Interim Pastor
The Rev. Murray D. Finck
Bishop Emeritus; Interim Pastor
March 2024
Message from the Pastor:
Dear Members and Friends of Redeemer and St. Theodore of Canterbury,
I don't remember who said it or where I might have read it, but in my childhood I either heard or read that the reason March winds blew strong like a roaring lion was nature’s way of removing old bird nests that had been built in the treetops the year before. Thus, the birds would need again to busily weave new nests of sticks, string, and straw. As they skillfully crafted their new homes, they would sing their little hearts out, and the air was filled with joyous chirping and cheeping, truly nature’s choir bringing joy-filled melodies to the outdoor temples and cathedrals of trees.
There are many quotes about the month of March being a time of new beginnings, new life, hope, and re-creation. It promises the same for us.
This month of March 2024 for the Redeemer/St. Theodore of Canterbury community will be like those birds in the trees--a month filled with many opportunities, perhaps the busiest month of this year.
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Sunday Morning Worship. There will be five Sunday mornings to worship, and one is Palm Sunday, and another is the Day of Resurrection, Easter Sunday. (And please remember on March 10th to reset your clocks the night before as we lose that hour moving back to Daylight Savings Time.)
Sunday Morning Worship. There will be five Sunday mornings to worship, and one is Palm Sunday, and another is the Day of Resurrection, Easter Sunday. (And please remember on March 10th to reset your clocks the night before as we lose that hour moving back to Daylight Savings Time.)•Pastor David Anderson, the United Methodist pastor who has been worshipping with us, will be our preacher on March 17, (which is also St. Patrick’s Day.) Thank you, Pastor Anderson.
Pastor David Anderson, the United Methodist pastor who has been worshipping with us, will be our preacher on March 17, (which is also St. Patrick’s Day.) Thank you, Pastor Anderson.•Palm Sunday, the Sunday of the Passion is March 24th, during which we will receive new members and give existing members an opportunity to re-affirm their baptismal covenants.
Palm Sunday, the Sunday of the Passion is March 24th, during which we will receive new members and give existing members an opportunity to re-affirm their baptismal covenants.•Easter Sunday, one of the church’s highest and holiest days of celebration and praise as we break forth again our glad “alleluias.”
Easter Sunday, one of the church’s highest and holiest days of celebration and praise as we break forth again our glad “alleluias.”• Theology Classes. There will be three more Lutheran/Episcopalian theology classes on Wednesdays (March 6, 13, 20) meeting in the sanctuary at 3:00 p.m.
Theology Classes. There will be three more Lutheran/Episcopalian theology classes on Wednesdays (March 6, 13, 20) meeting in the sanctuary at 3:00 p.m.•Lenten Study, Song, and Soup. On those same three Wednesdays at 4:00 p.m., we will continue to gather in the Fellowship Hall downstairs for our study of the Passion Narratives as recorded by the four Evangelists, Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. Then we will sing and enjoy soup suppers together, continuing our conversations and fellowship.
Lenten Study, Song, and Soup. On those same three Wednesdays at 4:00 p.m., we will continue to gather in the Fellowship Hall downstairs for our study of the Passion Narratives as recorded by the four Evangelists, Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. Then we will sing and enjoy soup suppers together, continuing our conversations and fellowship.•Maundy Thursday. On March 28, we will gather at 10:30 a.m. for a special Maundy Thursday worship service, remembering the day Jesus gathered with his disciples for the Passover meal “on the night in which he was betrayed.” It is the day Jesus first gave his followers the Lord’s Supper.
Maundy Thursday. On March 28, we will gather at 10:30 a.m. for a special Maundy Thursday worship service, remembering the day Jesus gathered with his disciples for the Passover meal “on the night in which he was betrayed.” It is the day Jesus first gave his followers the Lord’s Supper.•Good Friday. We will be participating with other community churches for a Good Friday observance beginning at 12:00 p.m. through 3:00 p.m. hearing reflections from local church leaders and clergy, including brief homilies on the Seven Words of Jesus spoken from the cross. More details are forthcoming. People are welcome to come and go as you are able during the three-hour service.
Good Friday. We will be participating with other community churches for a Good Friday observance beginning at 12:00 p.m. through 3:00 p.m. hearing reflections from local church leaders and clergy, including brief homilies on the Seven Words of Jesus spoken from the cross. More details are forthcoming. People are welcome to come and go as you are able during the three-hour service. On my calendar that is no fewer than 13 different reasons and opportunities to gather as the people of God... a very full month giving us wonderful opportunities to worship our Lord who sacrificially gave his life for us and the world that God so dearly and deeply loves. It also offers us many times to be together with friends and fellow believers. Like the birds in the treetops, weaving their nests, we will have or opportunities to nurture our relationships with God and one another. And we will have many opportunities to sing joyful melodies of praise to our good and gracious God.
Please join us. Invite a neighbor or friend to come with you. May your March be filled with hope!
