What a blessing to see your generosity in action! Over the weekend, our Narthex was getting smaller with donations being dropped off and new opportunities being set up. On Monday morning, we packed a small hatchback full of items for Lutheran Social Services to help restock their shelves. As the volunteer who delivered the food said with a smile, “Next time I’ll borrow my wife’s car—it’s bigger!”

Thank you to everyone from both our church and school who contributed. Your generosity makes a real difference. While the holidays bring an extra push for giving, the need continues year-round. Please remember that you can drop off food donations in the Narthex any Sunday and we will get them to LSS throughout the year. Also a reminder that the jar we set out up front during communion is offering that directly supports our missions and the work of LSS. So if you’d like to make a cash donation to support the food pantry, you can place cash of check in the jar as you come forward for communion.

Another way to be generous is to visit our Giving Trees in the narthex and take a tag or two as you do your holiday shopping.

• Tree #1: Essential Items
  This tree includes tags for basic necessities like socks and underwear. These items, along with any gently used coats you donate (box in hallway by office entrance), will go to Trinity Lower East Side in Manhattan.

• Tree #2: Specific Gifts for Families
  This tree has tags for individual children and families. Please write down which tag you take on the board next to it, purchase at least two gifts from that tag, wrap them, tape the tag to the gift, and return everything to church by December 12. These gifts will bring joy to families who need a little extra help this Christmas.

Thank You for helping us make this holiday season a little brighter for others.

This past Sunday, our congregation gathered for a deeply meaningful worship service that held both sorrow and joy in the same sacred space. We observed All Saints Sunday, a time in the church year when we remember and honor those who have died in the faith. As each name was read aloud, a bell rang and a candle was lit, signs of our love and remembrance for those who have gone before us.

Before this somber remembrance, we began our service with a celebration of new life: the baptism of Holly Rose McGill. Congratulations to Holly and the McGill family! What a gift to witness such joy.

At first glance, these moments may seem like opposites; life and death, celebration and grief. But in the Christian life, they are profoundly connected.

In the baptismal liturgy, we pray:

We give you thanks, O God, that through water and the Holy Spirit you give your daughters and sons new birth, cleanse them from sin, and raise them to eternal life.

And as the newly baptized is anointed with oil, we proclaim:

Child of God, you have been sealed by the Holy Spirit and marked with the cross of Christ forever.

Forever.

That word echoes through both baptism and funeral. At Christian funerals, we drape the casket with a white pall, a visual reminder of the baptismal gown worn by many infants. We begin the liturgy with these words:

All who are baptized into Christ have put on Christ. In their baptism, this child of God was clothed with Christ. In the day of Christ’s coming, they shall be clothed with glory.

The Paschal Candle, lit during the season of Easter, is also lit and stands near the baptismal font for both baptisms and funerals. It reminds us that the presence of Christ and the promises of God are not temporary, they are eternal. In baptism, we are joined to Christ’s death and resurrection. In death, we receive the fulfillment of those promises.

So on Sunday, we rejoiced with Holly Rose as she was welcomed into the family of Christ. And we also rejoiced, through our shared tears, with all the saints who now rest in the arms of their Savior, having received the fullness of what baptism promises.

In Christ, life and death are not opposites. They are part of the same sacred journey. And God is present in every step.

It may have been a little hard to see from the back pew, but here’s the church we built out of Magna Tiles during Sunday’s Children’s Sermon.

It’s not perfect, but neither are we.

Let me explain how we ended up playing with Magna Tiles in church.

The lesson was about King Solomon building the Temple for God. As the children came forward, each received a single tile. I had two tiles myself and announced that I was going to build a temple, just like Solomon. I tried. And tried. But with only two tiles, it was impossible.

The kids caught on quickly. “You need more tiles!” they shouted.

“But I don’t have any more,” I replied.

They laughed. One child came up and said, “I’ve got one.” Then another. And another. Each child added their piece to the construction until we had built our imperfectly wonderful church.

Friends, this is what it means to be church together. Each of us has a piece to share: our time, our talents, our treasures. And when we bring those pieces together, we can build something amazing: colorful, creative, full of wonder and joy. Did you notice the reflection of the Christ window in our Magna Tile church? That was totally unintentional, but what an image, huh? Because that always needs to be our focus, to reflect the love and grace of Christ to other and the world.

This is stewardship. It’s about each of us sharing what we have. The dreams and vision we hold at ORLC can only grow as far as our generosity carries them. When we all bring our “tiles”, we can dream bigger with how we can fulfill our mission to Celebrate God’s Love, Cultivate Christian Community, and Empower Life-Long Disciples.

