Fall Kickoff Sunday - August 24
Abide Here on Sunday, August 24 for a day with many opportunities to connect with one another
Worship at 8:30 AM and 11:00 AM with the full Chancel Choir
The Blessing of Backpacks and Briefcases for a new school year at both services
The return of Faith Formation Classes for children, youth, and adults at 9:45 AM
Lutheran Campus Ministry Cookout to welcome our new and returning college students at 1:00 PM
Summer might still be hanging on outside, but signs of fall are already swirling around us. School buses are rolling, calendars are filling up, and life seems eager to launch into a new season at full speed. Amid all that momentum, we know returning to church routines on August 24 might feel like just one more thing on your list. But that’s not what we hope to bring into your life this fall. Muhlenberg strives to be something different—a place where you can catch your breath, feel grounded, and experience the Wellspring of God’s Grace.
At the heart of our life together is a God who abides—present and faithful through every season, even when life feels overwhelming. The stories we’ll hear this fall remind us that God stays with God’s people through creation and chaos, wilderness and wandering, triumphs and failures. In many of these stories, we hear simple yet powerful words spoken by people like Abraham, Jacob, Moses, and Samuel: “Here I am.” These words echo through scripture as the response of people who trust that because God abides with them, they can remain open and ready for wherever God might call them next.
Our theme this fall—Abide Here—holds these truths together. It invites us to rest in God’s presence, knowing we’re held and loved, and to stand ready to say, “Here I am,” willing to follow where God leads. Later this year, as we move into the Gospel of John, we’ll hear Jesus’ powerful “I am” statements—proclaiming who He is and how He abides with us as light, life, shepherd, vine, and more. Our fall journey lays the foundation for recognizing God’s presence in every part of our lives.
So as we step into this season, we invite you to consider: What might it look like for you and your family to “Abide Here”? How might you find moments to rest in God’s love and stand ready to respond to God’s call? The programs, classes, and worship you’ll read about in here on the website and in The Chimes aren’t meant to make life busier. They’re meant to help you find places and people where you can truly abide—where you can rest, grow, connect, and say your own “Here I am.”
May this season be one where we abide deeply with God and one another, welcome newcomers to the mission we share, and find ourselves well-equipped to live out Christ’s love.
Pastor Alex