Our Neighbors

The people of FLC have a long history of care for neighbors in need – through hospitality, generous giving, learning about the issues, and in other ways.

Since 1991, we have been a Reconciling in Christ congregation, “Lutherans for full participation.”

We, the community of First Evangelical Lutheran Church in Palo Alto, proclaim that Christ, in grace, draws all people to himself. We welcome the full participation of people of all ages, racial and ethnic backgrounds, sexual orientations, gender identities, gender expressions, physical and mental abilities, educational backgrounds, and economic conditions. We strive for social, economic, and racial equity. We value families in their many, diverse forms and we support marriage equality for all couples. We embrace people from diverse faith backgrounds, Christians from every tradition and people new to faith.

Called to Care giving

Each month we lift up one of our ministry partners and encourage designated gifts to them that go above our general offering.  These are announced in our newsletter or bulletin. Sometimes we invite a representative to share news about their work. These gifts may be made via PayPal on our “give” page here, or mail a check to First Lutheran at 600 Homer Avenue, Palo Alto, CA 94301, Attn: Financial Secretary.  Whether you use PayPal or check, please indicate the recipient of your gift.

giving levels

Some of Our Ministry Partners

  • ReconcilingWorks (see welcome statement, above);
  • The ELCA, Sierra Pacific Synod and partner agencies such as ELCA Disaster Relief. which has been a special focus during Lent.
  • Ecumenical Hunger Program in East Palo Alto.
  • The Food Closet, located in downtown Palo Alto.
  • We help struggling local families with school supplies and holiday gifts, working with E. Seton School and other agencies.

Our Sister Congregation in El Salvador

Rios de Agua Viva is our Lutheran sister congregation in El Salvador. Over many years we’ve been involved through mutual visits, exchange of greetings and especially various ways we’ve given – including the support of students through scholarships all the way through school. Once a month we use a processional cross that was a gift from this congregation, include them in our prayers and exchange the peace in Spanish.

Salvadoran cross and cards sent by scholarship recipients from our sister congregation.

Immigrant Accompaniment

Following WWII, as a congregation we welcomed numerous displaced persons from Eastern Europe, taking on responsibility for their housing and employment. Later on, FLC helped to support Vietnamese, Chilean, and Central American refugees. Recently, we’ve been involved in accompaniment with several families from Central America seeking asylum in the US court system – which involves going through the court system, sharing life’s challenges and victories around housing, childcare, health, parties, legal issues, work, transportation and the pandemic shut downs.  We raise money to help these families get through.