Author: Rev. G. Michael Rose

March 2021

On: By: Rev. G. Michael Rose

“May I never boast of anything except the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which the world is crucified to me, and I to the world.” Galatians 6:14

Dear Redeemer Family:
We are now in Lent. Technically, I think that we have already been in a very long Lent. It was during Lent of 2020 that we had to stop in person worship because of the coronavirus. We never did get to celebrate Holy Week, or Easter. We had to shift to virtual worship. And, although we did get to worship in person for a part of the year, we never really “officially” ended Lent 2020. Think about it. And, if Lent is often seen as a season of self-discipline, we have had to add some disciplines. To prayer and devotions, among others, we’ve added masks, social distancing, hand washing and sanitizer. Well, technically, it has worked. As of this writing, according to the CDC, the county now has its lowest weekly Covid numbers since the middle of July. We are at 298 cases. Realize that the high point was 1,629 cases in the county. That was after Halloween.

I would say, “Congratulation.” The disciplines have worked. We still have to keep them up. And we now have vaccines available to help with the pandemic. But, we are seeing light at the end of the tunnel! I am personally tired of emphasizing discipline after of year of doing so. Therefore, let’s look at Lent the other way. Yes, there is more than one way to look at Lent. This year, in particular, let’s look at Lent as a time of learning and reclaiming our identity in baptism as we prepare for Easter. We can then think more about recalling our own identities as children of God. The lessons for the season will help. The waters drown the evil around us (Gen. 9), name us a part of God’s family (Gen. 17), enroll us as a people formed by God’s Law (EX. 20), offer healing from deadly sin (Num. 21), and welcome us home as a people whose las is written on the heart (Jer. 31). These lessons give us a picture that God’s mercy isn’t just in the New Testament and the Gospel of Jesus Christ, but are already present and shared through the Old Testament as well.

Even the Gospel Acclamation for Lent reminds us to return to God, who is gracious, merciful, sow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love. Repentance is not a frightening appearance before an angry God, but a homecoming to one who longs to save us in the midst of our trials and fears. And, of course, the Gospel lessons themselves we hear a word of grace in the midst of fears we face.

I think that this year especially, we should approach Lent in this manner. We have had plenty of discipline and fear. Let us proceed through this Lenten Season recalling that through baptism we have been claimed by a gracious and merciful heavenly Father, and made to be His children and fellow-heirs with His Son, our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Let us enjoy this time, and do so together as we strive to put this past year behind us!

In Christ,
Pastor Rose

February 2021

On: By: Rev. G. Michael Rose

“Master, now you are dismissing your servant in peace, according to your word; for my eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared in the presence of all peoples, a light for revelation to the Gentiles and for glory to your people Israel.” Luke 2:29-32

Dear Redeemer Family:
The verses above are from Simeon’s Song (the Nunc Dimittis), which Simeon cried out in the Temple when Joseph and Mary brought the infant Jesus there for his Presentation. February 2nd is The Presentation of Our Lord Day. It falls 40 days after Christmas. The verses are a prophecy. And they also contain a very important theme for this season. That theme is light! As we will enter the “darkness” of the Season of Lent this month, we often point to the light of the Transfiguration to give us light to last the 40 days of that season. Well, actually, we have Christ’s light with us always, from the Star of Bethlehem to the glory of the Resurrection! Christ is always with us, period.

This year, this year of the coronavirus, that is especially poignant. We are approaching now a year of social distancing, masks, hand washing, quarantining, etc. Our lives have been turned upside down. As I write this, nationally, there have been just over 400,000 deaths in this year, 164 of them in our county. The United States suffered 418,000 deaths from World War II, in four years. This has been a terrible experience. People are now suffering from what they are calling “Covid fatigue.” We pray for things to return to normal. And, I would like to thank our members who have worked tirelessly to try to keep our worship services as “normal” as possible, if virtually. Thank you to Charles and Stephanie Roop who plan and record the services, Ralph and Joyce Spiker for their leading of liturgical parts, and our numerous readers and “volunteers” who sit very far apart from each other to help lead the responsive portions of the liturgy for us. They have been a blessing during this trying time.

And, we now have light at the end of this very long tunnel. The vaccines are now becoming available. I encourage everyone to sign up for them. I have already received the first shot through the hospital, since I have volunteered as an On Call Chaplain there for 30 years; I am considered a health care provider (I find that strange in a way). But, I encourage you all to register for your vaccinations at jeffcohealth.org . They will then contact you as to when you may receive your inoculations. There is a light shining through our global darkness!

I hope that all are staying safe and sound at the present time. I also hope that very soon we will be able to once more gather together to join in worship together and continue the work of being the Church of Christ here on earth. Until then, pray for each other, take care of each other as well as you are permitted. And pray for our overloaded health care worker and our “essential” workers who are striving to keep us going in this crisis. There is “a light for revelation to the Gentiles and for glory to your people Israel.”
In Christ,
Pastor Rose