We live to make Christ known.

Posts by John Koopman

Stricken, Smitten, and Afflicted

Here we have a firm foundation, Here the refuge of the lost; Christ, the Rock of our salvation, Is the name of which we boast: Lamb of God, for sinners wounded, Sacrifice to cancel guilt! None shall ever be confounded Who on Him their hope have built. – LSB 451:4   “Blessed is the man who takes refuge in the Lord” (Ps.…

On My Heart Imprint Your Image

On my heart imprint Your image, Blessèd Jesus, King of grace, That life’s riches, cares, and pleasures Never may Your work erase; Let the clear inscription be: Jesus, crucified for me, Is my life, my hope’s foundation, And my glory and salvation! Well, it is everyone’s favorite time of the year again: Tax Season! Okay, maybe this is not our favorite part…

Feed Thy Children, God Most Holy

Feed Thy children, God most holy; Comfort sinners poor and lowly. O Thou Bread of Life from heaven, bless the food Thou here has given! As these gifts the body nourish, may our souls in graces flourish till with saints in heavenly splendor at Thy feast due thanks we render. – LSB 774 The Psalmist declares: “The eyes of all look to…

When All the World Was Cursed

“O grant, dear Lord of love, that we receive, rejoicing, the word proclaimed by John, our true repentance voicing, that gladly we may walk upon our Savior’s way until we live with Him in His eternal day.” – LSB 346:4 “Cursed” is a weighty word. Indeed, such is the weight of God’s law upon us sinners. As St. Paul explains in Roman…

Announcing the Our Savior Conservatory of Music

Exciting News! Our Savior Lutheran Church is opening a music conservatory in January 2026!  The mission of this music conservatory is to train the next generation of church musicians while sharing the Gospel of Christ.  Through private music lessons, we will provide opportunities for students to worship God through music, all while gaining valuable musical and life skills.  Members…

2025 Advent Midweek Services

Join us for Advent Midweek Services this year. Services are Wednesdays (Dec. 3, 10, & 17) at 1:30pm and 6:30pm, with a meal at 5:30pm. Our theme this year is the lovely hymn O Lord, How Shall I Meet You by Paul Gerhardt. 1 O Lord, how shall I meet You, How welcome You aright? Your people long to greet You, My hope,…

The Clouds of Judgment Gather

Oh, happy, holy portion, relief for all distress, true vision of true beauty, refreshment for the blest! Strive now to win that glory, toil now to gain that light; send hope ahead to grasp it till hope be lost in sight. – LSB 513:4 What season is it? Well, it’s November, so it’s autumn. Even if you don’t have a calendar you…

A Mighty Fortress

“Though devils all the world should fill, all eager to devour us, we tremble not, we fear no ill; they shall not overpower us. This world’s prince may still scowl fierce as he will, he can harm us none. He’s judged; the deed is done; one little word can fell him.” – LSB 656:3 Demons are real. This is sometimes lost on…

God’s Own Child, I Gladly Say It

“There is nothing worth comparing to this lifelong comfort sure! Open eyed my grave is staring: even there I’ll sleep secure. Though my flesh awaits its raising, still my soul continues praising: I am baptized into Christ; I’m a child of paradise.” – 594:5 If you’re like many lifelong Lutherans, you don’t remember your baptism, because you were baptized as an infant.…

The Son of God Goes Forth to War

“The Son of God goes forth to war, a kingly crown to gain. His blood-red banner streams afar, who follows in His train?” – LSB 661:1 The hymn, The Son of God Goes Forth to War, honors Christian martyrs who died for their faith, and urges us to boldly follow their examples of faithfulness. The hymn begins with Jesus, the Son of…

75th Anniversary Celebration

Save the date for August 17th! On August 17th, 2025, Our Savior Lutheran Church will be celebrating our 75th Anniversary. Divine Service begins at 9am. Festivities and meal begins at 11:30am.  Lord, You have been our dwelling place in all generations. The day will feature: Guest Preacher Guest Organist Ruth Mackie Congregational Pictures Bounce House Music by Generation Gap Hamburger meal Ice…

Lord Jesus Christ, with Us Abide

“To hope grown dim, to hearts turned cold speak tongues of fire and make us bold to shine Your Word of saving grace into each dark and loveless place.” LSB 585:3 Both Pastor Matheny and myself were ordained during the month of July in the year of our Lord two-thousand-sixteen. Each year I like to reflect and take stock of myself and…

Come, Holy Ghost, Creator Blest

Many of our prayers are addressed either to our heavenly Father, or to our Lord Jesus Christ. But few prayers are addressed to the Holy Spirit. This is not to say that the Holy Spirit is ignored by us, but that the work of the Holy Spirit is primarily to point us to God the Father and God the Son, and thus…

Come, You Faithful, Raise the Strain

“Alleluia! Now we cry to our King immortal, who, triumphant, burst the bars of the tomb’s dark portal.”  The 8th century hymn, Come, You Faithful, by John of Damascus, has been sung during the Easter season for well over a thousand years, and for good reason! In the first stanza of this hymn the image of God rescuing His people from bondage…

The Royal Banners Forward Go

With this hymn, the chief Good Friday service concludes triumphantly, declaring victory over death. Sometimes we treat Lent, and particularly Good Friday, as if it’s a funeral for Jesus. While it is appropriate to behave especially reverently during the Holy Week services, with more silence and time for meditation on the gravity of what God has done for us in Jesus’ death,…

Hear Our Penitential Cry

Savior, When in Dust to Thee is one of the hymns appointed for Ash Wednesday. Given the subject of the hymn its appropriateness for the season of Lent, and Ash Wednesday in particular, is obvious. This season of Lent is a penitential season, by which we mean this is a season in which we reflect upon the depravity of our sins and…

2025 Our Savior’s Spring Women’s Retreat

Ladies, mark your calendars for March 14th &15th for a Spring Women’s Retreat! This year we are inviting Mrs. Kristen Einertson to be our keynote speaker, on the theme In the Beauty of Holiness. Einertson is known for her work over at the website All The Household, dedicated to restoring liturgical traditions in the home and thus centering the household around the…

Let Thy Servant Depart in Peace

February 2nd is the feast of the Purification of Mary and the Presentation of our Lord in the temple. On this occasion the elderly priest Simeon beheld in his arms the infant Lord Jesus Christ. It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Christ, so now when he…

The Journey Home

“Then, gracious God, in years to come, we pray Your hand may guide us, and onward through our journey home, your mercy walk beside us until at last our ransomed life is safe from peril, toil, and strife when heaven itself shall hide us.” – LSB 899:5   One of the most popular themes in fictional literature is the story of the…

New Year’s Eve Service

Join us on New Year’s Eve at 6:30pm for the New Year’s Eve service. Eternal God, we commit to Your mercy and forgiveness the year now ending and commend to Your blessing and love the times yet to come. In the new year, abide among us with Your Holy Spirit that we may always trust in the saving name of our Lord…

Christmas Eve and Day Services

O God, You make this most holy night to shine with the brightness of the true Light. Grant that as we have known the mysteries of that Light on earth we may also come to the fullness of His joys in heaven; through the same Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one…

Children’s Christmas Service

“The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.” John 1:5 Join us Sunday, December 22nd, at 9 a.m. as we gaze upon the True Light, lying in a manger, in this year’s Children’s Christmas Service. A pre-service recital will take place at 8:40. Reception to follow the 9a.m. service. This…