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“Do not be afraid he is not here for he is risen!”

    The Lutheran Church of the Risen Lord was established and chartered in 1960 by Pastor James Otterness.

    The architecture of Church of the Risen Lord tells a story. The steeple of the church rises over 60 feet in the air and has the figure of the Risen Lord with outstretched arms on top. The figure is lighted at night and because of a curve in 21st Street, it appears to be located in the center of the road when approaching on either side along 21st Street.

    The church lawn is planted in Kentucky 31 grass which stays green almost 12 months out of the year. The primary trees are pecans which are to bear fruit for God. The other trees are evergreens, to tell of the continuous life without death in the winter. Roses are the main flowers since the rose is a messianic symbol. The seasonal flowers and shrubs are witness to the renewing beauty of God’s creation.

    The interior of the peaked sanctuary is in the form of praying hands with fingers touching. The top of the steeple on the outside with the shake shingles is like the steeples of the old country churches in early America. The chancel is in the shape of an open tomb with seats on either end for messengers of God to the people. The window is a resurrection window with woven rays of sunshine streaming in. It is made with colors of the rainbow to remind us of God’s promise to Noah. It is pure gold in the middle to represent the sunrise and has four obscure crosses to represent the gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John.

    The sanctuary is decorated in earth colors of green grass and blue sky that becomes almost black at night. The chandelier is like the tongues of fire that came on Pentecost with the gift of the Holy Spirit. The baptismal font, in the east corner of the sanctuary, is where sins are washed away so all may enter the Kingdom of God by grace through death, burial and resurrection - that which Jesus endured - symbolized by an open cross. The words at the front are “Do not be afraid he is not here for he is risen!” The back of the sanctuary reads, “That you may know him and the power of his resurrection.”

    The altar is a table for the Lord’s supper. The pulpit and lectern tops are in the shape of open books, to hold the word of God. The suspended cross over the altar is again a symbol of the Christ who has died and is risen victorious over death. The four window lights at the peak have the three liturgical colors; purple, green and red (plus yellow). The purple and red windows act like a sundial spreading moving colors through the sanctuary in striking ways that vary with the season of the year. A spacious narthex has room for half the people who can be seated in the sanctuary. The marble pillars symbolize the strength we receive from our Lord.

    The acoustics are purposely noisy so that members can have private conversations in the midst of a crowd. The persons around you are not able to understand other conversations. The area is most important for fellowship as a place where friends can share lives with one another in good conversation. The front entry is wide and inviting with no steps. The wisteria arbor allows a person to come out of the bright Texas sun or strong Texas wind into partial shade or shelter then full shade and shelter to indoors where some green plants and vegetation grow. The narthex has this beauty of nature combined with the warmth of a private home’s living room.

    This 115-family congregation has just completed a Mission Discernment program and has an active and growing youth group.

    Lutheran Church of the Risen Lord is a member of Augsburg Lutheran Churches (ALC) and the Lutheran Congregations in Mission for Christ (LCMC).

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