To God alone be the glory,
The Reverend Murray D. Finck
Bishop Emeritus and Interim Pastor
April 2024
Message from the Pastor:
Dear Members and Friends of Redeemer and St. Theodore of Canterbury,
Looking Ahead – Sunday Worship and
Midweek Bible Studies
As the Weeks of Easter unfold for the next seven weeks, our over-arching theme on Sunday mornings will be “Living the Resurrection.” Hearing about the resurrection is the work of ears and minds. Believing in the resurrection is the work of our hearts. Living the resurrection is the work of body, soul, heart, and mind as we give witness to the greatest gift God has given us. Our Sunday’s in April will
April 7 – We will be with the disciples and Thomas as they struggle to believe that the one who was crucified and buried was now alive and in their midst.
April 14 – After his resurrection and before his ascension into heaven, Jesus opened the hearts and minds of his disciples to better comprehend the promises of God. He continues to do the same for us.
April 21 – Jesus said, “I am the good shepherd who is willing to lay down my life for my sheep.” On that Sunday we will gather as the flock in need of our beloved and dedicated shepherd.
April 28 – The story of Philip is about a disciple who was able to witness to a traveling Ethiopian. We hear Jesus tell of our life-giving interconnectedness--he is the vine and we are the branches.
Midweek Bible Study reconvenes on Wednesdays at 12:00 noon. Since we did not quite finish our classes before Easter on Wednesday afternoons, we are going to pick up where we left off and finish the conversations we had about our Lutheran and Episcopalian beliefs, practices, and understandings. The time has been moved to 12:00 noon. We will decide a few “housekeeping” matters about future meetings and determine the studies we will undertake as we gather again on Wednesday, April 3rd in the sanctuary. Please bring your Bibles and come with some ideas about the kind of study you would enjoy after we finish the one we are completing now.
Looking Back
Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! So many people took on many different important roles during our Lenten and Holy Week gatherings. We are thankful for the music and the hands that played at the keyboards and the voices that filled our sanctuary with praise and thanksgiving. We are thankful to those who week after week attend to the altar, set up the Holy Communion, and then clean up and put everything away afterwards. We are thankful for altar assistance, readers, ushers, greeters including those distributing the bulletins, gathering the offering, and having everything ready to go each Sunday morning. We thank those who stay behind at the end of a Sunday morning to count the offering and get it to the bank. We are grateful for those who help us to sign up and participate and take responsibilities for many different aspects of our church life together. This past month we were very grateful for soup makers, bread bakers, and those who brought desserts for our Lenten gatherings, and week after week those who provide for our Sunday morning fellowship time enhance that time with their skills in the kitchen. We are thankful for flowers and decorations both inside and out. The artwork is amazing and speaks in a language of its own about the stories of faith that are bringing us together as the people of God. The Church Council conducts the business of the church on behalf of us all. Know you are calling each other, checking-in with each other, caring for one another, and making sure the connections between our members and friends is very strong. We appreciate every participant, everyone who comes and is involved. We give thanks for as your support of this congregation’s ministry as you attend, as you pray, as you give financially, as your offer your talents and resources. Thank you!
As you join us week after week, invite a neighbor or friend to come with you. May your April be filled with joy!
To God alone be the glory,
The Reverend Murray D. Finck
Bishop Emeritus and Interim Pastor
May 2024
Message from the Pastor:
Dear Members and Friends of Redeemer and St. Theodore of Canterbury,
The Month of May Offers a Rich Variety of Worshipping Opportunities -- The four Sundays in May offer us a wide range of themes and inspirations, along with three major Christian observances* in the liturgical calendar. Here is an overview.
MAY 5The Sixth Sunday of Easter
The Sixth Sunday of Easter(White)The story of the first days of the Christian Church continues to be told in the Scripture reading as the disciples take the message of Jesus and the Gospel of God’s love to both the Jewish people and the Gentiles in and around Jerusalem.
The story of the first days of the Christian Church continues to be told in the Scripture reading as the disciples take the message of Jesus and the Gospel of God’s love to both the Jewish people and the Gentiles in and around Jerusalem.MAY 12*Ascension Sunday
*Ascension Sunday(White)The day of the Ascension of Jesus to heaven occurred 40 days (on a Thursday) after his Resurrection from the tomb. This year, Ascension Day is May 9th. It is one of the major observances in the Christian calendar. We will focus on that important event in Jesus’ life and ministry on the following Sunday, May 12th. Matthew tells us of Jesus’ “Great Commission” before his ascension in Matt. 28:16-20. Mark’s Gospel has (in some Bibles) 12 additional verses at the end of chapter 16. Verse 19 tells of the Ascension. Luke tells the story twice, in Luke 24:50-53 and in Acts 1:1-11.
The day of the Ascension of Jesus to heaven occurred 40 days (on a Thursday) after his Resurrection from the tomb. This year, Ascension Day is May 9th. It is one of the major observances in the Christian calendar. We will focus on that important event in Jesus’ life and ministry on the following Sunday, May 12th. Matthew tells us of Jesus’ “Great Commission” before his ascension in Matt. 28:16-20. Mark’s Gospel has (in some Bibles) 12 additional verses at the end of chapter 16. Verse 19 tells of the Ascension. Luke tells the story twice, in Luke 24:50-53 and in Acts 1:1-11.MAY 19*Pentecost Sunday
*Pentecost Sunday(Red)The Day of Pentecost is 50 days after the Resurrection of Jesus. “Pentecost” is a word that refers to “fiftieth” (50th). People of the Jewish faith observed a Festival of Weeks fifty days after Passover, so they gathered in great numbers for this observance. It was during this first Pentecost Festival of Weeks after Jesus’ Resurrection and Ascension, that the promised Holy Spirit of God came upon the disciples. We read about it in Acts 2. Pentecost is called “the Birthday of the Christian Church.” We will hear about the thousands who heard the Gospel that day and believed, and how 3000 of those believers were then baptized. We will have a baptism that day also at Redeemer/St. Theodore.
