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Welcome to the Internet site of Spirit of Joy Lutheran Church in Ramona, California

Our worship services are expressive, open to all, and full of the presence of the LORD. Our goal is to glorify God in our meetings and meet your needs with his Word. Spirit of Joy is diverse in age and ethnic and social origin, but we are united by love for Jesus Christ our Savior.

There is no better life than one based on the Word of God and lived in relationship with Him. We guarantee that you'll feel welcome at Spirit of Joy Lutheran Church. We're warm, friendly, and we love to greet visitors.
  

We have families and individuals of all ages and backgrounds and with a wide variety of Christian experience. Please visit... we'd love to know you. And we promise you'll feel welcome! You'll be glad you did!

We're located in Ramona, California, on the edge of the "back country" in northern San Diego County... Click here for directions.

Stewardship

Stewardship. Yes, it’s that time of year again. Of course the big thing coming in November is submitting your pledge cards for next year – but let’s remember stewardship isn’t just about tithing. It’s about a lot more.

Reading, Writing, and ‘rithmetic. The three R’s we used to call them. This is the foundation for education. These are the building blocks used for all the schooling we’ve ever had or will have.

Being a Christian – a follower of Christ, we have different Building blocks. Let’s call them the 3 B’s. Be, Belong, and Believe. Be in the presence of the Lord. Belong to a place that welcomes all people. Believe in the love of Jesus Christ our Savior. Today I’m just going to focus on Be in the presence of the Lord.

God’s presence on earth is in His Body, in His followers - us - and not in any building.  He does not need Church buildings or other things that are used for worship of Him.

When He is in a Church building such as he is today, it is because of the people gathered here – us -- and not because of the building itself, or anything in the building.

Buildings are for the purposes of a common meeting place for us, His Body, and not for Jesus Himself.

Jesus said His presence would be in the people and they were to do His work, and not just people qualified by man such as pastors and missionaries, were to do the work.

Therefore not let us ignore His command to go and do the work of telling others about Jesus and what He had done or them.

God has honored you by placing His presence in you and giving it to help and empower you for ministry. Be of service to the community and through such service, be an example for others and create opportunities to share his word.

If we are a good steward of all we have, we will be a good steward of His presence in us, which means our carrying out His commands to go into the area around us (the world) and tell others what He has done and can do for them.

We are to do this when the occasion arises, and not just force yourself on people.

Remember, Jesus is not in a Church, but in His people, so you do not have to go to Church, but good fellowship is necessary.

But you do have to worship Him wherever you are, by what you do or think, because you are now His Temple and do His will to maintain His presence there.

Remember also, that correct stewardship of holiness is necessary so that we are a fit vessel for the presence of God to be in us. This is how we continue to be in the presence of the Lord.

--

Harvey G. Payne