Hope Lutheran Church sits on Vallejo Avenue in Temecula, just east of Interstate 15 and a short stretch north of Temecula Parkway, sharing its campus with the Hope Children's Center Preschool. For roughly forty years the congregation has been an active presence in the Temecula Valley, and its identity today rests on three anchors: a single blended Sunday service, a state-licensed preschool for ages two through five, and a steady stream of outreach through Project T.O.U.C.H. and the hunger ministry.
From the Long Branch Saloon to a Right-Sized Church Home
Hope's first gathering took place in the Long Branch Saloon in Old Town Temecula. Over the next four decades the congregation met under oak trees, in barns, and in parks scattered around the community. By 2018, after several years of volunteer work the members called a "labor of love," the members finished construction of the current "right-sized" church home at 29043 Vallejo Avenue, where the sanctuary and classrooms sit on the same property as the children's center.
Hope's mission is summarized in three short sentences: Anchored in Christ to build and grow faith. Its purpose is to share Jesus' love by reaching out and welcoming all. Its vision is to trust God in the midst of what makes us anxious, choose faith instead of fear, and serve mission instead of personal comfort. Four guiding principles anchor the life of the church: members see themselves as servants of God and members of the Body of Christ, they value one another, they practice open and honest communication, and they make decisions that they believe are in the best interest of the whole congregation and will bring glory to God.
Sunday Mornings at 9:30
Hope gathers for a single Sunday worship service at 9:30 a.m. The format is described by the congregation as blended, drawing on traditional Lutheran liturgy from the Evangelical Lutheran Worship book alongside contemporary songs led by the Hope Band and vocalists. Special music comes from Hope's Choir, the Bells of Hope, and occasional soloists throughout the year. Holy Communion is celebrated at every service. Baptisms are scheduled through the church office.
Children are always welcome in the worship space. Families begin the service together, and children from age three through fifth grade may remain with their parents or step into Faith Explorers for an age-appropriate Bible story, activity, or craft during the message. A "Kidz' Korner" at the back of the worship center holds quiet toys that children can take to their seats and return after worship.
Hope Children's Center, Sharing the Same Address
The Hope Children's Center Preschool operates out of the same campus, licensed by the California Department of Social Services for children ages two through five. The center is nonprofit and supported by tuition only, operating on a nondiscriminatory basis. All staff members are trained in Early Childhood Education and meet or exceed state licensing requirements, and they are Christians who are described as sensitive to the needs of children and their families.
The preschool's aim, as a ministry of Hope Lutheran, is to help children and families grow in their knowledge and love of God in Jesus Christ, in a Christian atmosphere with a loving, concerned, and competent staff. Programs run Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Children bring their own lunch and snacks from home. Pre-reading skills, basic number and letter recognition, fine and large motor activities, and age-appropriate spiritual concepts are woven into the day. Pre-K classes add phonics, math, art, cooking, and science. A $50 non-refundable registration fee is required to enroll, and a referral program offers a $100 tuition credit to families who introduce new enrollees.
From First Communion Bibles to Confirmation Retreats
Hope's children and family ministry serves children from birth through fifth grade. First Communion Classes are offered each Lent for children in kindergarten and above, with children and parents attending together; families also bake the bread for first communion, which is celebrated on Maundy Thursday. On Reformation Sunday, the last Sunday in October, third graders receive a personalized Bible from the congregation, and the following Sunday they and their parents take part in an interactive "Getting-to-Know-the-Bible Experience." Fourth and fifth graders who do not yet have their own Bible are welcome to join.
Each summer Hope offers a Vacation Bible School week for children ages four through incoming fifth graders, and a Summer Day Camp led by staff of Lutheran Retreats, Camps, and Conferences. Other long-running programs include a Puppet Ministry for fourth graders and up, a Christmas Eve Children's Worship with opportunities to be readers or part of a live nativity, and the Shoebox Christmas project, in which children lead the collection of shoebox gifts for Central City Lutheran Mission in San Bernardino.
PowerZone and Transformers: Walking with Youth
Confirmation at Hope takes place through PowerZone, the ministry for sixth through eighth graders. The curriculum teaches the basics of the Christian faith from a Lutheran perspective and includes retreats for spiritual growth and service, a summer outdoor recreation trip, and an emphasis on serving those in need and working for social justice. High school students meet as Transformers on Sunday evenings from 5 to 7 p.m. on Hope's campus, growing in faith through weekly Bible study, mentoring younger youth, and outings that have included whitewater rafting, waterparks, and sporting events. The high school group also takes a week-long summer service and fellowship trip.
Wednesday Mornings and Living Room Small Groups
Hope's weekly Bible study meets on Wednesdays at 10 a.m. in the Fellowship Hall, with materials available to download and an option to join via Zoom. A men's group meets monthly in the Fellowship Hall or via Zoom for Bible study, fellowship, and meaningful discussion. Adult small groups meet at homes across Temecula, Murrieta, Menifee, and Fallbrook, and new members are always welcome. Prime Timers, a gathering for those 50 and up (though all are welcome), meets on the second Thursday of every month for a guest speaker over lunch.
Fighting Hunger with Project T.O.U.C.H.
Hope partners with Project T.O.U.C.H. (Together Our Unity Conquers Homelessness) to provide meals and a caring presence to individuals and families in need across the community. Through the Hunger Ministry, the congregation supports a Temecula food pantry, joins in food drives, sells Lutheran World Relief coffee, writes letters to Congress on hunger-related policy, assembles Thanksgiving dinner boxes, organizes an Angel Tree at Christmas, collects coats, and prepares care packages for military service members. From December through March, the congregation provides twice-monthly dinners for guests of a cold-weather shelter.
Choir, Bells, and the Band
Music plays a central role in Hope's worship life. The Hope Choir rehearses on Tuesday evenings from 6:30 to 8 p.m. in the sanctuary and welcomes singers of all ages and experience. The Bells of Hope handbell ensemble rehearses on Monday evenings from 6 to 8 p.m. in the sanctuary, playing monthly in worship and occasionally in the wider community; in 2019 the ensemble toured Germany, performing at Luther-related sites to international accolades. Cantors offer anthems and lead congregational singing throughout the year, and the Hope Band provides contemporary music leadership. Children are also invited to share solos, instrumental pieces, or small ensembles.
Anchored in the ELCA
Hope is one of nearly 10,000 congregations of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America and is part of the Pacifica Synod. The congregation confesses the Triune God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, and proclaims Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. Teaching is grounded in the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments, the Apostles', Nicene, and Athanasian Creeds, and the Lutheran confessional writings in the Book of Concord. The Small Catechism's language about the Holy Spirit calling, gathering, enlightening, and sanctifying the whole Christian church shapes the congregation's daily faith.
Worship Online, Giving by Text
Hope's 9:30 a.m. service is livestreamed on its YouTube channel, where recordings remain available any time. Closed captioning can be turned on during the live stream, and a chat feature lets viewers greet one another in real time. Giving is offered through the church's Realm account online, by sending the keyword "hopetemecula" and the gift amount to 73256, and through giving baskets on Sunday. A weekly newsletter, a printed calendar, and a sermon video archive keep members and visitors connected throughout the week.