ABOUT US
SHARE. SERVE. EQUIP. BE GENEROUS!
"Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to SERVE others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms."
- I Peter 4:10
WHO WE ARE
WHAT TO EXPECT AT PLC
At Palisades Lutheran Church (PLC), you’ll discover a vibrant, Christ-centered community dedicated to connecting people to abundant life in Christ. Throughout your journey with us, you’ll experience uplifting worship services, engaging Bible studies, and diverse Life Groups for all ages. Our retreat and conference center provides a sanctuary for spiritual growth and renewal. We offer numerous opportunities to serve through various Ministry Teams, from worship and altar guild to special projects and outreach initiatives. PLC is committed to our core values of Share, Serve, Equip, and Be Generous, guiding everything we do. Whether you’re seeking spiritual guidance, meaningful connections, or ways to make a difference in our community, PLC welcomes you with open arms as we grow together in faith.
WORSHIP SCHEDULE & SERVICES
ENCOUNTERING GOD THROUGH WORSHIP AND REFLECTION
Join us in worship to experience God’s presence through music, prayer, Scripture, and fellowship.
“We believe worship is central to our life together as a community of faith, helping us connect with God and one another in meaningful ways.”
Our worship opportunities include:
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Sunday morning services with traditional and contemporary elements
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Seasonal special services (Advent, Lent, Holy Week)
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Online worship options for those unable to attend in person
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Daily devotional resources to nurture your faith throughout the week
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Prayer services and contemplative worship experiences
WORSHIP SCHEDULE
OUR STORY
One in Christ
In 1970, two Lutheran churches in Pacific Palisades, originating from different Lutheran branches, merged to become one church.
The spirit of the combined churches was captured in the motto, “One in the Spirit.” By God’s grace, we continue to enjoy that unity in the Holy Spirit today.
“There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.” (Ephesians 4:4-6)
MISSION
The Great Commission
To connect our neighbors to the abundant life in CHRIST. Share, Serve, Equip and Be Generous!
VISION
Retreat & Conference Center
To become the mecca retreat and conference center for training and equipping MINISTRY TEAMS of hundreds, even thousands, of churches from all over the country.
WHAT WE BELIEVE
We believe, teach, and confess the Triune God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
We believe, teach, and confess Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, and the Gospel as the power of God for the salvation of all who believe in him.
We believe, teach, and confess the Gospel, recorded in Holy Scripture and confessed in the ecumenical creeds and Lutheran confessional writings, as the power of God to create and sustain all believers for
God’s mission in the world.
OUR CORE VALUES
Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, rooted, and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving. ~ Colossians 2:10
SHARE
Romans 12:13
We promise to SHARE all our God-given gifts and resources to meet the needs of each other and the surrounding community and to grow reliance, trust, and faith in the Lord.
SERVE
Peter 4:10
We promise to SERVE by strengthening one another in our faith and administering God’s grace in its various forms so the Gospel becomes the center of our church family and is shared with our neighbors.
EQUIP
Ephesians 4:12
We promise to EQUIP the saints for Gospel impact in the world. This will be accomplished through close attention to the teaching of God’s Word and through disciple-making.
BE GENEROUS
2 Corinthians 9:11
We promise, with the help of the Holy Spirit, to recognize the spiritual and physical needs of all others and give to them as God has GENEROUSLY given to us, resulting in thanksgiving to God.
GOVERNANCE PHILOSOPHY
“Together in governance, united in mission, focused on Christ.” – All our leadership efforts center on advancing Christ’s kingdom purpose.
Donna Shoupe, President
Bruce Peterson, Vice President
MINISTRY TEAMS
“And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and from by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes. Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.” (Ephesians 4:12-15)
Dedicated church staff who oversee daily operations, administration, and coordinate various ministries to ensure the church runs smoothly and effectively serves the congregation.
Facilitates meaningful worship experiences through music, liturgy, and service planning. This team coordinates all aspects of worship services to create an environment for spiritual connection.
A group that assists the pastor in providing spiritual care and fellowship to the congregation. Each elder oversees a “flock” or section of the congregation, helping with readings, prayers, and sacraments during worship services.
Handles unique initiatives, events, and projects that fall outside regular ministry activities, providing specialized support for church needs as they arise.
Promoting a Healthy Ministry Environment for God’s Mission & Ministry Team’s to Flourish!
Palisades Lutheran Church is blessed with a Governing Board of nine spiritually mature and gifted leaders!
The Governing Board focuses with laser precision on the charter entrusted to its care by the member’s of the congregation. As fiduciaries, the members of the Board protect PLC’s Mission and Vision to promote the Gospel to the ends of the earth. The most significant way the Board accomplishes this objective is through crafting and monitoring policies that promote and support Palisades Lutheran Church’s Mission, Vision and Core Values.
Palisades Lutheran Church’s VISION is to become the mecca Retreat and Conference Center for training and equipping Ministry Teams of hundreds, even thousands, of churches and schools from all over the country. This Vision capitalizes on resources PLC already has by God’s grace (TTF Recommendation #6). The need for professional and lay leader training (e.g., music, worship, stewardship, outreach, youth-family, etc.) is self-evident given the closure rate of churches. This Strategic Ministry Plan (SMP) scores HIGH on Gospel Impact and HIGH on Financial Viability. It is designed to be sustainable by aligning God’s supply with missional and ministry goals and needs.
Policy Governance Promotes Accountability in Ministry Beginning with the Board.
Policy governance requires board members who are interested in and capable of discussing the values underlying the actions taken every day in the ministry and governing through the broader formulations of these values. Hence board members should enjoy conceptual argument, differing points of view, and values clarification. They should be able to welcome dissent but be able to honor group decisions once they are made.
Board Members will make every effort to:
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Remember that their job is not to help the staff.
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Protect the staff from board members who wish to manage the day-to-day ministries without having gone through the formality of being hired.
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Be interested in the difficult task of ends determination.
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Encourage the expression of dissent, collaboration and collegiality in board discussion.
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Allow for deliberation with many voices but govern with one in instruction to the Pastor.
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Remember that the diversity of the church’s ownership is larger than can be represented directly by any board.
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Seek to link with the stakeholders in as inclusive a way as possible, regardless of whether there are constituency members on the board.
A Disciplined Board will regulate themselves:
Even highly disciplined individuals have trouble acting as part of a disciplined group. Yet a disciplined group is exactly what a board of directors must be. Board members must understand there are familiar behaviors they are no longer able to engage in. And they must understand there are unfamiliar behaviors to be practiced. Often boards make statements about their intentions in governance but fail to police themselves. The CGO (Chief Governing Officer) has a special responsibility for board discipline but is not the only enforcer. Group discipline simply works better if all the board members agree to help each other maintain the standards the Board has set.