, “I would make a smiley face on it”. Of course, he would. Yet Christ, in the midst of our foggy filled sinful mirror, calls us to repentance and writes on this mirror, “You are forgiven”. For in these words of absolution, your bones are not wasting away, as the fog has been wiped away by the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. And though the fog continues to be the great battle for us all, come to church, hear and receive God’s Word, and rest upon the gifts that He has graciously given to you.

Have a blessed June

✝️ Pastor Jeong

The full newsletter can be found here:
https://www.faithmoorpark.com/files/pdf/2024/2024-06-Newsletter.pdf

The Comfort in Christ's Ascension

noreply@blogger.com (Faith Moorpark) — Sun, 12 May 2024 14:54:00 +0000

“And while they were gazing into heaven as he went, behold, two men stood by them in white robes, and said, Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into heaven? This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven” Acts 1:10-11

After Jesus taught for 40 days after His resurrection, Christ ascended bodily to the right hand of God. A significant moment this was as our Lord who, in His ascension, would fully exercise His divine power over all things. Therefore the comfort of Christ’s ascension abounds!

From Luther’s Small Catechism

“What comfort do we get from Christ’s ascension to the right hand of God?”

A. Christ as our Prophet sends people to proclaim the saving Gospel by the power of the Holy Spirit [see Acts 1:8]

B. Christ as our Priest pleads and prays for us before the Father; [see Romans 8:34]

C. Christ as our King rules and protects His church and governs over all the world especially for the benefit of His church [see Psalm 110:1]

Indeed, because of His ascension our Lord fully exercises His power. And thus when our Lord said, in Matthew 28 “…and behold I am with you always, to the end of the age”, He is. Or as it reads in Ephesians 4:10, “He who descended is the one who also ascended far above all the heavens, that He might fill all things” and He does. Therefore until the Last Day when our Lord returns, we take comfort by the fact that, in His Ascension, He reigns, rules and is closer to us than ever before. A comforting reality this is yet we also know the trials and struggles that are before us. And in this great strife, we begin to wonder and doubt whether God is really there. Yet friends, in light of His Ascension, though the world, the flesh, and the devil will say otherwise, our Lord Christ intercedes and leads you through His Word and Sacrament.

Therefore, at the Altar, we receive the true body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of our sins. Yes, it may seem like ordinary elements of bread and wine, yet by the power of God’s Word, He delivers you the salve for your soul through the eating and drinking of His body and blood. Indeed a gracious mystery this is, yet where our Lord promises to be, there He is for you.

So take comfort in our Lord’s ascension for He not only departs to prepare a place for you but, He shall return on the last day. And when the trumpets sound, and the tombs shake “He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away” [Rev21:4].

Christ is risen!
He is risen indeed!
Alleluia!

Pastor Jeong

✝️ Pastor Jeong

The full newsletter can be found here:
https://www.faithmoorpark.com/files/pdf/2024/2024-05-Newsletter.pdf

Guests in this World

noreply@blogger.com (Faith Moorpark) — Sun, 14 Apr 2024 13:01:00 +0000

Recently, I took the family for a quick getaway to our favorite spot in Pismo Beach. It is always a wonderful time as we eat, relax, take in the ocean breeze and simply enjoy each other’s company. As we checked into the hotel, the clerk greeted us saying, “thank you for being our guest”. As we were unpacking the suitcase and placing each item in their proper place, the Pastor non sequitur moment began. Seeing the travel toothpaste, travel toothbrushes, travel contact lens solution, and even inputting the hotel wifi password, I asked myself “do we live as if we are simply guests in this world?

“I am a sojourner and guest among you; give me property among you for a burying place, that I may bury my dead…” Genesis 23:4. For at the time, Abraham was a foreigner and did not possess any land in the country. Therefore, after Sarah died, Abraham asked the Hittites for a plot of land to bury his wife.

In Luther’s Genesis commentary, he writes, “a guest is a sojourner who is not a proprietor but is a stranger in the land in which he living. He has nothing of his own…Therefore they are sojourners and do not remain in the world but leave the world behind. Thus we are also guests. We have been reborn by the Holy Spirit through Baptism and the Word, and we live on earth as strangers and sojourners” Luther’s Works, American Edition Vol. 4:198.