I invite you to take a moment with the Stewardship Commitment card, not as a binding contract, but as a meaningful opportunity for spiritual reflection. What “tiles” do you have to share with your church? Your time, your talents, your treasures? This is about your journey with God and your role in helping to build something beautiful together here at ORLC. While we’re not keeping score, your engagement helps us plan for the year(s) ahead. The more we know about the gifts being shared, the more confidently we can support ministries, care for our facilities, and create vibrant opportunities for worship, learning, and service. It’s like building with Magna Tiles—the more pieces we know we have, the more creative we can be. So please, pray about it, talk it over with your family, and share as you feel led.

Stewardship Form 2025

Did you know that many churches are intentionally shaped like ships? The central part of the sanctuary (where the congregation gathers) is called the nave, a word derived from the Latin navis, meaning “ship.” It’s also the root of the word navy. If you were to lie down in the center aisle and look up, you’d notice the ceiling of the nave resembles the hull of a ship turned upside down. This design choice is deeply symbolic for the life of the church.

We, the Church, are a community on a journey together. Sailing is a team effort. It’s not just one person steering the wheel, it takes each of us doing our part as crew members, supporting one another. My wife and I once took a sailboat ride around the Statue of Liberty. I was amazed at how hard the multiple crew members had to work to make the sail and the boat go. Even as a passenger, this was no pontoon boat relaxation. We had a role to play as we were instructed at times, everyone get on this side of the boat so we could balance the weight and not tip over.

Life, like the open sea, is full of surprises. But as the Church, we navigate those waters together. We all have a role to play to keep the ship headed in the right direction. Most importantly, if you look forward in our sanctuary, you’ll see the cross. This is our mast, the place where the sail would be raised. It is the wind of the Holy Spirit that propels us forward on this journey of faith.

This is why the beginning of worship has become so meaningful for me. When we lift up prayers of joy (birthdays, anniversaries, even lost teeth) and prayers of concern (surgeries, grief, and loss) we are acknowledging the seas we sail. We’re naming the waves and asking God to guide us through them. We’re also reminding one another: we don’t sail alone.

Church is a participatory endeavor. We worship together, live life together, and serve together. As we approach our yearly Harvest Festival, we’re reminded that it takes all of us to make it a success. We need everyone to donate, to volunteer in the kitchen, to help set up/ clean up, and to invite others to come. Just like on a ship, every role is essential. So please see where you can lend a helping hand this upcoming week.

The same is true on our journey of faith. We need each other: to lean on and to learn from. To pray for and to worship with. The Church is not a cruise ship with passengers; it’s a working vessel with a crew. And together, we sail forward in this life with Christ our sail giving us the direction and the wind of the Holy Spirit to propel us.

See you in Church!

22 Canines.

3 Hamsters.

2 Hermit Crabs and

1 Bird …

… along with all of their human care takers joined us this past Sunday for our Blessing of the Animals service. It was a gorgeous day! On the first Sunday of October here at ORLC we host our annual Blessing of the Animals service. It is a practice that is held by many congregations in connection with the feast day of St. Francis on October 4th, the patron saint of animals. In, the spirit of St. Francis we gathered recall of the love and compassion we share with all of God’s creatures and to offer the following blessing upon them:

Holy God, we thank you for the gift that ______________ is to us in our lives. Through this animal, part of your wonderful creation, you have brought many blessings. Today we pause to name our gratitude, and to pray a blessing on ____________. For the companionship of our pets, we say thanks. Bless this animals’ life in our care, may they know love through all of their days.

Amen.

As we gathered to proclaim Amen (or woof - tweet - squeak) for the blessing these pets are in our lives. They are a reminder to us that we are not only to share God’s love with all of creation, but also receive God’s love from them as well.

These past few Sundays since Rally Day have been nothing short of amazing! Over the summer, we consistently welcomed 70–80 people to worship each week. But in just the last three weeks, we’ve seen 154, 136, and 142 in attendance! What a beautiful sign of life, energy, and commitment in our congregation. It is truly a gift to gather together in worship, walking this road of faith side by side.

One of the most heartwarming sights this past Sunday was seeing so many young people in worship wearing their soccer jerseys. Whether you came before or after your games, your presence was a powerful testimony to the vibrant, welcoming community we share here at ORLC. Your choice to be in worship and Sunday School matters deeply, and I don’t take it for granted. Thank you for showing up, for bringing your energy, and for reminding us all that faith and life go hand in hand.

I also want to thank you for engaging with one of my more “creative” ideas this past Sunday. If you missed it, during communion I invited everyone to take off their shoes as they came forward to receive the Eucharist. Why, you might be asking?

