Redeemer Lutheran Church, DeSoto, MO

“The voice of one crying out in the wilderness; ‘Prepare the way of the Lord.’” Matt. 3:3b

Dear Redeemer Family:
Where has the time gone? It was just the other day that we were celebrating Christ the King Sunday. We celebrated Christ enthroned as the Lord of Lords and King of Kings. Now, we hear the voice of John the Baptist telling us to get ready for Jesus’ birth. My how time flies. I did watch a YouTube video a while back which was discussing that the older that you get, the more experience that you acquire, the faster that time seems to fly. That’s why putting a child in “time out” for five minutes seems like a life sentence for them, and why an adult can sit and watch a full two-hour football game on television, without moving, and say, “It’s over already?” There seems to be an age difference between them. So now, for the children will think that it will take forever for Christmas to come. And adults will think that there aren’t enough hours in the day to get ready for Christmas. Actually, when it comes to preparing for the coming of the Lord, I think that they are both right. As we await the returning of Christ in glory, it has been about 2,000 years. And, frankly, we aren’t ready. As for preparing for the events of Christmas, there isn’t enough time for everything.

Fortunately, we have the Season of Advent to help us get ready. Four weeks to turn our minds and prepare us for the coming of both the Christ Child, and the Risen Lord. Four weeks?! That’s not enough time!!! That is true. But the purpose of Advent isn’t really a “countdown” to Christmas. No, no. That is a misconception. The purpose of Advent is rather to “re mind” us, literally. It serves to turn our minds, as well as our hearts and souls, to the coming of Christ. Some people get so worked up over getting ready for Christmas with decorating, shopping, cooking, entertaining, etc., that they miss the whole point. And that point is the coming of Christ, our Emmanuel, God with us, to us.

The lessons of the Season of Advent, the Wednesday night services, the traditions of Advent are all there for one reason, to re mind people. We are to turn our minds, focus our attention, lift up our hearts are for one thing, and one thing only: Christ comes to us. For that, there isn’t enough time. But Christ is eternal so time isn’t even a consideration. He has all of the time in the world, and of creation. We should just concentrate of getting ready for him. May everyone have a most blessed, and focused, Advent Season; and use it wisely to prepare for Christ’s coming.

In Christ,
Pastor Rose

“Sing the LORD’s praise in the assembly of the faithful.” Psalm 149:1

Dear Redeemer Family:
When you think about it, music is an important part of our lives. It is also an important part of our faith lives. The Psalmist tells us so in the scripture quote above. And it can even be taken as a command, “Sing!” It is also an important part of our Lutheran heritage. The Lutherans were called “the Singing Church” by other groups.

Luther himself played at least one musical instrument, and wrote numerous hymns. As the Reformation took off, Luther knew the value of music. Early on, he published a little hymnal. It contained 8 hymns. It was the first of its kind. It was distributed to the congregation members so that, as Luther said, it would help the people pray during the week. And, there is, I believe, a connection between sacred music and prayer. So, music became a big part of the Lutheran tradition, and vice versa. The person who is considered the greatest Church musician is Johanne Sebastian Bach, a Lutheran. I remember standing in a church in Hamburg, Germany staring at the magnificent pipe organ, thinking to myself, “Bach played this organ.” It is a great memory of that trip.

I’ve told you before that there is a plaque based on a piece in a German opera house in my sitting room which reads:
“Bach gave us God’s Word.
Mozart gave us God’s laughter.
Beethoven gave us God’s fire.
God gave us music so that we may pray without words.”
I believe that it is true.

As we now approach the holidays, I believe that music takes a more central stage in our lives through these months. We will be spending more time inside, thanks to the weather. But we will be singing and listening so some of our favorite songs, all building, no doubt, to Christmas Carols. As we anticipate, and celebrate, the holidays. Enjoy the music. Sing along. And remember that as we do so, we are also joining others in prayers of the faithful, in and out, of the assembly.

In Christ,

Pastor Rose