St. Theodore & Redeemer Lutheran

By Lisa Rotchford

Reverend

Fall is in the air! Orange County’s COVID-19 numbers continue to fall as well as the hazardous air quality numbers, so the Redeemer Lutheran and St. Theodore’s Episcopal Churches Sunday worship services are falling inside and outside the sanctuary.

For those wanting to worship outside, there is drive-up/walk-up Communion out in front of the church on the northeast side of the church from 9:30–10:15 a.m. There will be a traditional 30-minute worship service with organ music, prayers and Communion for those who would like to attend service inside at 10:30 a.m..

If you take the Christian holy scriptures and let the book fall open to the very middle, Psalm 118 is at the very center. This Psalm reminds us of three things: (1) To give thanks to the Lord for all things, (2) God’s love endures forever, and (3) when we are hard pressed, we are to cry out to the Lord, seek God’s help and God will be with us giving us strength and life.

— “If the Lord is with me; I will not be afraid. What can mere mortals do to me? The Lord is with me; he is my helper. I look in triumph on my enemies. It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in princes.”(118:4-7) —“I was pushed back and about to fall, but the Lord helped me. The Lord is my strength and my defense ; he has become my salvation, I will give you thanks, for you answered me; you have become my salvation.” (118:13-14) — “Let us rejoice today and be glad. Lord, save us! Lord, grant us success! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. From the house of the Lord we bless you. The Lord is God, and he has made his light shine on us. With boughs in hand, join in the festival procession up to the altar. You are my God, and I will praise you; you are my God, and I will exalt you. Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever. (118:24-29) It is out of our love for our neighbor that we take on outreach projects in the fall season that benefit the wider community under the moniker “God’s Work, Our Hands.” We will continue to collect nonperishable food this and every Sunday. If you have a non-perishable food item, we will be collecting food for the neediest in Orange County. The barrels in front of the church on Sunday mornings will collect food donations, and will be given to the increasing number of hungry people who seek our help as this pandemic continues.