Sacred Words, Earthly Contexts
On patriotic weekends like the Fourth of July, it's natural to feel a tension between civic pride and sacred worship. But the hymns we sing in church are never selected to glorify a nation—they are chosen to proclaim Christ and to reflect prayerfully on how we live as His people in the world. The focus is always on the text of the hymn, not on how or where it might be used outside the church.
Take 0 Beautiful for Spacious Skies. Though often labeled a patriotic song, its lyrics are a prayer—asking God to "mend every flaw" and "refine" the nation's character. Rooted in Isaiah's vision of renewal and Paul's call to boast only in the cross (Gal. 6:14), it in- vites reflection, not nationalism.
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Happy Independence Day!
A blessed and happy 249th birthday to our great nation!
I hope you will have an encouraging celebration of July 4th. We truly live in the greatest country in the world. In this nation we are blessed with God-given rights and called by our Creator to use these rights in service to and for our neighbor. As we love and serve our neighbors (family and friends and even strangers) we are lifting others up so that they can use their God-given rights to do the same for you and others. While we call July 4th Independence Day and it is the freedom from tyranny under British rule, it is also a Dependence Day, first and foremost upon our Lord and then also upon each other.
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70th Anniversary Celebration
We are blessed in celebrating our 70th Anniversary! Former members and pastors, old friends and new, gathered June 7 and 8, 2025 for a weekend commemorating the incorporation of Pacific Hills Lutheran Church on June 12, 1955. A picnic and program on the 7th, and a special worship service on the 8th brought us together again, “Celebrating 70 Years – A Foundation For Those Who Follow.”
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Courtyard Jazz Series for 2025
The Pacific Hills Courtyard Jazz Series for 2025 is here. Please join us in the courtyard to hear local Omaha artists. The next concert is July 13, 2025 at 7:00 PM when we listen to Rat Pack Jazz. Sponsored by Pacific Hills Lutheran Church & omahamusic.com.
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Celebrating 70 Years - A reminder
REMINDER: Saturday, June 7 at 6 p.m. - a "Grand Old Picnic" in Acker Hall. We will share memories with former members and pastors.
Sunday, June 8 we will be celebrating with a special service at 9 a.m. with a reception to follow. Our former Pastor, the Rev. Dr. William Moorhead, will be the guest preacher.
A new LCMS Congregation begins: Pacific Hills Lutheran Church was officially founded on Sunday, June 12, 1955 with the signing of the Articles of Incorporation by 121 charter members. Of these, 92 were transfers from First Lutheran Church and 29 came from other congregations in the area. The minutes recording this event reads:
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Pacific Hills Lutheran Church - Oral History Part 2
Here is the second interview done during our 40th Anniversary year (1995) by Bob Glissmann. This interview is of charter member Dorothy Neumann.
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Celebrating 70 Years
Mark your calendars for a celebration of the 70th anniversary of Pacific Hills Lutheran Church.
- Saturday, June 7: A Grand Old Picnic Dinner at 6 p.m. in Acker Hall. We'll hear from former pastors, church workers and both former and
current members. Please RSVP to the church office SOON by emailingThis email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. to let us know how much food to
prepare. - Sunday, June 8: Special worship service at 9 a.m. with former pastors and the Rev. Dr. William G. Moorhead as guest preacher.
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The Music of Easter - A Season of Triumph and Joy
The Easter season is the pinnacle of the Church Year, and its music reflects the profound joy of Christ’s resurrection. The sounds of Easter ring out with triumphant hymns, festive liturgy, and celebratory organ music that proclaim, “Christ is risen! He is risen indeed!”
Throughout the weeks of Easter, congregations sing beloved hymns such as “Jesus Christ Is Risen Today” and “Now All the Vault of Heaven Resounds,” rich in theology and exuberant in melody. The use of trumpets, handbells, and expanded choirs adds to the majesty of the season. The Alleluia, absent throughout Lent, returns in full force, restoring the language of praise to its rightful place in worship.
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Pacific Hills Lutheran Church - Oral History Part 1
As part of Pacific Hills' 40th anniversary in 1995, Pacific Hills member Bob Glissmann interviewed members in the congregation who have played a significant role in the formation and development of the church. This is the first of four taped interviews. The following are excerpts of a conversation with John Wiebe, a charter member of Pacific Hills who was on the LCMS Nebraska District's site selection committee when the Pacific Hills property was purchased.
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Thanks for Spring Cleanup!
Thanks to all those wonderful volunteers that helped to clean inside and outside the church this past Saturday! It was a beautiful day to work outside. Many hands made for light work.
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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.