A Note from Pastor

“Savior of the nations come, Virgin son, make here your home, marvel now O heaven and earth, that the Lord chose such a birth.” (LSB 332)  This hymn is one of the oldest in our hymnal and has been traditionally sung on the First Sunday in Advent, “Ad Te Levavi,” which means, “To you O Lord, I lift up my soul.” (Psalm 25:4)   
    Like King David and the people longing for the Messiah to come, we too lift up our souls to Jesus, who is our Messiah and Lord, praying He would come again.  We even pray for His appearing in the Second Petition to the Lord’s prayer, when we ask that “Thy Kingdom Come.”  
    Until He does return, we are already blessed to be part of God’s Kingdom. Faced daily with the temptations of the devil, we know that Jesus is with us in Word and Sacrament. Knowing our sins are forgiven, we live in eager expectation of our Lord’s return even as the people of Jerusalem eagerly lined the streets with their palm branches. 
    St. Matthew recorded, “the crowds that went before [Jesus] and that followed him were shouting, “Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!”  We too joyfully call upon Jesus to “Save us,” as the people did then. Trusting that He hears our prayers, we can be confident that He will return in glory to deliver His people just as the Words and promises of God declare!