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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.

July 2020

On: By: Rev. G. Michael Rose

“You who live in the shelter of the Most High, who abide in the shadow of the Almighty, will say to the LORD, ‘My refuge and my fortress; my God, in whom I trust.’ For he will deliver you from the snare of the fowler and from the deadly pestilence;” Psalm 91:1-3

Dear Redeemer Family:

Yes, we are in the midst of a “deadly pestilence.” The problem is that most of us have not gone through this before. I read somewhere a number of years ago from a book on plagues (the old word for pestilence) that we have a new plague at least once per century. The last big one that hit the world was the Spanish Flu (ironic calling it that since it started in this country), which started in 1918, and resulted in what history calls “The Lost Generation.” It killed more people than World War I did. Most of us don’t remember 1918.

That is part of the current problem. We have been conditioned by our education and the different media sources over the years to worry about War and Famine, two of the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse. But historically, for humans, our big problem is Pestilence – the Third Horseman of the Apocalypse. Disease has killed more human beings than anything else in history. Malaria alone is believed to have killed more than half of all human beings who have ever lived! But, people are lackadaisical about disease. And people at the present time are already too quickly easing restrictions in their own minds. This is a formula for disaster. We have to be cautious, period.

We live in the shelter of the Most High. God is gracious. God loves us. And God has given us means to cope. The “Sheltering at Home” was a necessary step so as to not overburden our hospitals. God has guided our modern medicine. It is a gift. But we must be cautious there as well. Wearing a mask, especially in groups of people is appearing to be the single most effective way to stop or slow the spread of this virus. Standing two arm lengths apart from others has also proven to be helpful. These are simple measures really. They should be observed until we arrive at the best solution – a vaccine. But that doesn’t appear to be on the horizon until maybe next year. In the meantime, we need to remember another Bible verse, “Do not put the Lord your God to the test” (Matt. 4:7). People who are doing risky behavior at the present time are doing just that, testing God.

In our efforts to continue to worship and praise God on Sunday, we have instituted the recommended restrictions in Church: masks, distance, hand sanitizer, individual cups only, Sharing of the Peace from afar, etc. We are offering outdoor services on the 4th Sundays for those who are afraid to enter the building because they are high risk. We do this because God is our “refuge and fortress.” And we believe that “He will deliver from the deadly pestilence.” But, we also do not want to test God. We believe that life is precious in His sight. And that He loves and keeps us.

In Christ,
Pastor Rose

June 2020

On: By: Rev. G. Michael Rose

“When you send forth your spirit, they are created; and you renew the face of the ground.” Psalm 104:30


Dear Redeemer Family:
The Spirit, created, renewal: all sounds like biblical themes to me. As we enter into the month of June, we do so in the light of the Day of Pentecost (May 31st this year), and with it the gift of the Holy Spirit being poured out upon the Church. We do so knowing that we are created by God, claimed by God through Christ, and renewed by the Holy Spirit in faith and in baptism. The Psalm (104) may be seen as prophetic in that sense. And although we take the created part of granted, people often have trouble with the renewal part. The Holy Spirit is often the most unpredictable Person of the Trinity. It goes where it wills. And the problem with renewal is that it often involves change. People don’t like change. You should know that my favorite David Bowie song is “Changes.” You may listen to it at your leisure. We are now faced with some changes.


The press is calling these “restrictions” caused by the coronavirus the “New Normal.” They are really just changes. Most of them aren’t so bad, just different. We can live with them. In fact, we have to. And, there are a number which apply to Church gatherings as dictated by the CDC, Health Department and the ELCA. Here are some examples. We are allowed to reopen at on quarter seating capacity. So, we have taped off two out of three rows of pews for social distancing. You are invited to come into the building on May 31st after the outdoor service to see the arrangements. Also, thanks to social distancing, we will be celebrating Holy Communion in “continuous” form. Having everyone kneel at the altar rail, six feet apart is a problem. And, we have taped six foot intervals on the carpet of the central aisle to help with the distancing. As per Holy Communion, only the individual cups will be used. The chalice will be there, but only individual cups will be used for the distribution. Everyone entering the church building must wear a mask, and continue to wear it unless they have a speaking part, or to receive Communion. No, I don’t like this one either. But, the mask is to protect our neighbors more than anything else. Originally, singing was out. But, I called the State of Missouri’s Covid 19 Hotline and asked about it. If we are socially distanced and wearing masks, they said singing together is okay. But, handshaking, hugging, etc. is not allowed, except among household members. So, Sharing of the Peace is now to be with a nod or a wave. And, I’m not to shake people’s hands at the door, nor are the ushers. And, now for the one that will really upset some of you: No donuts. Sorry.


There are a few more, which I’ll send out later. But, as we celebrate Christ’s sending of the Holy Spirit, we also have to recognize that the devil sent the coronavirus, probably arriving by bat. The Holy Spirit is the greater gift by far. And, by practicing safety measures, hand washing, sanitizer, etc. We are still enabled to gather together and celebrate the gifts of God. As much as we may not like the New Normal, we can still gather in joy and celebration of the good gifts which we have received from God and be renewed. Stay safe and healthy!

In Christ,
Pastor Rose