The Day of Pentecost is 50 days after the Resurrection of Jesus. “Pentecost” is a word that refers to “fiftieth” (50th). People of the Jewish faith observed a Festival of Weeks fifty days after Passover, so they gathered in great numbers for this observance. It was during this first Pentecost Festival of Weeks after Jesus’ Resurrection and Ascension, that the promised Holy Spirit of God came upon the disciples. We read about it in Acts 2. Pentecost is called “the Birthday of the Christian Church.” We will hear about the thousands who heard the Gospel that day and believed, and how 3000 of those believers were then baptized. We will have a baptism that day also at Redeemer/St. Theodore.MAY 26*Sunday of the Holy Trinity
*Sunday of the Holy Trinity(White)The first Sunday following Pentecost Sunday is always designated by the Christian Church as a day to focus on the teaching and doctrine of the Holy Trinity and the mystery of our one Lord God being revealed to us in three distinct personages as Creator Father; as Redeemer, the Son of God; and as Giver of Faith, the Holy Spirit.
The first Sunday following Pentecost Sunday is always designated by the Christian Church as a day to focus on the teaching and doctrine of the Holy Trinity and the mystery of our one Lord God being revealed to us in three distinct personages as Creator Father; as Redeemer, the Son of God; and as Giver of Faith, the Holy Spirit.Reminder -- Pastor Scott Fielder will be the Guest Pastor presiding over the worship and preaching on May 5th. Thank you, Pastor Scott! I will be back from this “last-minute” unplanned trip to Nebraska on May 8th, rejoining the congregation on May 12th and May 19th for Ascension and Pentecost Sundays. Pastor Steve Beckham will return again as the Guest Pastor on May 26th for the Sunday of the Holy Trinity. Thank you again, Pastor Steve!
Wednesday 12:00 Noontime Bible Study on the Miracles of Jesus -- The class will resume again after a few weeks of hiatus. On May 15, we will study Chapter 2, Stilling the Storm - Mark 4:35-41. On May 22, we will discuss Chapter 3, Casting Out the Demons – Mark 5:1-20. Pastor David Andersen will lead the class on May 29 as the group studies Chapter 4, Feeding the 5000 – John 6:1-15.
I have been thinking and praying (a lot) about the Holy Land. The conflict there has become a worldwide tragedy. I am thinking we may wish to talk about it, and pray together about it, and continue to cry out for peace.
I have been to the Middle East quite a few times over the years, having served on an ELCA team that championed peaceful resolutions for the ongoing tensions in the Middle East. For a number of years, I chaired that team. I traveled to Palestine, Israel, and Jordan several times with our ELCA Presiding Bishop and other times with colleagues from the ELCA Conference of Bishops. I was privileged to go there with a US Congresswoman, and on that journey we meet with ambassadors, top leaders of both the Israeli government and with the Palestinian Liberation Organization in the West Bank, the Jewish mayor of Jerusalem and the Palestinian mayor of Bethlehem. The Bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in the Holy Land and Jordan and I became good friends, and I have been an advocate for the ongoing support of Augusta Victoria Hospital, sitting on the top of the Mount of Olives, which is operated by the Lutheran World Federation. I have been thinking that with all the news about the latest tragedies in the Holy Land since October 7, 2023 and how it has spilled over into the rest of world, including on our university campuses here in the US, that perhaps we, as a people of faith, should set aside some time and talk together about all that is happening around this most challenging time in world history. Perhaps one day in May we could sit together for a couple hours to better understand the background, the past and the present, and the issues that have led up to this devastating time in the lands that are so important for three of the world’s major religious groups. And then we could pray together for a lasting peace.
Again…Thank you! Thank you for remembering my birthday and the others of us who observed our annual milestones in April. It was wonderful as you celebrated with Sharon and me on April 14 after the service. You warmed my heart! Thank you and God bless you!
As you are able to join us for worship, please invite a neighbor or friend to come with you. I pray your May will be filled with joy!
To God alone be the glory,
The Rev. Murray D. Finck
Bishop Emeritus and Interim Pastor
June 2024
Message from the Pastor:
As I write this article for the June Newsletter, it is Memorial Day, a day we honor those who gave their lives in service of this country, those protecting the freedoms of the citizens of the United States and others around the world, and allowing us to live in this democracy. One of my uncles, my father's younger brother, is the first person that comes to my mind on this day. He fought in Europe during World War II. When the Korean War begin, he reenlisted and served as a pilot in the Army Air Corps. His name was Roy. He was my godfather. He died when his plane went down in 1951. I imagine many of you reading this page, also have stories to tell about family members, friends, and others that you may have known who made the sacrifice that we are remembering especially during the Memorial Day weekend.
