Lutheran Church

Of Our Redeemer

OUR STAFF

Pastor~David G. Shaffer

 Email: pastor.dave@lcor.net

From the Pastor’s Pen...  

How often have you come to a particular place expecting to find someone there, only to be told, “Sorry, you just missed him.”

On Easter morning when the women came to the tomb expecting to find the body of Jesus, they were essentially told by the angel, “You just missed him.”   At first, the women were perplexed; they did not know what to think.  But as the angel continued to talk to them, they eventually came to understand that Jesus’ absence meant something much more than they could have ever hoped for.  They had hoped to find his lifeless body and to tend to its final and proper burial.  And even if that seemed so “little,” it was certainly the most they could expect.  After all, what more could a tomb ever give than a body that is lifeless and dead.  And what more could these women ever do for a hastily buried body than just apply a few ointments and perfumes.  However, by the time they left the tomb, they began to envision possibilities that were beyond comprehension and belief.

When we come to the tombs that life places in our way, we come with certain expectations … or lack of expectations.  We expect emptiness … hours of being alone … an uncertain future … struggle … sorrow … or just more of the same.   But Easter changes all of that.  Easter gives us hope.  Easter is the possibility that there will be a morning – a morning when we come to the tomb bearing spices and ointments to once again  “celebrate” death … but instead we get surprised with resurrection and new life!  We come expecting to anoint our sorrow, expecting to celebrate our emptiness.  But suddenly we realize that it is time to stop honoring death, old hurts and pain; it is time to open our eyes to new people, new places, new vocations, new goals, new possibilities in old and damaged relationships.  “He is Risen!”  Why do we seek the living among what is dead?  We are a people of Easter.  We are a people of resurrection.  New life is waiting for us.  As children of God, we dare not be afraid to reach out and embrace what is new!

He is Risen!

Pastor Dave

Choir Director/Organist~ Kathryn Young

Church Secretary~Judi Bailey

          Email: 4jb@lcor.net

Church Sexton~Clifford Rice

Parish Planning Council

President                                        Victor Claar

Vice President                               Gerrit Smith

Treasurer                                       Hugh Buchanan

Secretary                                        Martina Smith

Board of Worship                          Dan Pulskamp

Board of Christian Education      Angie Teutsch

Board of Evangelism                     Dan Nerdig

Board of Stewardship                  

Board of Church Property           Jim Habermehl

Board of Social Ministry            Ginger Moyer