Updates from congregations around the Church of the Lutheran Confession
Greetings from the Buffalo City and the saints at Our Savior’s. Let’s begin with what isn’t new. The Gospel is preached and the sacraments administered according to our risen Savior’s command: Matthew 28:19-20 “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, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
Pastor with Sunday school teachers
The Gospel ministry has resulted in many encouraging events at Our Savior’s. Since our last Spokesman report, several adult instruction classes were completed, resulting in new members. A young couple that moved away moved back home. A non-member spouse became a member. One child brought a friend to church, while another brought five friends to VBS! All the credit for these encouraging things goes to the sure Word of God and the Holy Spirit who works through it. He makes use of church people who encourage and invite. He makes use of what we might assume are long-forgotten Sunday School lessons and Bible truths learned in youth. He remembers His baptized lambs and uses His Word to gather them.
Ladies of Our Savior’s at a garden outing
Another unchanging thing is our service time, 10:00 A.M. Sundays, year-round. I mention it because I know we’re on the way to a lot of places and we welcome visitors always! We’re not too far off of I-94, so please do include a Sunday stop at Our Savior’s in your vacation trip. You may be interested to know that we have CLC neighbors about 100 miles away on every point of the compass except north. Our Savior’s has had opportunity in the last few years to “share” their pastor with neighboring congregations during vacancies, like Zion in Ipswich, South Dakota, which has since found a new home in Aberdeen and is being served by Pastor Daub from Hecla, South Dakota.
Photo display of Our Savior’s church family
What’s new at Our Savior’s? Last spring we dedicated a new organ for the church. It includes many features the old one lacked, not least of which is reliability. It has different virtual pipe organs from around the world on it. If it looks familiar with its dual screens, it’s from the same Minnesota builder that made one for Trinity in Watertown, South Dakota, which was previously featured in the Spokesman.
New church organ with video display
Speaking of enhancing worship, the sainted Dorine (Ohlmann) Nohrenberg left a monetary gift to Our Savior’s. We could think of no better use than a new digital piano for the sanctuary. Dorine served for decades as a dedicated organist here.
One final improvement yet to be installed is a new church sign, the electronic kind that can display whatever you like. We plan to integrate it into our existing sign frame this summer. We’ll be able to deliver scripture truths to our neighborhood as well as display the usual things like our name and service times.
Some of Our Savior’s voting members
Our full service with hymn lyrics displayed are uploaded to my personal Facebook page weekly, and set so anyone can view them. The power to change hearts isn’t found in new electronics or different forms of media, though. That comes from the same source as always, Gospel preaching and teaching: Romans 10:17, “So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.”
is pastor of Our Savior’s Lutheran Church in Jamestown, North Dakota.