We put our flag out this morning. We will put it out again on June 14th, Flag Day and leave it out through June 19th, Juneteenth, our newest Federal holiday. We will, of course, fly it again to celebrate the 4th of July. Between the third Saturday in May, Armed Forces Day and the 4th of July, U.S. citizens have a number of significant days and holidays reminding us that many people made huge sacrifices, lived in precarious situations, and all too often paid the ultimate sacrifice.
We Christians, of course, remember day after day, and we observe every Sunday the core teaching of our faith, namely that God so loved humanity that God gave God’s beloved Son for the sake of the world. Jesus, the very Son of God, willingly gave up his life to free us from the sin and brokenness that would have otherwise eternally separated us from our Creator God. We say in our creeds that he was “crucified, died, and was buried” paying the ultimate sacrifice. We are able to continue the story and tell the Good News that “on the third day he rose again,” promising resurrection for all the people he redeemed.
In December, at Christmas time, we celebrated Jesus’ birth. In January we remembered his baptism. In February we began to retrace his steps toward Jerusalem as he journeyed toward the cross. In March we especially remembered his sacrificial death and resurrection. During every Sunday in April, we were encouraged to “live as a people of the resurrection,” clinging to the promise that we too will be raised by him on the last day. In May the Holy Scriptures we read told us of Jesus’ Ascension into heaven and then the outpouring of the Holy Spirit on Pentecost. On the last Sunday of this past month, we also lifted up the mystery of our Triune God. We Lutheran and Episcopal Christians have had a busy first half of the liturgical calendar which we follow along with many other Christian denominations.
Now beginning in June, during what is known as the Pentecost Season, we will begin to follow Jesus through his three years of public ministry. We will hear his preaching and his teaching. We will read about the signs and wonders and miracles that he performed as he cared for the people who gathered around him. When they were sick, he healed them. When they were hungry, he fed them. When they were in danger, he protected them. Because it was important that the people understand that the Kingdom of God was and is at hand, he became their rabbi and taught them and showed them the way. Now for the next six months, we will walk with Jesus through Galilee and Judea, and witness how he touched the lives of so many people because he loved and cared for them then, and for us now.
In the days ahead for these next two months, the Christian calendar will remind us of the way that God gave us God's heart, God's love, God's life. Our national calendar will also remind us during these next weeks, of the sacrifices so many made which allow us to live freely, worship freely, remember often, and give thanks as we are a people blessed by God; and as we are citizens of this land who enjoy our freedoms because of those who have gone before us and paid dear prices on our behalf. We have much for which to be thankful!
God bless and keep you these days of June,
+Murray D. Finck
The Rev. Murray D. Finck, Interim Pastor, Bishop Emeritus
July 2024
Message from the Pastor
Sabbath = Taking A Break
Jesus said, “The sabbath was made for humankind, and humankind for the sabbath; so the Son of Man is lord even of the sabbath.” Mark 2:27
The word “sabbath” is defined most accurately as “a day or a time of rest.” Some might say, “taking a break” from the daily routines. The word found its way into our language from the Hebrew word, “Shabbath” meaning “rest.” Shabbath appears with some frequency in the Old Testament. The New Testament writers, writing in the Greek language of that day, used the word “Sabbaton,” from which we get the word “sabbatical.” Both words in the Old and New Testaments refer to a “time set apart for rest” and in both cases the word took on the added meaning of “a time set apart for worship.”
In the first few pages of the Book of Genesis we are told that after God created everything that exists, then God rested on the seventh day, blessing that day of rest and making it holy (Genesis 2:2-3). In the Book of Exodus when God gave Moses the Ten Commandments on Mount Sanai, we know the Third Commandment carved in those stone tablets said “Remember the Sabbath Day and keep it holy. (Exodus 20:8-11) “Holy” is biblical word that means “set apart.”) In giving the commandments, we are told God’s people were take a rest from their labor and God consecrated the holy day. It was in the mind and heart of God that we take one day each week and allow that day to be a holy time of worship and thanksgiving, and also a time of rest, relaxation, refreshment and renewal. The biblical writers tell us that God set the pace for us, carrying out sabbath rest from the very beginning of the creation of the universe. After all was set in motion, God took time to rest. (Genesis 2:2)
It is interesting that the three Abrahamic faiths each lift up the importance of sabbath time. Each of them worships on a different day of the weekend as they fulfill their Sabbath obligations and opportunities. Most Christians, of course, observe the Sabbath on the first day of the week, Sunday. The Jewish faith observes Saturday as their Sabbath. Islam sets Friday aside as their Holy Sabbath to worship and pray. Many of the other world religions have a day or a time of day for rest, reflection, and prayer.
