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Visit our Sunday worship services at 8 or 10:30 am. Sunday school and adult Bible class at 9:15. We are "Making Christ Known" by faith, worship and witness to get the message of Jesus Christ to all people.

February 2017

On: By: Rev. G. Michael Rose

“Light shines in the darkness for the upright.” Psalm 112:4

 

Dear Redeemer Family:

We are still in winter. The days are short. In fact, the other day I was kind of amazed at how early it was beginning to get dark towards the end of the afternoon. But, the good news is that we are also in the Season of Epiphany, the season of light. “Epiphany” means, at least in the Church, “God’s light breaking in.” To some, that may be an epiphany, but that is another meaning of the word. In this season of darkness for earth, we remember that God is breaking into our world and our lives through His Son Jesus Christ. I think that it is a good image for this time of year. Every day now, the day is getting a little bit longer. The light is winning over the darkness. God is coming in to enlighten us. That is a marvelous thought!

 

During winter, many people are affected by the darkness. I imagine that they are also affected by the weather of this season. The sky is gray. It rains or snows. Or worse, just a few days ago we had a three day ice storm. That can be depressing to many. For one thing, people may find themselves cooped up inside their homes and get “cabin fever.” There is the desire to be outside, and with it a desire for freedom which only the out of doors can bestow upon us. In winter, people’s spirits can become quite low.

 

This Season of Epiphany then is also a season of hope. God’s light is breaking into our world. The darkness is leaving us. We are given hope. Soon the weather will change. Days will be bright and sunny, and warm (especially in August). Although we may feel limited by the darkness of the world, and the sin which we have fallen into, we also know that God’s light has already broken into our world in the life of His Son. God’s light does not leave us, but grows stronger every moment. And through God’s light, we are renewed. The blessed rain renews the earth. God’s grace renews us. The weight of the “winter drearies” is lifted from us. And we are made free!

 

This Season of Epiphany is good for us. The light which began with the Star of Bethlehem shining on a manger continues to shine upon us. We gather like the Magi and Shepherds still to behold its brilliance in the face of our Savior. And being enlightened in such hope, we go back to our homes and those close to us to share that light and that hope with those who do not know it. This is a wonderful time, a glorious time, a time of brighter countenance in the face of a darkened world. Share the Good News with those who desperately need to hear it! Praise be to God and His light!

 

 

In Christ,

Pastor Rose

January 2017

On: By: Rev. G. Michael Rose

“Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace among those whom he favors.” Luke 2:14
Dear Redeemer Family:
We are in Christmas, or should be by the time that you read this. Christmas isn’t just a day. It is a season
also. The Season of Christmas lasts twelve days, hence the title of the song. Although Martin Luther maintained
that there were really only two Church seasons: Christmas to Easter, and then Easter to Christmas. In some ways,
that might be a better way to see the Church year.

 

During Christmas most people celebrate Jesus birth. But, it is much more than that. It is during Christmas that we celebrate and ponder the mystery of the Incarnation. God becomes a human being and lives among us. This is a great gift, and a great mystery. The Incarnation is literally the foundation of our faith. Indeed, our salvation rests on it. Our God deigns to become one of us. In Baptism, we are joined to him. In Holy Communion, we receive our Lord bodily into ourselves. As God Incarnate, He takes our sins upon Himself. As He dies on the cross, our sins are destroyed. In the Resurrection, Christ rises victorious over sin, death and the devil. And as He ascends to the Father, Jesus takes his human nature with him, and we are glorified. Think about that one for a minute. All rests on the Incarnation.

 

Being joined to Christ at our baptisms, we are now joined to him. In other words, we take Christ with us wherever we are and go. We represent Christ. That also is incarnational. We are made ambassadors of Christ. We are made co-heirs with Him to the Kingdom of God.
Christmas is much more than just a day to remember Christ’s birth as a human baby. No, all things are now changed because of it. Paul writes that, “Christ is a new creation.” And we are made new creations through him. All is now changed, and for the better. His birth signals our new birth. The old has passed away.

 

It is because of all of this that the angels sing out to the shepherd, “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace among those whom he favors.” This is all done by and to the glory of God. And we are now granted the peace of God, the peace which goes beyond all understanding. That is the gift of Christmas, the true gift that keeps on giving. We have these things through Christ, not just of December 25th, but rather throughout the whole year, and always. And this is the real reason why we say “Merry Christmas,” not just on December 25th, but always, always. There is no greater greeting nor message.
In Christ,
Pastor Rose