A Note from Pastor

 “God the Father was His source, back to God He ran His course. Into hell His road went down, back then to His throne and crown.”  This verse is from the hymn, “Savior of the Nations Come,” and is the theme for our annual winter youth retreat to be held here on January 12-13.
   Even though the joy of Christmas and the Epiphany are still fresh in our minds, it is appropriate that that we also remember that, “Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive in the spirit,  in which he went and proclaimed to the spirits in prison, because they formerly did not obey, when God's patience waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was being prepared, in which a few, that is, eight persons, were brought safely through water."  (Peter 3:18-20)
    As we confess in the Apostles Creed that Jesus “descended into hell,", the retreat will focus on why our Lord did this, and what He accomplished there.  
    Our presenter is Rev. Eamonn Ferguson, pastor of Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, Mound City, Missouri. He will take us through the Old and New Testaments, and the Early Church Fathers to witness God's great victory in Jesus' descent into hell, and what it means for us as Christians.  Please register on the church’s website or email at: holycrosscarlise@yahoo.com. While the retreat is intended for confirmed youth and older, everyone is invited to the presentations and prayer offices.  If you have any questions or would like more information, please speak with pastor Johnson.