Week after week, I see many of you, the members and friends of Redeemer Lutheran and St. Theodore of Canterbury Episcopal, “remembering the Sabbath day and keeping it holy.” It is wonderful to see how consistent so many are as you set the Sunday morning aside to gather to pray, praise, and give thanks to God, to listen to the Word of the Lord, and to share in Christ’s Holy Meal. God loves us so much that God even gave us a commandment telling us “to take a break,” to rest, and to have a holy day. God was also caring for our well-being, so God asked us to set time aside to rest from the busyness of our day-to-day living. God wants us to routinely nurture our faith, our bodies, and our lives by leaving behind all the other never-ending demands for our time and energy to be renewed… to rest… to be refreshed… to worship… to take a break… to meet God face to face in Word and Sacrament.
It has been a joy watching this congregation truly honor the Sabbath Day and listening to the voice of God. Oftentimes congregations noticed that a significant number of the membership “disappears” for the summer. People have for some reason decided to “take a break from their weekly spiritual disciplines.” That is not a correct understanding of “Sabbath.” Many congregations report that worship attendance and giving often declines somewhat significantly during the summer weeks. So far, as we are moving into the summer weeks, we are seeing the participation at Redeemer and St. Theodore of Canterbury remain steady and faithful. What a wonderful witness that is one to another. It speaks volumes to first-time visitors, who come and find the church filled with people heeding the call of God and gathering in God’s Holy Name. I hope that pattern continues for you and for the congregation throughout these summer days and weeks.
May we continue to be a people who are thankful each week for the gift that God gives us to rest and worship… a time every seven days to be especially renewed by the presence of God, by the promises of Jesus and his compassionate love, by the ongoing outpouring of the Holy Spirit, and by Christian community one with another.
I look forward to seeing you in the summertime Sabbaths. God’s grace and peace be with you.
+Murray D. Finck
The Rev. Murray D. Finck, Interim Pastor, Bishop Emeritus
August 2024
Message from the Pastor:
“And Jesus came and said to them, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age." Matthew 28:18-20
According to Saint Matthew, this is the last word Jesus spoke before he ascended into heaven 40 days after his resurrection. It is often called the Great Commission as Jesus was now sending his followers out into the world with five final instructions...
Go therefore
Make disciples throughout all the nations of the world
Baptize them in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit
Teach them to follow what I have taught you
Remember I am with you wherever you go until the end of time
For 2000 years, the Christian Church has endeavored to follow Jesus’ commission in a variety of ways. This month's I wish to write about the ways that the Christian Church has addressed the command to “make disciples.” Disciples are those who believe in Christ’s saving grace, and share it with others, making them disciples, thus spreading the Good News to more and more. Not everyone who is part of Christ’s Church is necessarily a disciple. We define those who follow Jesus and become part of his church in a variety of ways. Some are definitely modern day “disciples.” Many of the people connected with Christ’s Church are referred to in other ways, i.e., the “faithful,” or “believers.” Some congregations, especially those who are governed by the clergy and a board of directors refer to their people as “partners in ministry.” Roman Catholics and Episcopalians often call their people “parishioners.” Many denominations call them “congregants.” Lutherans tend to refer to them as members and they often divide that category into several subdivisions. One is the “baptized members,” made up of all those on the roster of the congregation who have been baptized. They also sometimes refer to some of their people as “confirmed members,” meaning those who have affirmed their membership as young and older adults by affirmation of faith. Some congregations have yet another sub-category of “voting members,” indicating who it is that may hold an office in the leadership of the congregation and those who are eligible to vote in congregational meetings. There is also the category of “associate members,” namely those who regularly participate and attend but have not formally joined the official membership of the congregation. Finally, some congregations also include a list of “congregational friends” who are connected in a variety of ways with the congregation and may or may not be regularly involved in weekly activities, participation, and support. Normally, the constitutions of a congregation will clearly define what it means to be a member or parishioner, who is able to vote and hold an office in the church, and how decisions are made. Episcopal congregations are typically governed by the Vestry, a group of elected lay members who work alongside rector (the priest or pastor in charge of the congregation). In the Lutheran Church, they highest governing authority is the baptized voting membership who meets periodically in Voters’ Assemblies to make the needed and necessary decisions for the congregation. They normally elect the members of the Congregational Council which typically meet once a month to carry on the day-to-day ministry of the congregation throughout the year.
We always invite people to consider becoming a member of the congregation. In so doing, these people are pledging themselves to regularly participate, commune frequently, support the congregation as they are able with volunteer service and financially as well, hold office if nominated and elected, and vote in congregational meetings which approve annual budgets, elect officers and board members, and make major decisions on behalf of the faith community.
We give thanks for all of the people involved in the life of Redeemer Lutheran and St. Theodore of Canterbury Episcopal churches. We truly believe that making disciples, baptizing, and teaching is our primary calling, as commissioned by our Lord Jesus Christ. At the same time, however, if anyone reading this article wishes to inquire about or pursue membership in the congregation, please speak with me or one of the Congregational Council members listed below.
I give thanks for all of you… friends, occasional guests and visitors, associate members, members, and parishioners of Redeemer and St. Theodore of Canterbury.
