Worship Location:
Saturdays, 5 pm starting Sept. 6th at
First Baptist Church

Church School & Adult Bible Study:
4 pm starting October 11th

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A Brief History of Maricopa Lutheran Church

In 2006, Mt. View Lutheran Church in Ahwatukee felt the Holy Spirit leading them and decided to reach out to the people in Maricopa, which was a newly incorporated, booming community about 20 miles to their south. They started by listening to their hurts and responding to their needs.

Then, in 2007, about 40 interested people met with Bishop Talmage of the Grand Canyon Synod and asked “when can we have a worshiping community here in Maricopa?” This question inevitably led to the formation of a Leadership Team which decided to hold a series of seven worship services during the season of Lent to determine what the level of interest was in forming a Lutheran congregation here in Maricopa. These services were held on Saturday evenings at the First Baptist Church, which graciously offered us the use of their sanctuary. The average attendance at these seven services was around 45 people, so there appeared to be no question that a Lutheran congregation could thrive abundantly in Maricopa!

The services held during Lent were presided over by various pastors from the surrounding communities who enthusiastically offered their services to Maricopa Lutheran. The final service, Easter Saturday, was led by Pastor Cora Aguilar, who is a retired pastor from California, who – led by the Holy Spirit – decided to buy a home and retire in Maricopa! The Leadership Team welcomed Pastor Cora with open arms and asked her if she would be willing to be our leader while we establish our church. Her response was “Well, I didn’t really want to retire anyway – what would I do with myself?” How truly blessed Maricopa is!

Because Mt. View was in the process of calling a Senior Pastor, it was difficult to get a firm plan in place, but the Leadership Team decided that they would hold monthly services beginning in May, again at First Baptist, and the attendance at these services continued to be excellent. Then, great news!! Mt. View called a new Senior Pastor, Glenn Zorb, who was due to arrive on the scene at the end of June.

Pastor Zorb arrived, came to meetings of the Leadership Team, gave his input on how we should go forward and things have really started to hum! The team met with Pastor Neuman, Mission Director of the Synod, and has a planned meeting with the Mission Investment Fund representative on September 23. The property committee is looking for land to purchase and is also busily pursuing a place to worship on Sunday mornings.

In the meantime, beginning on September 6, 2008, weekly services will resume at First Baptist Church at 5 p.m. Beginning on October 11, 2008, church school classes will begin and will be held at 4 p.m. There will also be an adult Bible study at that time.

Do we need to ask if the Holy Spirit is working here in Maricopa? No. The Holy Spirit is alive and well and working with and through all of God’s people. Thanks be to God!!!