Chinese New Year with Sporos Lutheran Church

Last week we had the joy of joining a daytime celebration of the Chinese New Year with our friends from Sporos Lutheran Church, a Chinese ministry that gathers at Universal Lutheran Church in La Jolla and Mount Olive Lutheran Church in Poway.

It was a wonderful and joyful gathering. From the moment we arrived, we were received with remarkable hospitality. The celebration included traditional crafts, opportunities to learn about cultural traditions, and delicious Chinese food shared around the tables. The room was filled with conversation, laughter, and curiosity as people from different backgrounds enjoyed the celebration together.

More than the activities or the food, what made the day truly meaningful was the opportunity to build friendships. Some of those friendships began that very afternoon, while others were strengthened through the simple gift of spending time together. These are the kinds of moments where ministry grows naturally—through hospitality, shared experiences, and genuine care for one another.

It was also beautiful to see members, leaders, and the pastor from Universal Lutheran Church present and participating in the celebration. As the host congregation for this ministry in La Jolla, their presence reflected something deeply encouraging: churches walking together, opening their doors, and supporting new ministry in a spirit of unity and partnership.

Sporos Lutheran Church is a wonderful example of how God continues to gather people from different cultures and languages into one community in Christ. What a gift to witness this growing fellowship and to celebrate together.

We are grateful for the invitation, for the warm welcome, and for the friendships that continue to grow. Thank you to everyone who made this celebration so special.