Every Heart Prepare
We decorate in preparation for Christmas. In November and December people spend hours putting up lights in their living space and ornaments on their evergreens. Poinsettias are placed on the mantel and presents under the tree, and we “deck the halls with boughs of holly.” These Christmas decorations bring enjoyment and anticipation to the holiday.
- Details
- Hits: 463
Why Advent Sounds Different
If you’ve noticed that the music during Advent feels different from the rest of the year, that’s intentional. Advent has its own musical “color,” a blend of expectation, longing, and quiet confidence in God’s promises. The Church has long understood that what we sing shapes how we pray and how we wait. Advent’s music slows us down just enough to notice where our hope truly rests.
Unlike Christmas, which celebrates what God has already done in sending His Son, Advent teaches us how to wait—how to watch for Christ’s coming with clear-eyed faith. That’s why many of our Advent hymns lean into minor modes, unhurried rhythms, and texts soaked in prophecy. Hymns such as “Savior of the Nations, Come” or “Comfort, Comfort Ye My People” draw us into the Old Testament’s longing for the Messiah, while still proclaiming the Christ who comes to us now in Word and Sacrament.
- Details
- Hits: 497
Annual Voters Meeting - 2025
Annual Voters Meeting: A Day of Community, Celebration, and Decision-Making
On Sunday, November 9, 2025, our congregation came together for a memorable Annual Voters Meeting that truly showcased the spirit and energy of our church family. The day began with a vibrant 10:30 a.m. worship service, setting a tone of gratitude and unity.
Immediately following the service, the PHLC youth wowed everyone with a delicious fundraising dinner, serving up hearty plates and warm smiles to support their upcoming journey to the LCMS Youth Gathering. The fellowship hall buzzed with laughter, conversation, and generosity as attendees enjoyed great food and contributed to a worthy cause.
After lunch, members gathered for the main event: our Annual Voters Meeting. The agenda was packed with important business, including a thorough review and discussion of the proposed 2026 budget. Congregants engaged in thoughtful dialogue, asked insightful questions, and ultimately voted to move our church forward with confidence.
- Details
- Hits: 381
Dr. Richard Zeile
Pacific Hills Lutheran Church was blessed to host Dr. Richard Zeile at services on Sunday, November 2, 2025.
Dr. Zeile presents Martin Luther’s Evening Prayer radio broadcast and podcast which include a half hour of preaching, worship and hymns from the Confessional Lutheran Church to renew faith in Christ. His radio broadcast can be heard in Omaha on KLNG, FM 101.5 or AM 1569, on Saturdays at 7:00 pm. His podcast is available through Spotify or Buzzsprout.
You can support his effort through: Martin Luther’s Evening Prayer, LLC, 11500 Skyline Drive, Fenton, MI 48430. You may reach him at
Dr. Zeile has served as a hospital chaplain, adjunct professor, Lutheran teacher and principal, and on Michigan’s State Board of Education 2011-2018. He served as Pastor of St. John’s, Taylor, MI, 2001-2025. Dr. Zeile’s passion is to “contend for the faith once commended to the saints” (Jude 3). He holds many degrees and presents seminars on "The Believer in Politics" and other topics.
- Details
- Hits: 664
Gratitude in Every Season
“Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”
- 1 Thessalonians 5:18
As we gather around tables this Thanksgiving, it’s easy to give thanks for the obvious blessing’s family, food, and fellowship; but true gratitude goes deeper, it’s a posture of the heart that persists even when life is hard, uncertain, or quiet. God doesn’t ask us to be thankful for every circumstance but in every circumstance. That means, even in seasons of waiting, loss, or challenge, we can still find reasons to praise God. Gratitude shifts our focus from what’s missing to what’s present and from scarcity to abundance. This Thanksgiving, take a moment to reflect not just on what you have, but on who God is. His faithfulness, mercy, and love never change, and that’s always worth celebrating.
Prayer:
Lord, thank You for Your goodness in every season. Help me to see Your hand at work and to cultivate a heart of gratitude, no matter what I face. Amen.
- Details
- Hits: 402
Singing the Psalms: Our Ancient Songbook
When you open your hymnal, you may notice that tucked amongst the hymns and liturgy are the Psalms—numbered, pointed, and often chanted. These aren’t just “extras.” The Psalms are the oldest hymnbook of the Church, given by God Himself. Israel sang them in the temple; Jesus prayed them on the cross. When we sing the Psalms today, we join in the same prayers that have shaped God’s people for thousands of years. The Psalms in worship connect us to Christ in a special way.
- Details
- Hits: 496
Fall Clean Up Day 2025
Can you spare a couple of hours to help spruce up the church? Join us on September 27 from 9am to noon for a fall clean up day at PHLC! Refreshments will be provided. All are welcome—there are jobs for all ages and abilities, both inside & outside! There’s much to be done around the church & many hands make for light work. We hope to see you there!
- Details
- Hits: 473
Rally Day 2025
Please mark September 7, 2025, on your calendar for Rally Day Kickoff Sunday!
Rally Day at Pacific Hills signals that the summer has ended and the fall program is underway. Sunday school classes will begin new programs on Sept. 14. There is no need to register for Sunday school — just bring your kids and show up! Youth confirmation classes will start on Sept. 10.
- Details
- Hits: 570
Central Texas Disaster Response
Early July flash floods in central Texas caused significant property damage and loss of life. More than 100 people have died and many more remain missing. Affected areas are still in the search-and-recovery stage, and volunteers are not yet allowed in. Pacific Hills is supporting Lutheran Church Charities Disaster Response, a Registered Service Organization of LCMS. You can help with prayer and donations as you are led.
“We love because he first loved us.” (1 John 4:19)
“You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” (Lev 19:18)
- Details
- Hits: 493
Know That He Is God
How do you know what you know? That may be a question you’ve never considered. The study of how we know what we know is called epistemology. It turns out that there are actually many ways of arriving at what we consider to be truth. For example, we may trust personal experience; we may stick our finger in a cup of water to determine wheth- er it’s hot. That’s one way to know.
- Details
- Hits: 552
- Sacred Words, Earthly Contexts
- Happy Independence Day!
- 70th Anniversary Celebration
- Courtyard Jazz Series for 2025
- Celebrating 70 Years - A reminder
- Pacific Hills Lutheran Church - Oral History Part 2
- Celebrating 70 Years
- The Music of Easter - A Season of Triumph and Joy
- Pacific Hills Lutheran Church - Oral History Part 1
- Thanks for Spring Cleanup!
Page 3 of 22
The Holy Spirit Comes at Pentecost
W
hen the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. 2 Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. 3 They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. 4 All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues[a] as the Spirit enabled them.
- Acts 2:1-4
Pacific Hills Lutheran Church is a member of the Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod (LCMS). This is an international church consisting of over 6,000 congregations in the U.S. and missionaries in over 50 foreign countries.