Community Lutheran Church History

Community Lutheran Church was officially chartered and became a member of the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod on April 30, 1989. For almost three years we worshiped in various schools in Escondido. On December 24, 1992, we worshiped for the first time in our present sanctuary. On January 2, 1993, our preschool was officially opened.

The Lord has blessed our church, which is now a worshiping community of over a thousand members. Our preschool has grown to an average of ninety students each year. In 2003 our new Multipurpose Ministries Building was completed and dedicated. We look forward to the construction of our new sanctuary and offices in the near future.

The history and growth of our congregation can be viewed on the web pages focusing on education, worship, music and youth. We thank God for the men and women whose vision of His Great Commission has propelled this very young congregation into a vibrant future.  (click for a more detailed history)

 

---

Our Affiliation

Community Lutheran Church of Escondido is a member of the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod.
See the LCMS Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) page click here.

Our Staff

Click on each member's name to learn more about them.

William R. Vogelsang Jr., Pastor

Les Beale, Visitation Pastor

Jim Meyer, DCE

Donna Hinke, Ministries Coordinator

Sarah Grainger, Office Manager

Debbie Lundberg, Church Office Secretary

Sharon Boyer, Preschool Director

Margaret Simonsen, Parish Nurse

Kristen Beyer, Director of Christian Outreach

 

Pastor Bill Vogelsang was born in Cleveland, Ohio, and has been the pastor of Community since November 1989. Pastor did his undergraduate work at Valparaiso University. He graduated from Concordia Theological Seminary at Fort Wayne, Indiana, with a Masters in Historical Theology. Prior to coming to Community, he served congregations in Tennessee and Arkansas.

Pastor Vogelsang has served in various capacities at the circuit and district levels of the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod. He also is a member of the Board of Directors at the Palomar YMCA in Escondido.

Pastor and his wife, Christine, have been married since 1973. They have three adult children: Carrie Anne, who lives in San Diego, and Jacob and Noah, who are living and working in China.

“It has been my privilege to watch the congregation grow both in numbers and in spiritual maturity over these nineteen years. The Lord has certainly blessed our congregation with countless gifts and talents and with people who are willing to share His Good News."

click here to email Pastor Vogelsang                                  listen to some of Pastor's sermons

Jim Meyer was born in Denver, Colorado and lived there until the middle of his 8th grade year. In 1986, his dad took a Call to be the Senior Pastor at Zion Lutheran Church in Anaheim, CA. Jim went to Orange Lutheran High School and then moved on to Concordia University in Irvine (www.CUI.edu). Upon graduation with is degree in Religious Studies, Jim did his internship at Abiding Savior Lutheran in Lake Forest, CA and then accepted his first Call to Christ Lutheran in Costa Mesa, CA.

In 1999, Jim accepted the Call to Concordia Lutheran Church in Kirkwood, MO, but after missing the sunshine and beach, in 2002, Jim accepted the Call to Community Lutheran in Escondido. In December 2003, Jim graduated Concordia University in Seward, NE with his Master's Degree in Family Life Education. Jim has had the opportunity to serve on several District Youth Gathering committees and three committees for the National Youth Gathering in Atlanta '98 and Orlando in  '04 and ’07. Jim has also led several mission and servant events  to Alabama, Alaska (twice), China (twice), San Francisco (twice), and Skopje, Macedonia during the summer of ’08.

Jim married his high school sweetheart, Jennifer, in 1995 and they have 4 children: Adam, Mackenzie, Emily and Aaron.  Jim also has a beagle by the name of Atwater. Jim is passionate about Denver Bronco football and Duke University basketball. He loves the opportunity to work with families and the young people of Community and looks forward to seeing how God is going to work in this place over the next 20 years.

Click here to email Jim

Donna Hinke is a Midwest girl, born and raised in Iowa where she met and went to school with her husband, Jeff. They moved to California in 1983 and consider Iowa a good place to be from. The Hinke's joined the Community Family of Faith in 2000 and Donna joined the staff of Community in Feb. of 2003. Donna has a degree in Sociology and years of experience as a volunteer.

Donna enjoys being a Mom to her four children, reading and is enjoying learning to quilt and knit with the helpful guidance of the groups at Community. She thoroughly enjoys her job and what God has called her to do!

Click here to email Donna

---

Sarah Grainger, our English lass, was born in Whiteheath, England and came to the United States in November of 1980 with her husband Graham and three sons, Justin, Simon and James. Daughter Victoria was born in June 1982. Sarah and family first came to Community in June of 1991 when they were meeting at Hidden Valley Middle school. Sarah and husband Graham were married in 1972.  Graham is a Stephens Ministries leader, one of our church elders and lends a hand wherever needed.

Sarah and Graham are the proud grandparents of Kaylin, Andrew, Jack and Mia. If you need a splash of joy, call the church office and talk to Sarah.

Click here to email Sarah

Debbie Lundberg is California born and raised, has a rich Lutheran
background and is a P.K. (preacher's kid).  Her parents are Rev. Chuck and Phyllis Rauschek (retired), who are members at CLC as well.  She is a graduate of California Lutheran University - 1987 (Business Administration).
She was married in 1988 to her husband, Don Lundberg.  They have two beautiful children, Jenna (born 1994) and Alex (born 1996).  The family currently resides in San Marcos.

The Lundbergs became members of Community in February of 2005.  They were drawn to CLC because of the warm, friendly church environment and rich worship experience.

"The church has always been a big part of my life, so working in the
church office and among all God's people is very fulfilling."

Click here to email Debbie

---

Sharon Boyer, a lifelong Lutheran, has been the Director of Community Lutheran Preschool since August 1995. Before that she taught all ages preschool through 9th grade. Her teaching career began immediately after graduating from San Diego State University. After several years of classroom teaching, she "retired" to become a full-time mother. She was soon called to substitute, and continued teaching for the next 15 years in many of the public and Christian schools in the area. During those years, the Lord blessed the family with 6 wonderful children, 5 boys and 1 girl.

A preschool substituting job turned into a new full-time career when the youngest children were preschoolers. The children now range in age from 18-33, and Sharon has stayed in preschool. Sharon grew up in Michigan and Ohio, but has lived in or near Escondido since 8th grade. She and husband Bill have been married 35 years and now enjoy being grandparents to two beautiful little girls.One of the many rewards of Early Childhood Christian ministry is seeing the children, along with their parents, continue to grow in faith and become active participants in worship services, youth activities, and choir. The entire staff is dedicated to nurturing the faith of these precious little ones.

Click here to email Sharon

---

She attended Sacred Heart School of Nursing with an A.S. in nursing from Pensacola College, a B.S. in Health Science and Masters in Education from Chapman University. She also holds a Teaching Credential from National University. She has been a certified instructor for the American Heart Association and the American Red Cross.

Margaret’s goal as a Parish Nurse is to teach and encourage emotional and physical well- being in harmony with spiritual goals. She is married to Weaver Simonsen and has a grown, married daughter.

Back to Top