May God continue to bless your summer weeks and your health,
+ Pastor Murray D. Finck
The Rev Murray D. Finck, Bishop Emeritus
Church Council: Kay Pushman, Wendy Alfageme, Nancy Anderson, Phyllis Mackey, Doris Weinert, Sandy Langdale, Carmen Leslie, Betty Lucero, Sylvia Makus, Michael Vanvales
Message from the Pastor:
September 2024
A Month with Moses and James
September 2024 will be an important month for our ministry at Redeemer and Saint Theodore of Canterbury. I am grateful for the many details provided in this newsletter by our parish secretary, Margo Geesing, and congregational president, Kay Pushman. I also want to highlight the New Member Reception on September 29th as several people will be joining the official membership of our community of faith. We give thanks for all who participate--members, associate members, friends, and an increasing number of visitors and guests. We are thankful for every person and for your presence at Sunday Morning Worship, the Wednesday Midweek Bible Study, and any and all other events happening at this congregation.
I wish to highlight what will be happening in September at two of our weekly gatherings, namely our Sunday Morning Worship and our Wednesday Midweek Bible Study. During these next September weeks, we will be spending some very intentional and concentrated time with Moses and with James. Let me explain…
First, a word about Sunday worship at 10:30 a.m. The appointed readings for the five Sundays in September during this waning Season of Pentecost include readings from the New Testament book of James on each of those five Sundays. Many (but not all) biblical scholars believe that the author of this book was James, the son of Mary and Joseph, thus the half-brother of Jesus. He was a very significant figure in the early Christian Church in Jerusalem. The author of this short book wrote an epistle to the Early Christian Church offering them very specific guidelines for living within this emerging faith community. This particular letter to the Church has some very unique characteristics and teachings. I will be focusing the five Sunday morning sermons in September primarily on this book of the Bible. By the 29th of September, we will hopefully all have a better understanding of this New Testament writing, its author, and its message to the Christian community.
Secondly, during our Midweek Wednesday Bible Study (12:00 to 1:15 PM), starting on September 4th we will begin a new study entitled “The Decalogue--The Ten Commandments.” We will be looking at each of those commandments to better understanding what our Lord God was giving to God's people during their journey to the Promised Land, but, at the same time, during these next weeks we will also explore the ministry of Moses as the leader of the Israelites at the time they were freed of their 430 years of captivity in Egypt. The giving of the 10 commandments is recorded in Exodus 20 and again in Deuteronomy 6. Our study of the Ten Commandments will include an overview of the entire 40-chapter book of Exodus, telling the whole story, the history, and the context of the time when God chose to give these commandments to God's people. We will also discuss and deliberate on modern, 21st century applications for these 10 directives, which were written in stone, and given to the people of God.
Any and all are always welcome to our worship services and Bible studies. Please join us as you are able to spend time in September with Moses and James, and with other people of faith and those inquiring, and mostly with our Lord God and God's Holy Word.
Continually grateful for this ministry here within the Leisure World community,
+ Pastor Murray D. Finck
The Rev Murray D. Finck, Bishop Emeritus
Message from the Pastor:
October 2024
A Gift for Those We Leave Behind
I want to write about something we may not always want to address, but it is important that we consider at this time in our lives. One of the best gifts we may leave with our families and all those whose lives go on after we breath our last and final earthly breaths is a document that indicates our preferences for the service or services that will happen as memorials and thanksgivings for our life and faith. There are a variety of important and helpful documents that will help our family members and our survivors before and after we die. Among those are a will or trust, documents indicating the medical and/or physicians’ treatment we may or may not want (POLST or MOLST), perhaps a DNR (Do Not Resuscitate), documents about arrangements with mortuaries and cemeteries, and a copy of a form that can be included in your membership file here at the church indicating some of the important details about your preferences for the memorial/funeral/graveside services.
In the past two months, we bid farewell to Jerry Brady and Pastor Gil Moore. I also was asked to lead a third funeral and graveside service for the parent of someone with whom I worked some years ago. In Jerry’s file at the church, we found a page with some of his wishes upon his death. Pastor Gil’s family clearly knew what he and they wanted. Planning those service with the families went very well and we knew the services would be what their loved one had wanted. In the third situation over which I officiated, there was nothing to go by—no predetermined or chosen hymns, no selected passages of scriptures, no indications of special music or people they wanted to be involved in the services. That family was at a loss. I had no idea what that person may have wanted. We did the best we could and used some of the most well-known hymns and scriptures, but I wondered what really were the most meaningful elements of the services to the person we were memorializing.
We are editing an “End of Life” form and some resources that will be available this month, asking if you have not already done so, that you, (Perhaps along with other family members) might consider filling out and giving a copy to us in the church office. You will have the opportunity to list the hymns you hope the congregation might sing, the scriptures you would like them to hear, and other specifics that will help your family and others and us at the church to best honor your final wishes and make the service(s) a personal witness of your life and faith.
Please accept the form as it become available. Please consider filling it out and returning a copy to us at the church. Please talk it over with family (and perhaps friends) and give them and us some details that will help us to prepare wonderful and meaningful worship and graveside services I assure you; it will be a gift to those we leave behind as we go to rest in the mercies of God.
Thank you in advance for considering taking this important step.
God’s peace and love be ever with you.
