About
“To give honor and glory to the Triune God by carrying out His will and proclaiming the of Christ Jesus to all in the world.”
The phrase that energizes our work together is: “On a Mission with the Master, Reaching the Lost by Involving the Found.” We are passionate about how the resurrected Jesus continues His work among us by the power of His Spirit. And we are thrilled to be able to work with Him in the great task of helping others find new life through the forgiveness of their sins.
Mount Olive is part of the Lutheran Church – Missouri Synod. For more information on the LC-MS Click Here.
As Lutherans we confess
- God is Triune, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
- In our sinful state we are separated from God and in need of a Savior.
- Jesus is fully God and fully Man, who died and rose from the grave to give us life and salvation.
- In Baptism, we are washed clean from our sins
- In Holy Communion, we receive the true Body and Blood of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of our sins.
- The Holy Scriptures of the Old and New Testament are the inspired and inerrant Word of God that tells us the story of salvation in Jesus Christ.
We are eager to share our faith with others, so that all may come to know Jesus Christ, the one who brings us real peace, deep joy, and life forever.
Now that you know our belief, we invite you to become a part of our church family. Our pastor will be glad to discuss any questions you may have.
Baptism is not just plain water, but it is the water included in God’s command and combined with God’s word.
Christ our Lord says in the last chapter of Matthew: “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.” (Matt. 28:19)
It works forgiveness of sins, rescues from death and the devil, and gives eternal salvation to all who believe this, as the words and promises of God declare.
Christ our Lord says in the last chapter of Mark: “Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.” (Mat 16:16)
Certainly not just water, but the word of God in and with the water does these things, along with the faith which trusts this word of God in the water. For without God’s word the water is plain water and no Baptism. But with the word of God it is a Baptism, that is, a life-giving water, rich in grace, and a washing of the new birth in the Holy Spirit, as St. Paul says in Titus, chapter three:
“He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that, having been justified by His grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life. That is a trustworthy saying.” (Titus 3:5-8)
It indicates that the Old Adam in us should by daily contrition and repentance be drowned and die with all sins and evil desires, and that a new man should daily emerge and arise to live before God in righteousness and purity forever.
St. Paul writes in Romans chapter six: “We were therefore buried with Him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.” (Rom6:4)
It is the true body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ under the bread and wine, instituted by Christ Himself for us Christians to eat and drink.
The holy Evangelists Matthew, Mark, Luke, and St. Paul write: Our Lord Jesus Christ, on the night when He was betrayed, took bread, and when He had given thanks, He broke it and gave it to the disciples and said: “Take, eat; this is My body, which is given for you. This do in remembrance of Me.”
In the same way also He took the cup after supper, and when He had given thanks, He gave it to them saying, “Drink of it, all of you; this cup is the new testament in My blood, which is shed for you for the forgiveness of sins. This do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.”
These words, “Given and shed for you for the forgiveness of sins,” show us that in the Sacrament forgiveness of sins, life, and salvation are given us through these words. For where there is forgiveness of sins, there is also life and salvation.
Certainly not just eating and drinking do these things, but the words written here: “Given and shed for you for the forgiveness of sins.” These words, along with the bodily eating and drinking, are the main thing in the Sacrament. Whoever believes these words has exactly what they say: “forgiveness of sins.”
Fasting and bodily preparation are certainly fine outward training. But the person is truly worthy and well prepared who has faith in these words: “Given and shed for you for the forgiveness of sins."
But anyone who does not believe these words or doubts them is unworthy and unprepared, for the words “for you” require all hearts to believe.
The first organizational meeting of the Palos Verdes Lutheran Mission was held on January 14, 1962. Our first Sunday Worship was held the following week, with 43 people attending the service which was led by the Rev. Harold Kupke, an instructor at the Lutheran High School of Los Angeles. The official founding of the congregation was on September 15, 1963. The Sanctuary at 5975 Armaga Spring Road, was dedicated on Ash Wednesday, February 23, 1966.