Our Bible story was the calling of Moses through the burning bush. When Moses approached, God told him to remove his sandals because he was standing on holy ground. In that moment, God called Moses to bring a message of liberation to Pharaoh, and though Moses objected, God promised to be with him.

I invited us to make that same connection: that God calls us into the world to bring a message of mercy, justice, and love. Faith and Life do indeed go hand in hand. And just like Moses, we receive the promise that God goes with us. In communion, we are fed, strengthened, and sent. Christ goes with us as we leave this place.

So, we took off our shoes. We approached the table barefoot, as a reminder that this is holy ground, that this is a holy meal, and that in this meal we meet God and God goes with us into the world.

As you go about your week, may you be reminded that you are called. You are sent. And you are never alone. God is with you, and through you, the message of Christ’s love continues to shine.

See you in Church!

This past Sunday we celebrated a remembrance of baptism as we welcomed Eleanor Rose into the family of Christ. Eleanor is the daughter of Lauren (Klose) and Tim LaPoint, and granddaughter of Pastor Ron and Karen Klose. Before I explain further why this was a remembrance and not a baptism, let us rejoice with Eleanor and family. Congratulations!

Baptism is one of the most sacred and meaningful rites in the Christian life. It marks our entry into the body of Christ, a visible sign of God’s grace, and a promise that we are claimed by God forever. In the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), we hold firmly to the belief that in baptism, God is the one who acts. It is God who shares God’s promises with us, and God’s promises do not have an expiration date. We ask those who bring the child to receive the gift of baptism to make promises in response to the promise that is first given to us by God.

Since Lutherans believe that baptism is God’s gift to us and it is God’s actions in baptism, not ours, we do not believe that a person needs to be rebaptized. The promises of God remain with us, regardless of where life takes us. If our faith journey has had twists and turns. If someone returns to the church after years away, comes from a different denomination, or comes to a deeper understanding of their faith on their journey, we celebrate that with affirmation, recommitment, or a rite of remembrance, but not with rebaptism. To rebaptize would suggest that God’s first promise wasn’t enough. And we believe it was.

We all reaffirm our baptisms. Every day as we seek to follow Christ, we reaffirm our baptisms. As we gather for worship, we reaffirm our baptism. Our youth spend 2 years preparing to publicly reaffirm the promises made at their baptisms for themselves as they make their confirmation. Each day, Martin Luther said, is a good day to remember our baptism and live in response to the promise God made with us.

If you have been baptized in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit [whether in a Lutheran, Catholic, Presbyterian, Methodist, or other Christian congregation; whether sprinkled at a font or immersed in a lake or basin; whether as an infant, child, or adult] know that your baptism is sufficient, and you are fully welcomed as a member of the body of Christ here at ORLC.

Back to this past Sunday. You may have noticed that the language we used was slightly different. Eleanor, remember that you are baptized, rather than Eleanor, I baptize you. On June 13, I gathered with Eleanor and her family at the hospital with her grandfather, Pastor Ron Klose. It was there that Pastor Klose and I led the baptismal liturgy, and he baptized his granddaughter. God was present. God promises were shared. It was holy ground. While the Christian community was present through pastor, parents, family, and sponsors, we didn’t have the opportunity to celebrate and welcome Eleanor into the family of Christ as the larger church. This past Sunday, parents and sponsors recommitted their promises to raise Eleanor in faith and we, the congregation, got the chance to join our prayers and support to theirs as we publicly welcomed Eleanor to the body of Christ. Faith is not a solo journey, it requires community- a community we call the church. Together we learn, we wrestle, and we grow. We serve, we comfort, and the heal. Together we are the church, the body of Christ.

So may we always know that we are loved and covered by the grace of God shared with us in our baptisms and may we live our lives showing forth the same love and grace we first receive from God.

See you in Church!

What a fantastic Rally Sunday we had this weekend!

Thank you for making it extraordinary, even when the weather tried to dampen our spirits. What truly made it special was you! Your presence, participation in Sunday School, the choir, worship, and the conversations and laughter afterward made all the difference. It’s wonderful when God’s people come together in worship and fellowship.

As we embark on this new year, let’s learn from each other, grow together, and support and encourage one another. This happens naturally when we show up. Our church is stronger because of each and every one of you—whether you’re a child, a youth, or someone wiser in years. Whether you’re a longtime member or a first-time guest, lifelong Lutheran or from another denomination or no religious background at all, together we form the body of Christ.

My request for this Rally Week is simple: keep showing up!

