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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.

Tetelestai: It Is Finished

It is Finished!

John 19:28 & 30: "Later, knowing that everything had now been finished, and so that Scripture would be fulfilled, Jesus said, 'I am thirsty.'  ³⁰When he had received the drink, Jesus said, 'It is finished.' With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit."

The Greek word translated "finished" is "tetelestai" and occurs only in these two verses.  In New Testament times "tetelestai" was commonly written on business documents or receipts to show that a bill or debt had been paid in full.  

Thus Jesus' use of "tetelstai" would have been crystal clear to John’s Greek-speaking readership: it is unmistakable testimony from God's own Son that His death on that Good Friday paid our debt, our penalty, for our sins. The matter is indeed finished.

Easter at Spirit of Joy

Season of Lent at Spirit of Joy

Lent is the forty days (not counting Sundays) before Easter, beginning on Ash Wednesday, March 6, 2019.

Lent is almost as old as Christianity itself, when early Christians prepared themselves to observe the signal event in the life of every Christian: the death and resurrection of Jesus. During this time early believers rededicated themselves to faith in Christ, instructed new converts in the faith, and prepared for baptism.

By observing the forty days of Lent, the individual Christian imitates Jesus’ withdrawal into the wilderness for forty days. It is a season of soul-searching and repentance. It is a season for reflection and taking stock.

In many Western countries, the last day before Lent (called Mardi Gras, Shrove Tuesday, Carnival, or Fasching) has become a "last fling" before the solemnity of Lent. (For centuries, it was customary to fast by abstaining from meat during Lent, which is why some people call the festival Carnival, which is Latin for farewell to meat.)

The Family of Christ here at Spirit of Joy observes Lent through sharing simple meals, prayer and worship. Please click here to review the opportunities to join with us in preparing for Easter Week.

Decorate our Easter Cross

Easter Sunday Services

Please join us for one of our Easter Sunday Services, April 21, 2019

• 6:30 A.M. Sunrise Service on the Land at the corner of Highway 67 & Highland Valley Road.
• 8:00 - 9:30 A.M. Pancake Breakfast served by the youth
• 8:15 & 10:00 Easter Worship, Holy Communion, & Easter Message
• Flowers for the Easter Cross: Spirit of Joy has a tradition of members bringing cut flowers from home to decorate our celebration Easter Cross for our service. Bring your flowers on Easter Sunday morning and place them on the cross.
• We are also accepting donations for lilies to adorn our Easter Celebration.

Don’t Worry About Anything

Don’t Worry About Anything?

That’s right. Philippians 4:6 says,  “Don’t worry about anything. Instead, pray about everything.” Of course Jesus has much to say about this in Matthew 26:15-34.

So how do we deal with prayer needs here at Spirit of Joy?

• Prayer Line Emails:
• We have a group of dedicated, focused individuals who have agreed to say prayers for urgent situations, emergencies, upcoming surgeries, tragedies, etc. We have two leaders who will take prayer requests and forward them to the group via email. Immediately a prayer team is launched into action. See Barb Dacy.
  Contact: 760-788-7456, PrayerLine@SOJChurch.com
• Prayer Quilts:
  Know someone who might be comforted by receiving our prayers in the form of a prayer quilt? We have request forms in the office. The recipient must agree to receive our prayers & the quilt, so it’s not a gift or a surprise, but an informed consent to have others praying for specific needs. See Marilynn Hersey if you have questions about our Prayers & Squares chapter that meets here almost every Tuesday. Our Heavenly Father wants to hear from us. Let us remember to praise him always, to thank him, and most importantly to be in conversation (prayer) with Him. See Marilynn Hersey.
  Contact: 760-788-7456,