Redeemer Presbyterian Church

Greetings Redeemer family,

Before I get too deep into this e-mail, I should make a very important reminder: we set our clocks back an hour this week!

But an extra hour’s sleep isn’t the only thing we’re celebrating this Sunday.  This weekend is also our annual commemoration of Reformation Sunday and All Saints Day.  Both these holidays are an opportunity to remember God’s work through His Church.  They serve as reminders that we are not the first and only Christians in the world.  Rather, we are united as the body of Christ with brothers and sisters across the world and across time.  This truth has particular relevance for our worship this and every week.

As Mike said at the beginning of service last week, our aim in worship is towards a blended service that incorporates both traditional and contemporary elements.  Some weeks we have drums, some weeks we have djembe.  Some weeks we have violins playing interludes, other weeks we have guitars playing similar instrumental passages.  This week alone our songs range from historic hymns of Germany and England, an anonymous ancient Chinese text, and a modern praise chorus from Australia.  In this, we are not trying to please everyone by making sure that we click off the right boxes in a checklist.  Rather, we are trying to express something about the unity of the Church.

We find our unity expressed as we show mutual submission in our worship practices.  This means that, when you come to the services, you’re not just looking to hear “your music”, be that upbeat praise or contemplative hymns.  Rather, we seek to serve one another through our worship practices.  One person may be experiencing a season of God’s clear blessing, and so comes with a real desire to celebrate.  Our worship serves that person as we rejoice with those that rejoice.  Another may be going through a personal tragedy and need a time of reflection and encouragement.  We serve that person as we mourn with those that mourn.  In serving one another in these ways, we show our unity in the hope of our Lord Jesus Christ, the head of the Church.

All Saints Day is celebrated on November 1, and is for us a celebration of our Fathers and Mothers in the faith – men and women who were called to salvation through Christ, faithfully served Him as Lord, and passed on His Gospel to us.  Their legacy serves as a reminder of God’s faithfulness throughout the ages.  Our first communion hymn this week is a hymn of thanks to God for the gift of our brothers and sisters gone before us, and the example of faith they leave behind.  Notice also how the text goes from celebrating the past (“Thou wast their rock”) to looking forward towards the future resurrection at Christ’s return.  That will be “a yet more glorious day” indeed!

1. For all the saints, who from their labors rest,

Who Thee by faith before the world confessed,

Thy Name, O Jesus, be forever blessed.

Alleluia, Allelu…

2. Thou wast their rock, their fortress and their might;

Thou, Lord, their captain in the well fought fight;

Thou, in the darkness drear, their one true Light.

Alleluia, Allelu…

3. O may Thy soldiers, faithful, true and bold,

Fight as the saints who nobly fought of old,

And win with them the victor’s crown of gold.

Alleluia, Allelu…

4. The golden evening brightens in the west;

Soon, soon to faithful warriors comes their rest;

Sweet is the calm of paradise the blessed.

Alleluia, Allelu…

5. But lo! There breaks a yet more glorious day;

The saints triumphant rise in bright array;

The King of glory passes on his way,

Alleluia, Allelu…

6. From earth’s wide bounds, from ocean’s farthest coast,

Through gates of pearl streams in the countless host,

Singing to Father, Son, and Holy Ghost,

Alleluia, Alleluia!

This weekend we also celebrate our particular, Protestant tradition within the Church through Reformation Day.  Celebrated on October 31, this holiday coincides with Martin Luther’s historic posting of his 95 Theses against abuses of the Roman church.  This became a catalyst event that ignited the Reformation, as courageous men and women called the Church back to historic, Biblical faith.  In our confessions of faith the past few weeks, we have been reading together the core convictions of the Reformation, summarized in the Five Solas.  We conclude this week with the theme of Sola Deo Gloria – Glory to God Alone.

We reaffirm that because salvation is of God and has been accomplished by God, it is for God’s glory, and therefore we must glorify him always. We must live our entire lives before the face of God, under the authority of God, and for his glory alone.

We deny that we can properly glorify God if our worship is confused with entertainment, if we neglect either Law or Gospel in our preaching, or if self-improvement, self-esteem or self-fulfillment are allowed to become alternatives to the gospel.