+Pastor Murray D. Finck
The Rev Murray D. Finck, Bishop Emeritus
Message from the Interim Pastor
November 2024
“O give thanks unto the Lord, for God is good. The Lord’s mercy endures forever”
Psalm 136:1
Reviewing the November calendar for Redeemer and St. Theodore of Canterbury, it looks as if we are being invited to a great potluck or smorgasbord--a feast of possibilities and gatherings is being spread out before us in this month where the time changes and so many other offerings are being placed before us. We have opportunities to worship, to fellowship, to study, to carry on the congregation’s ministry and mission, to fund raise, to remember, and to give thanks. Our spiritual and social time together is like a great Fall banquet with course upon course being set before us.
We begin the month gathering to worship on the high festival day of All Saints Sunday. We will remember those who have gone before us in the faith, and we will give thanks for the saints among us who bless our day to day living within the Body of Christ. On the second Sunday of November, the Holy Scriptures will reintroduce us to two most amazing, yet un-named women, whose lives of faith and generosity have made them renown in the pages of holy history. That weekend we will also give thanks for the Veterans who served our nation and defended our precious democracy. The last two Sundays of November remind us that Jesus has promised to return again, and we are encouraged to always be ready and filled with both thanksgiving and expectation. Pastor Brad Stienstra will lead worship again on the last Sunday of the month, the day called “Christ the King Sunday.” It is the last day in the Christian Church calendar.
In between these main courses that feed our hearts and souls, our abundantly filled tables will offer us an opportunity to meet on November 10th after worship for a brief congregational meeting as we make decisions how best to be Christ’s Church in the year ahead. The following week, everyone is invited to the Holiday Bazaar (Nov. 14-15) in the Fellowship Hall as tables, overflowing with many treasured items, will be perused by those looking for that “special something.”
During this month, the Wednesday Bible Study will continue its conversation and learning about the Ten Commandments. We meet each week in the Fellowship Hall at 12:00 noon for 75-90 minutes. At the end of November, the national holiday of Thanksgiving on November 28th gives us special opportunities to be filled with gratitude (and perhaps we will gather with family and/or friends, and may even watch a parade or a football game.)
It promises to be a wonderful month. Leaves are changing their colors and dropping to the ground. The temperature is cooling. We set our clocks back one hour on November 3rd and get the gift of an extra hour of rest. The daylight grows shorter, and the night are longer. In the midst of all the changes and with such a feast of activities and possibilities before, we are assured that our Lord God walks with us, caring for each of us, forgiving us, loving us, watching over us, saving us, and giving us great reason and opportunities to give thanks. God bless and keep you this month of November 2024!
+Pastor Murray D. Finck
The Rev Murray D. Finck, Bishop Emeritus
Message from the Interim Pastor
December 2024
“Light!”
The first page of the Bible begins with these four verses…
In the beginning when God created the heaven and the earth, the earth was a formless void and darkness covered the face of the deep, while a wind from God swept over the face of the waters. Then God said, “Let there be light!” and there was light, and God saw that the light was good. Genesis 1:1-4
“Let there be light!” are the first words of God as recorded in Genesis, and so with this divine mandate, the universe, including our tiny planet, began. And the story of “light” continued down through the ages.
The Gospel of John, telling the story of Jesus from the vantage point of one of his closest disciples, begins with these four verses…
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came into being through him, and without him not one thing came into being. What has come into being in him was life, and the life was the light of all people. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it. John 1:1-4
There is a wonderful connection between the story of God’s creation and the story of Jesus’ incarnation… Light exploded into the darkness and chaos as God chose to fling and bring our universe into motion and magnificence. Divine Light, coming (adventing) in human form, entered a world that has been clouded, shadowed, and darken by the imperfection and brokenness of humanity, giving our world and each of us the hope and promise of new and renewed life.
“Let There Be Light!” will be the theme of our Advent and Christmas days during the month of December as we gather on Sunday mornings and also on Wednesday afternoons on December 11th and 18th at 3:00 p.m. On Christmas Eve, December 24th, we will celebrate the Nativity of our Lord Jesus at 10:30 a.m. in our sanctuary. During this season, we will give thanks for the many ways God shines forth in brilliant love and compassion, and we will meditate on the ways the light of God has opened our eyes, touched our hearts, and given us courage and faith throughout our lives.
I hope and pray that everyone reading this page will again be showered with the Light of God in these coming days as we celebrate the gifts and outpouring love of God! All are always welcome at Redeemer Lutheran and St. Theodore of Canterbury Episcopal Church!
Let there be light!
+Pastor Murray D. Finck
The Rev Murray D. Finck, Bishop Emeritus
Message from the Interim Pastor:
January 2025
“Behold, I Make All Things New”
Dear Members and Friends of Redeemer and St. Theodore of Canterbury,
Happy New Year. May the promises of God who promises to always be with us give us hope and faith as we enter the New Year.
The Church Calendar in January brings us the Season of Epiphany, that time as the Christian Church reflects on the early days of Jesus’ ministry. The Epiphany Season will last through the next two months, as it leads us to Ash Wednesday on March 5th, the beginning of Lent. Our primary focus on Sunday mornings these next weeks will be the stories told in the Gospel of Luke about the first days and months of the ministry of Christ Jesus.
