The Blessed Rededication of Hope Lutheran Church

It’s hard to explain the joy at rededicating our sanctuary yesterday.  A great deal happened in exactly four months to make this happen! Hope Lutheran Church stands as Jerusalem, the Holy Bride of Christ, in Batesville, Arkansas, where the Gospel of Jesus Christ, the forgiveness of sins won for us by Christ-Crucified, is delivered in completeness to all the repentant.  The congregation began by sanding outside on this bless day in which we observed an anniversary of the Reformation.

We confessed that this church is opened for the preaching of the saving Word of God in accordance with the confessions of the Evangelical Lutheran Church, for the administration of the holy Sacraments according to the institution of Christ, and for offering to God the sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving, in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.  We literally unlocked the Church and with the processional cross, marked the threshold with the sign of the cross saying, “Peace be to this house and to all who enter here in the name of the Father and of the Son and the Holy Spirit.”

The statement reminds us that we are evangelical because here is where the Good News is delivered through Christ’s means of grace.  We bear the name Lutheran despite the fact that it is spoken by others in derision because we give thanks to God for the blessed Dr. Martin Luther to have restored to us the saving gospel and NOT because we worship him.  We rejoice because we are the Church of God in this place.  We have been here for 53 years. By the grace of God we will remain here till the bridegroom returns to be united to his bride the Holy Church. Then he will bring us in and given a seat at our Savior’s table.

The people of God were then reminded as they came in and took their seats for the first time in four months that Christ Jesus is present wherever His holy Word is taught purely and the holy Sacraments are administered according to His institution.  As the Lord said through Moses, “In every place where I cause My name to be remembered I will come to you and bless you.” (Exodus 20:24)  And thus was everything in that holy house blessed again for holy use in God’s holy house.

This caused me to reflect upon Jesus’ promises that he makes, “For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them.” (Matthew 18:20) Again he says, “behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” (Matt 28:20) Jesus will always gather us because he promises to never abandon us.

There was some concern about what would be possible when the storm damage happened, but my mind went immediately to what Yahweh says, ““For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven and do not return there but water the earth, making it bring forth and sprout, giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater, so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it.” (Isaiah 55:10-11).  During that time, we had the ever-present reminder of his goodness that we had our fellowship hall to gather in which we could receive God’s Word and Sacrament. So many others didn’t even have that after the various storms that ravaged our nation this summer. 

Moreover, as the Word of God was ever-present amongst us, we experienced the life of ancient Israel. As the temple underwent major fixes we are reminded that the Word of God has never been missing as it had found during the reign of King Josiah by Hilkiah the High Priest. Where as the Jews would wait for decades to see their temple fixed, we were amazingly blessed. Yes, this was a trial, but temporary.  So, Peter encouraged his hearers, “By God’s power (you) are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.” (1 Peter 1:5-7)

It seemed like a painful trial in the moment, but what great opportunity so many of our members have had to serve the Lord. It went from the initial clean up to even now, as the renovations to things in the building continue.  Now we begin to make plans for the future and the proclamation of the Word.  I want to give special thanks to so many who gave of their money, time, and talents. They may go unnoticed by others, but it is a privilege to watch you grow in the faith, and above all, the Lord knows who you are.  And thus always remember Jesus’ words, “When you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret.” (Matthew 6:3-4)  The Lord knows how you are building upon the foundation.  (1 Corinthians 3:12)

There are tasks still left to complete, and many have learned that it is not a building that makes the church, but in the same breath, neither do we take even architecture for granted for even it confesses what we believe as we confess the beauty of the Lord’s salvation.  It has been a catechetical experience for all involved that is certainly not complete.  For Holy Scripture has been “written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.” (Romans 15:4)

Maybe the best way to express the joy of our rededication can be summed up in the purpose for this Church. Here the merciful Lord is present to pardon, strengthen, bless, feed and hear his people.  This we each need for not one of us without sin and thus his name is put upon us, “The Lord bless you and keep you, The Lord make his face shine upon you and be gracious unto you.  The Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace.  Amen.