(The Cambridge Declaration, section 5)

A traditional song for Reformation Sunday is Martin Luther’s hymn that begins our service this week:

A mighty fortress is our God, a bulwark never failing;

Our helper He, amid the flood of mortal ills prevailing:

For still our ancient foe doth seek to work us woe;

His craft and power are great, and, armed with cruel hate,

On earth is not his equal.

Did we in our own strength confide, our striving would be losing;

Were not the right Man on our side, the Man of God’s own choosing:

Dost ask who that may be? Christ Jesus, it is He;

Lord Sabaoth, His Name, from age to age the same,

And He must win the battle.

And though this world, with devils filled, should threaten to undo us,

We will not fear, for God hath willed His truth to triumph through us:

The Prince of Darkness grim, we tremble not for him;

His rage we can endure, for lo, his doom is sure,

One little word shall fell him.

That word above all earthly powers, no thanks to them, abideth;

The Spirit and the gifts are ours through Him Who with us sideth:

Let goods and kindred go, this mortal life also;

The body they may kill: God’s truth abideth still,

His kingdom is forever.

Two words in this hymn may be a little confusing.  In the first verse, a “bulwark” is mentioned.  This is a military term that refers to a solid, defensive wall.  As a metaphor, it amplifies the idea of God being a “mighty fortress”, that He is a strong defense against the troubles of this world.  The other confusing  term is “Lord Sabaoth.”  This does not mean that Jesus is king of Sunday, as though He were not king of other days.  Rather, “Lord Saboth” means “Lord of Hosts” – with “Hosts” referring to the angelic army of Heaven. Jesus is the King of the angels, and commands them against the Prince of Darkness and the devils of this world.  We rest secure in His decisive victory over death at the Cross, proven in the Resurrection.  This gives us confidence today that He will fight and win our battles for us.

These visions of Jesus as a returning king and mighty warrior provide an interesting backdrop to our text this week.  We return to the Gospel of John in chapter 8, as the Pharisees bring an adulteress before Jesus to be judged.  However, instead of bringing punishment against the woman, He exposes the sins her accusers, and offers her grace.  Our offertory song this week reminds us of our common need for Christ’s cleansing sacrifice, and celebrates that mighty work which He has done for us.

Everyone needs compassion

Love that’s never failing

Let mercy fall on me

Everyone needs forgiveness

The kindness of a Savior

The hope of nations

Savior, He can move the mountains

My God is mighty to save

He is mighty to save

Forever, Author of salvation

He rose and conquered the grave

Jesus conquered the grave

So take me as You find me

All my fears and failures

Fill my life again

I give my life to follow

Everything I believe in

Now I surrender

Shine your light

And let the whole world see

We’re singing for the glory

Of the risen King Jesus

Shine your light

And let the whole world see

We’re singing for the glory

Of the risen King

I love the way that this song builds thematically.  The first verse states rather broadly that everyone is guilty and stands in need of Jesus’ saving work.  The second verse is more personal, as the singer admits his or her personal, continual need for Christ.  The bridge encourages us to live as His changed people in the sight of the world.  We extend the hope of the Gospel to others as we live a lifestyle of worshipful response for the grace that has been shown to us.

As you prepare for worship Sunday and come out of a week filled with both blessings and trails, my prayer is that you would hear the voice of Jesus calling you to come, rest, and worship.

I heard the voice of Jesus say, “Come unto Me and rest;

Lay down, thou weary one, lay down Thy head upon My chest.”

I came to Jesus as I was, weary, worn and sad;

I found in Him a resting place, and He has made me glad.

I heard the voice of Jesus say, “Behold, I freely give

The living water; thirsty one, stoop down, and drink, and live.”

I came to Jesus, and I drank of that life giving stream;

My thirst was quenched, my soul revived, and now I live in Him.

I heard the voice of Jesus say, “I am this dark world’s Light;

Look unto Me, thy morn shall rise, and all thy day be bright.”

I looked to Jesus, and I found in Him my Star, my Sun;

And in that light of life I’ll walk, till traveling days are done.

I looked to Jesus, and I found in Him my Star, my Sun;

And in that light of life I’ll walk, till traveling days are done.

Resting my soul in Christ Alone,

Tim Sharpe

Worship Director