The New Year will offer us the following:
The Wednesday Bible Study at 12:00 p.m. in the Fellowship Hall will begin again on January 8th. For three weeks we will finish our study of the Ten Commandments and then begin a new study, yet to be decided. All are always welcome. Please invite a friend or neighbor to these 75-minute times of study, learning, prayer, and conversation.
2025 Commitments. As written about some weeks ago, in January anyone who wishes to make their stewardship commitment will have an opportunity to fill out a pledge card for 2025, seal it in an envelope, and place it in a box on the altar. Pledges are between God and the person making the commitment. There are no expectations for this. Each person may or may not choose to make this pledge for the New Year.
End of Life Preferences. We also wrote previously that after the New Year we would hold three one-hour gatherings wherein members and friends of the congregation will be able to fill out a form that offers preferences at the time of death. We will be able to choose the Holy Scripture passages, the music and hymns, and other details about a memorial service of thanksgiving that will gather our family and friends together in worship when that time comes. Again, there is no expectation for anyone to do this, but we want to make it available for those who would so choose as it helps family when those decisions are made in advance.
New Daily Devotionals for 2025. Two new daily devotionals are now available. Christ in Our Home and Our Daily Bread are ready to be picked up and used as a daily devotional. Please find copies in the entry way of the church.
If anyone needs to communicate with me, please feel free to email, text, or call. I am normally in Leisure World on Wednesdays and Sunday mornings. Again, a blessed New Year. In the peace and light of Christ,
+Pastor Murray D. Finck
The Rev Murray D. Finck, Bishop Emeritus
Message from the Interim Pastor:
February 2025
Dear Members and Friends of Redeemer and St. Theodore of Canterbury,
The grace and peace of God be with you as we begin the second month of this year 2025. We are midway through the wonderful Season of Epiphany, those weeks within the calendar of the Christian Church when we read and focus on the ways God revealed the love of God in the earliest days of the ministry of Jesus… his baptism, his first miracle, the beginning of his preaching and teaching, his choosing of his disciples, and as he clarified his eternal and divine mission to bring the grace, compassion, and love of God to all of humanity
February is, of course, the shortest month of the year, but as I look at from the point of view of our congregation, I see it teeming with activities and invitations. Of course, we worship every Sunday morning at 10:30 a.m. Our Wednesday Bible Study at 12:00 – 1:15 p.m. in the Fellowship Hall will study the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7) during the four Wednesdays of February. As promised, during this month we will offer several gatherings to allow our members and friends to fill out an “At the End of Life” document that will give indications and preferences about the services and memorials that will honor and give thanks for our lives upon our death. Those dates and times are listed at the end of this article and any and all are invited to attend one of those gatherings. A small group of people will be working on the Ministry Site Profile of the congregation, a document then shared with the Synod Office and finally, the whole church, that will help us identify a person to more permanently fill the long pastoral vacancy of this congregation. We will be receiving estimates for a new heating and cooling system for our campus, with the hopes that in the months ahead, it will be more comfortable during the times when it is uncomfortably cold or hot in our facility.
Along with all that activity within our congregation, we will pause in February, especially around St. Valentine’s Day to reflect on the ways God loves us and how we love God and one another. On Presidents’ Day Weekend, we will observe and remember those who have faithfully and courageously served in our nation’s highest office. It will be the 99th year since our nation first began, in February, to observe Black History Month, and it will be the 49th year since this observance became more formalized through presidential proclamations. We are also encouraged to continue to think how we are able to support and care for the many Southern Californians who have lost their homes and livelihoods in the devastating fires of this past month.
The month of February this year is only 28 days long and yet those four weeks offer us many reasons to gather as the people of God. This short month invites us to pray, to worship, to study, to plan, to contemplate, to support, to give thanks, and to love God and one another with heart, soul, and mind. Let us gather together as often as we are able to be the church—the people of God—and receive all that God is offering us day by day.
Here are dates and times for the gatherings to discuss, prepare, and record the information you may wish to leave “At the End of Life.” Please notice these gatherings are offered either before or after the Wednesday Bible Study. If another day of the week is needed and requested, we will add at least more offering of this gathering.
Wednesday, February 5th, 10:45-11:45 a.m. in the Fellowship Hall
Wednesday, February 12th, 10:45-11:45 a.m. in the Fellowship Hall
Wednesday, February 12th, 1:30-2:30 p.m. in the Fellowship Hall
Wednesday, February 19th, 10:45-11:45 a.m. in the Fellowship Hall
May our Lord God continue to bless you, watch over you, and keep you in the days and weeks ahead.
+Pastor Murray D. Finck
The Rev Murray D. Finck, Bishop Emeritus
Just a reminder:
New Member Reception in Early March. We are start the conversations and preparations for another New Member Reception for any who desire to join the official membership of the congregation. The form will be available on Sunday mornings. It is also attached to the weekly Communiqué. If you are interested, please fill out the form and give it to Pastor Finck on Sunday morning or send it to the church address: 13564 Saint Andrews Drive; Seal Beach, CA 90740. There is never any pressure for people to officially join the membership. We always welcome, include, and love our visitors, friends, associate members, and members.
