Wodonga Lutheran Parish

Welcome to Wodonga Lutheran Parish

Welcome in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. We look forward to having you worship with us!

Looking for a new church home? Talk to any congregation member about your questions, concerns or comments. Also, please feel free to contact the Pastor or call the church office at (02) 6061 0963.

Worship Times, News and Events

You will find a warm and friendly welcome at St John's Lutheran Church. We invite you to join us in a celebration of worship, Christian fellowship, study, and service. When you become a part of our exciting journey of faith, you will be encouraged, challenged, and rewarded with renewed spirituality.

9:30 am., 7^th December 2025

Pastor Paul Hage

St John's Lutheran Church
10 Derwent Way, West Wodonga

2^nd Sunday of Advent

9:30 am., 14^th December 2025

Pastor Paul Hage

St John's Lutheran Church
10 Derwent Way, West Wodonga

3^rd Sunday of Advent

9:30 am., 21^st December 2025

Pastor Paul Hage

St John's Lutheran Church
10 Derwent Way, West Wodonga

4^th Sunday of Advent

Season of Advent

St John's Lutheran Church is observing the liturgical season of Advent beginning on Sunday 30 November 2025. Advent is about the “coming days.” Advent is a time of preparation and anticipation for the coming of Christ both in the past in His incarnation as the baby Jesus, but also in the future with His promised second coming as Christ Triumphant.

Real Worries, Real Hope

“Christ has died. Christ is risen. Christ will come again.” With these words, often invoked at the table of holy communion, the church proclaims, “the mystery of faith”. At communion, we remember the good story of Jesus’ death and resurrection. But there is more! We also look forward to a time yet to be. Thoughts of the future can inspire hopefulness for the promise of good things to come. Yet looking ahead can also conjure worries about what we do not know, or a sense of foreboding about what is out of our control.

Jesus offers an image of hope amid circumstances that seem all but hopeless. He talks of new growth even while what is old and familiar is passing away. Much like Jesus’ parable, the season of Advent invites the church to hold together these multiple, seemingly contradictory realities. We are called to rise up with courage and hope as we anticipate Jesus coming to us, without ignoring the weight of the world or neglecting our very real concerns. Jesus gathers us to the table where we remember his death but also his resurrection, where we pray for the world and also anticipate God’s redemption of all things

The colour blue is also used as a symbol of anticipation and hope.

The Season of Advent

St John’s Lutheran Church invites you to join with us each Sunday morning at 9:30 a.m. as we celebrate Advent 2025.

30 November Week 1: Hope ✞ We light the purple candle of Hope. Our hope comes from God who will fill all with joy and peace. So it is appropriate that the second Advent candle symbolises peace.

7 December Week 2: Peace ✞ We light the purple candle of Peace. Peace on earth, goodwill to men with the love of Jesus and the promise of a Saviour who would be born in Bethlehem.

14 December Week 3: Joy ✞ We light the pink candle of Joy. The shepherds received a message of joy. It is a time to rejoice during this time for the coming of the Lord is coming soon.

21 December Week 4: Love ✞ We light the purple candle of Love. The meaning of the fourth Advent candle is love. The Angel’s announce the birth of the baby Jesus. "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life." John 3:16

Celebrate Christmas at Wodonga 2025

Introduction

On Christmas Eve, we welcome the light of the Christ child. Isaiah declares that the light of the long-promised king will illumine the world and bring endless peace and justice. Paul reminds us that the grace of God through Jesus Christ brings salvation to all people. The angels declare that Jesus’ birth is good and joyful news for everyone, including lowly shepherds. Filled with the light that shines in our lives, we go forth to share the light of Christ with the whole world.

Detail Disorientated

Read Luke 2 closely, and you will notice that many of the details we assume about the Christmas story are noticeably absent. Luke does not tell us about a journey on a donkey, an innkeeper, a stable, or any animals, hay, or straw. The text even leaves unclear the reason the infant Jesus is laid in a manger, which is an unusual second option after finding no room at the inn. It is very easy to get lost in the details (real or imagined), or at least to get distracted by them. They often become the centre of our Christmas pageant preparations and the focus of our nativity scenes. But when we worry too much about sheep, hay, and stables, we can lose sight of the heart of the story: Jesus, the promised one, is born. Jesus is born, and through him, God will scatter the proud, lift up the lowly, fill the hungry with good things, and show mercy from generation to generation (Luke 2:51-55).

For many of us, preparations for Advent and Christmas include many details: Advent calendars, decorations, special foods, gatherings, concerts, additional worship services, gifts, guests. These details of the season can bring us delight and fulfillment. They can also feel like disorienting burdens.

When the details feel like they are too much, let us return to the heart of the story: Jesus is born, not at an ideal time, but at precisely the right time. Jesus is born, even in the middle of our own messy lives and preparations. Jesus is born, even into our imperfect world. When all else is cleared away, all the details swept aside, this is still our good news: Jesus, our wonderful counselor and bringer of peace (Isaiah 9:6), is born.

Jesus is coming! This year at St John's Lutheran Church, Wodonga we will be celebrating the birth of King Jesus as we share the wonderful news, "For unto us a child is born." We encourage you to bring a friend or two to any of our services.

Christmas Eve we celebrate with a Family Service commencing at 6.30 p.m. "For unto us a child is born, unto us a child is given, and the government will be upon His shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counsellor, mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace." Isaiah 9:6.

Christmas Day Join us on this high and holy day to celebrate the birth of Jesus the Messiah. We will gather at 09:30 a.m. for a special time of worship and celebration with Holy Communion.

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Child Safety Standards for Congregations

Child Safe Standards Community of Practice Victoria - The Child Safe Standards Community of Practice brings together people from organisations who need to comply with the Child Safe Standards, to learn from and with each other, and create linkages and networks. Victorian Government Commission for Children and Young People Community of Practice.