IN THE SPIRIT

-- Michele Marr

Church name: Christ Lutheran Church

Address: 760 Victoria St., Costa Mesa

Telephone: (949) 631-1611

Denomination: Missouri Synod Lutheran

Year church established: 1957

Service times: 5 p.m. Saturday; 8, 10 and 11:30 a.m. Sunday Senior pastor: The Rev. William B. Hemenway

Pastoral staff: The Rev. Joseph Strubbe, associate pastor; Steve

Hayes, parish administrator/lay minister; Steve Mattoon, youth minister;

John Davis, vicar; Michael Hayes, vicar; Debbie Huddleston, church

secretary; Nancy Kuhlman, outreach secretary; LaVonne Kahre, organist;

Michael Busch, sanctuary choir director; Julie Edman, Sunday school

director; Rosalie Jensen and Lianne Anderson, prayer requests; Gary

Meyer, principal; Sally Rivard, preschool director; Sharon McMullen,

school secretary; and Tracy Colyer, school-age care director

Size of congregation: More than 700 attend Sunday worship.

Makeup of congregation: Members come from Costa Mesa, Huntington

Beach, Fountain Valley, Newport Beach and Irvine.

Child care: Available at all services and other activities

Type of worship: The 8 and 11:30 a.m. Sunday services follow the

traditional Lutheran liturgy. Hymns are accompanied by organ music. The 5

p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. Sunday services provide contemporary, song and

praise worship. Guitar music and drums accompany songs. Communion

services are on the first, third and fifth Sundays of the month at the 8

and 11:30 a.m. services, and on the second and fourth weekends of the

month at the 5 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. Sunday services.

Upcoming events: Beginning this week, midweek Lenten worship services

and fellowship dinners will be held every Wednesday evening. The

fellowship dinner will begin at 6 p.m. Worship will begin at 7 p.m. The

Lenten worship and fellowship dinners will continue through April 4.

Type of sermon: The sermon is usually a homily. The Scripture on which

the teaching is based is printed in the service program along with an

outline that provides space to take notes.

Recent sermon: A series based on practical ways to live a Christian

life in a tough world.

Welcome wagon: Visitors may sign a friendship register and indicate

their needs, questions or interests. A member of the evangelism team

telephones those who leave their contact information.

Outreach programs: The church encourages lifestyle evangelism, the

idea of the “contagious Christian.” Numerous Bible studies and fellowship

groups meet throughout the week. The church’s school is one of its main

channels of interaction with the community. There are 306 students

attending kindergarten through eighth grade, and 85 children attending

preschool. Many families use the extended day care that is also

available.

Dress: According to individual preference

Church design: A large, stained-glass window of the Good Shepherd is

central to the architecture. The church is beginning to make plans for

significant building enhancements for the future.

Mission statement: To reach out and bring people into a living

relationship with Jesus Christ through dynamic worship of God, vigorous

study of his word, loving care for one another and committed support of

his work throughout the world.

Interesting note: In an effort to keep up with the growth of the

congregation and school, Christ Lutheran Church is continually adding to

its staff, focusing on small group ministries and strong youth group

interaction. A family life center is in development. The center will

offer grief support groups, marriage enrichment classes and parenting

classes.