I understand that some weeks you’ll be busy with other activities, schedules, or travels. Wherever you are, remember you represent the body of Christ. Then, reconnect with us when you’re back. You truly make a difference when you’re with us in worship. You enhance our faithfulness, our excitement, and our worship.

See you in church!

We rejoice with Ava Lynn Ward, parents Allie Andrews and Jospeh Ward, as she was baptized on August 24th. Our family of Faith continues to grow as we welcomed Ava into the family of Christ here at ORLC.

This past weekend, 37 of us from ORLC spent a memorable retreat at Camp Koinonia, surrounded by God’s beautiful creation and the warmth of Christian fellowship. From rafting down the Delaware River and fishing on the lake, to campfire s’mores, snacks, and late-night Family Feud and Trivia games, every moment was filled with joy. We even found time for naps in hammocks and worship in the woods—truly a weekend to remember.

This retreat was a living example of our vision at ORLC: “to strive to be an intergenerational congregation engaging all members in collaborative ministry.” We had families, extended families, individuals, teens, pre-teens, young children, and toddlers—all coming together to share meals, look out for one another, learn from each other, and worship side by side. This is what it means to be the church: building relationships and growing in faith together.

One of the most touching moments was watching Bob Kneer spend the afternoon helping kids fish—many for the first time—rather than casting his own line. Teens and pre-teens looked after toddlers so parents could enjoy a peaceful cup of coffee and conversation. Kids invented games that didn’t require screens. Those who came alone were embraced by a larger family, and those with big families found extra helping hands.

“Koinonia” is a Greek word meaning community, and that’s exactly what we experienced. If you weren’t able to join us this time, we hope you’ll consider coming to one of our upcoming retreats. There’s plenty of room for you, and we’d love to share this experience with you.

Upcoming Retreat Dates:

• January 16–18 (19), 2026

• August 7– 9 (10), 2026
  (Choose to stay Friday–Sunday after lunch or through Monday after breakfast.)

Let’s continue building our community in Christ—together.

See you in Church!

Could you please tell me where the restrooms are?

I get asked this question regularly when guests arrive for a baptism, funeral, wedding, etc. Hospitality is important, so I would walk them to show them where they are. There were little signs, but hard to read and not in coinvent locations. It’s not just restrooms, but can parents their child SS classroom easily on day one, or know how to find the kitchen or Gym for coffee hour if they are new to our community?

Being able to know where to go, without having to ask is a wonderful way to show hospitality to our guests. It’s not just about hospitality, but safety too! Should there be an emergency first responders can save time finding which classroom they need to get to. Seconds can make a difference.

Now it is a whole lot easier thanks to Brady Gil and his Boy Scout Troop. They planned, fundraised, and installed new signage throughout the building. We are very grateful for this wonderful, modern, and helpful addition to our church! Thank You Brady!

Please thank Brady when you see him please thank him. If you were waiting for a sign to join Coffee Hour, Sunday School and/or Confirmation, now you have it!

See you in Church

Greetings, Church Fam!

You’ve heard me say it before: the church is not the building—it’s the people. Each and every one of us makes up what we call Our Redeemer Lutheran Church. But our identity as church doesn’t stop at our doors. In the ELCA, we talk about being “church together” in three expressions. I’d like to share a bit about each of them with you:

1. Congregations
This is us—ORLC—and every other ELCA congregation across neighborhoods and cities in the U.S. Many people think church begins and ends here, but we are part of something much larger.

2. Synods
The ELCA is made up of 65 Synods, each covering a geographic region and led by a Bishop and staff who support congregations and pastors. We belong to the Metropolitan New York Synod, which just elected a new Bishop this past May: Rev. Dr. Katrina Foster. She begins her term on August 1. Please join me in praying for Bishop-Elect Foster as she steps into this new role. I’m excited about the energy and vision she brings. Let’s also give thanks for Bishop Paul Egensteiner, who has faithfully served our Synod for the past six years.

3. Churchwide
This is the broadest expression of our church—all 65 Synods, 2.7 million members, and 8,400 worshiping communities. The Churchwide organization leads ministries that serve on a national and global scale, such as ELCA World Hunger and Lutheran Disaster Response. It also includes our Presiding Bishop, who leads the entire denomination. After 12 years of faithful service, Presiding Bishop Elizabeth Eaton is concluding her term. This week, the Churchwide Assembly is meeting in Phoenix to elect her successor. Please keep the Assembly in your prayers as they discern new leadership and the future direction of our church.

We are the church—in more ways than one. And together, we are a stronger witness to Christ in the world. Let us continue to pray for and support one another in this mission God has called us to, as disciples of Jesus.

Blessings and Peace to you