Again, I asked, “Am I living as if I am a guest in this world? Of course, the great temptation is to believe otherwise as if this world becomes who we are. From the material, to earthly securities, to our own comforts and desires, rather than the anticipation for what is to come on the last day, we confine ourselves to this temporal life. It is quite easy to stumble into such pitfalls because life is whirl wind. So busy it becomes that, in our sinful nature, our eyes veer from the Word and His promises. In so doing, we flee to our flesh and live as if we are not strangers or sojourners in the land. Instead, we set up shop in this temporal life as if it is the totality of our being.

Jesus says “Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also” John 14:1-3.

Therefore, we are mere guests in this world because Jesus has overcome the world! Through His death and resurrection, we rejoice in the promise that eternal life is our eternal stay. As St Paul writes,

“For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the thing that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal” 2 Cor 4:17-18.

Indeed, we are mere guests in this world, for the Lord has reconciled us to Himself through the power and promise of His Word!

Christ is Risen!
He is Risen Indeed!
Alleluia!

Have a blessed April in Christ

✝️ Pastor Jeong

The full newsletter can be found here:
https://www.faithmoorpark.com/files/pdf/2024/2024-04-Newsletter.pdf

What Is Faith?

noreply@blogger.com (Faith Moorpark) — Sat, 10 Feb 2024 23:11:00 +0000

“Didache is a Greek word meaning “teaching” or “doctrine”. Luke tells us in Acts 2:42 that those who were baptized on the day of Pentecost devoted themselves to the apostles’ didache. What follows in this study guide is a course on the didache, that is, the teaching which we have received from the Lord in His Word. This teaching is not our own, but the Lord’s. It has as its source the Holy Scriptures of God. The doctrine or teaching drawn from the prophetic and apostolic Scriptures is confessed in the Small Catechism of Dr. Martin Luther... the first edition of Didache, published in 1992 was developed for and shaped by the joy and challenges of teaching the faith both at the Chapel of the Resurrection (Valparaiso Univ.) and University Lutheran Chapel (Univ. of Minnesota- Minneapolis). Questions and interest from students prompted me to condense my notes into the form of a study guide. Since then, Didache has been used for adult catechesis throughout North America and in a number of overseas locations. I am grateful to fellow pastors who have found it useful in instructing adults in the Lutheran Confession of the Christian faith as well as laity who have found it a helpful study guide in the Holy Scriptures”
-Prof. John Pless, Concordia Theological Seminary

From the book, Didache, by Prof John Pless, the author provides an excellent resource that serves to supplement Luther’s Small Catechism. So excellent it is that I have used this resource over the whole span of my life in the office of Holy Ministry. Not only is it an important book for the field of outreach and evangelism but also an excellent resource for Lutherans to review the doctrine of faith.

The question is, “What is faith?”

As we live in this world, we are being catechized in every which way. From the radio and TV, to social media and even false teaching, we are bombarded by words, words, and more words. Words matter especially when someone asks you, “What is faith?” The answer to this question is not only important for the one who is asking, but also for the one who responds. For, the answer to this question will reveal where our faith truly resides. Therefore, it is of the utmost importance to review what it means to confess the faith through the Creeds, The Ten Commandments, the Lord’s Prayer, Confession & Absolution, the Sacraments of Holy Baptism and the Lord’s Supper.

I encourage everyone to attend this class. It will be held every Sunday during the bible study hour beginning on February 25th. If you have not attended Sunday bible study in a while, now is the time to reconnect because this class will edify and engage you in the joys of the one true faith. Also, if you have anyone in your life that needs to hear the Word in all of its truth, invite them so they too may rejoice in the word of Christ alone.

I hope to see you all there.

✝️ Pastor Jeong

The full newsletter can be found here:
https://www.faithmoorpark.com/files/pdf/2024/2024-02-Newsletter.pdf

* Copies of the Didache will be available for $10