From the Pastor

A “Very Present” Help
(Psalm 46)

October is the month of the Protestant Reformation. And what would any commemoration of the Protestant Reformation be without the singing of the hymn, “A Mighty Fortress”? I ask that question because this iconic hymn in our hymn book (LSB 657) is based on Psalm 46, a psalm most widely known for those words of the Lord Almighty to anyone beset by distress to merely “Be still and know that I am God” (46:10). Those are beloved and beautiful words, to be sure! Here’s something else worth contemplating this year as we hear the words of the Psalm: Our God is a “very present help in trouble.”

I don’t know about you, but that’s something I know I need to hear about again this year. Trouble at times seems to be all around. There are the statistics we have all heard proving how random violence directed at people of faith is not as unusual in our country today as it once was. And then there is all the other trouble that never seems to change that much from year to year. Jesus is not someone far away… someone you have to make sure you have on speed dial whenever trouble finds you. He is close at hand. He is, as the Hebrew words behind “very present” literally read, “always findable.” Not only has Jesus proved himself to be One who would bring the world rescue from sin, death, and the Devil during his earthly ministry at just the right time. Now, the Lord God promises never to remove Himself from His people in their distress in the first place! He is always available… always found… in His life-giving Word! As the Psalmist writes, “The Lord Almighty is with us. The God of Jacob is our fortress!”

That is something to give thanks to God for, throughout this month of October! We start the month with our annual “Sleep in Heavenly Peace” bed build on October 4. “No kid sleeps on the floor in our town,” is the motto of this worthy organization which RLC is proud to partner with again this year. Then, the second weekend of October will mark our annual quilt dedication, sponsored by the RLC Quilters’ group (The Piecemakers) for Lutheran World Relief. As in past years, the variety of quilts produced by The Piecemakers will decorate the sanctuary and Family Life Center during our all of our worship services (October 11–12) before being collected and shipped to one of the LWR staging centers for use worldwide. The third weekend of October is our annual joint worship service in Ritter Park with the Ethiopian Evangelical Lutheran Church Mekane Yesus. Come out and enjoy the beautiful outdoors as we listen to Resurrection Lutheran School children’s choir and sample authentic Ethiopian cuisine (together with American hot dogs!) once the service is over! That celebration begins at 11 AM in Ritter Park. And then we finish up the month with our annual Reformation weekend worship services and Fall Festival (Trunk-or-Treat) in the RLC parking lot on October 26.

Jesus is our “very-present help”… and so we are there to offer up our help and service to others, too. I can’t think of a better way to welcome this beautiful season of autumn. I can’t think of a better way to celebrate the Reformation again this year. Can you?

Love in Christ,
Pastor Jonathan