Our Savior's Lutheran Church

06/01/2026

"Retirement is going great so far. Love you all and see you soon."-Joanne

Retirement looks good on her!

05/31/2026

Here is a link to our Sunday Service on May 31, 2026

Sunday Service: May 31, 2026, at 9:00 amOur Savior's Lutheran Chu...

05/24/2026

05/24/2026

Here is a link to our Sunday Service on 5/24/2026:

Sunday Service: May 24, 2026 at 9:00 amOur Savior's Lutheran Church Rochester, MNPastor: Rev. Ben Loven

05/17/2026

Here is the link to Our Savior's Luthern Church Service May 17, 2026.

Sunday Service: May 17, 2026, at 9:00 amOur Savior's Lutheran Church Rochester, MNPastor: Rev. Ben Loven

05/10/2026

Join us for Mother's Day service today! A special blessing to all the mothers in our community!

Sunday Service: May 10, 2026, at 9:00 amOur Savior's Lutheran Church Rochester, MNPastor: Rev. Ben Loven

05/03/2026

Here is the link to our May 3, 2026, Sunday Service.

Worship Service: May 3,, 2026

04/26/2026

Our Savior's Lutheran Church Service for Sunday, April 26, 2026.

1 like. "Worship Service: April 26, 2026"

04/19/2026

Here is the link to Our Savior's Lutheran Church service for April 19, 2026.

Worship Service: April 19, 2026

04/07/2026

“Greetings! Do not be afraid; go and tell my brothers and sisters to go to Galilee; there they will see me.” (Matthew 28: 9,10, NRSVue)
According to St. Matthew, these were the first words that Jesus spoke after being raised from the dead. After the angel had met the women at the tomb and told them of Jesus’ resurrection, Jesus met the women on their way back. Jesus reassured them that he had indeed been raised from the dead and told them that he would meet them again in Galilee. That message was exactly what they needed! They ran and told the other disciples, and they made their way to a mountain in Galilee where Jesus gave them ‘The Great Commission,’ telling them to go make disciples in all the nations on Earth.
Notice what Jesus didn’t say, either to the women on Easter Sunday or in ‘The Great Commission?’
He didn’t say, “I’m gonna go find all those people who put me to death, and I’m gonna take them out!”
He didn’t say, “When you’re out there making disciples, if anyone rejects me, feel free to take them out!”
He didn’t say, “Pray for your bullets and bombs to find their marks.”
In fact, he said the exact opposite. On Maundy Thursday, after sharing his last supper with his disciples, he went out to the Mount of Olives to pray. While he was praying for the strength to continue on this path that would lead to his crucifixion, his disciple Judas arrived with soldiers to arrest him.
“Suddenly one of those with Jesus put his hand on his sword, drew it, and struck the slave of the high priest, cutting off his ear. Then Jesus said to him, ‘Put your sword back into its place, for all who take the sword will die by the sword. Do you think that I cannot appeal to my Father, and he will at once send me more than twelve legions of angels? But how then would the scriptures be fulfilled, which say it must happen in this way?’” (Matthew 26: 51-54, NRSVue)
Jesus told his followers, in no uncertain terms, to put away their weapons. No swords…no guns…no bombs…
“All who take the sword will die by the sword.”
Jesus then doubled down on the point – he could call in an airstrike of more than 12 legions of angels…but he wouldn’t!
Why?
Because he’s the Lord of Life, not the Shadow of Death!
Jesus brings life!
That’s what we celebrate on Easter Sunday; Jesus was dead but now he’s alive! He broke the power of death forever! Fear, shame, and sin have been put to flight by the power of love!
Jesus had the power to end those who had put him on the cross, but he didn’t – because his way is the way love, and hope, and joy, and peace. It’s the way of understanding and empathy. It’s the way of service and compassion.
Those of us who claim to follow Jesus are called to bring life, not threaten to utterly destroy an entire civilization, not threaten to bomb them back to the Stone Age, not threaten to rain down Hell upon them.
“Alleluia! Christ is risen!” isn’t a slogan; it’s a profession of faith, it’s a statement of values, and it’s a commitment that guides our actions as followers of Jesus in this world that God died to save.
- Pastor Ben