Pastor Rhoads graduated from Concordia Seminary in St. Louis with a
Master’s of Divinity degree in 2008. He has served as Associate Pastor at Christ Our Savior
since his graduation. Before entering the seminary, he served as a Director of
Christian Education at LCMS churches in Florida, Alabama, and Texas.
Pastor
Rhoads enjoys teaching the faith and providing opportunities for people to live
out their faith in daily life. “My greatest joy in ministry is helping people
grow in their knowledge and appreciation of the grace of God as revealed in the
Bible.” In his free time, he enjoys spending time with his family and hiking the
many trails in our area.
Pastor's Message
Pentecost People
When the day of Pentecost arrived, they were all together in one place. Acts 2:1
Pentecost is more than the 50th day after Easter, that one day when the Holy Spirit filled a house with the sound of a rushing wind and what looked like flames of fire appeared over each believers’ head. The season of Pentecost extends throughout the month of June. In fact, we will be in the Pentecost season until we begin the season of Advent in November! Since we spend so much of the church year in Pentecost, it is fitting to call ourselves “Pentecost People”. But just as Pentecost is more than one day, there is more than one reason to see ourselves as Pentecost People.
Pentecost was originally a festival held on the 50th day after the harvest-consecrating festival in the month of Nisan. It was also known as the Festival of Weeks (Leviticus 23:15-21; Deuteronomy 16:9-12). This was the festival that brought all the Jews together in Acts 2. By God’s grace, we have been brought into God’s heavenly harvest through faith in Jesus Christ. Truly, we are Pentecost People.
As Pentecost People, we celebrate the gift of the Holy Spirit in our hearts and lives. We may not have heard the sound like a rushing wind, seen tongues of fire over our heads, or spoke in different languages, but the Holy Spirit has indeed come upon us. Scripture assures us, “no one can say, ‘Jesus is Lord’ except by the Holy Spirit” (1 Cor. 12:3). Truly, we are Pentecost People.
As Pentecost People, not only have we received the Holy Spirit, we desire to continue to receive him in Word and Sacrament. The Bible was written by men who were moved and inspired by the Holy Spirit. This Spirit-filled word gives power to the sacraments of Baptism and Holy Communion. Since we have been baptized , since we read, mark, learn and inwardly digest God’s Word, since we regularly receive Holy Communion, truly, we are Pentecost People.
As Pentecost People, we look forward to the leading and prompting of the Holy Spirit in our lives- as individuals and as a church. Throughout this month, and every month, may the words of this old hymn be the song of our heart. Come Holy Ghost, God and Lord, With all your graces now out poured
On each believer’s mind and heart; Your fervent love to them impart.
Lord, by the brightness of your light In holy faith your Church unite;
From ev’ry land and ev’ry tongue This to our praise, O Lord, our God, be sung: Alleluia,alleluia.
Come holy Fire, comfort true, Grant us the will your work to do
And in your service to abide; Let trials turn us not aside.
Lord, by your pow’r prepare each heart, And to our weakness strength impart
That bravely here we may contend, Through life and death to you, our Lord, ascend.
Alleluia, alleluia. (LW 154, vv 1,3)
Pastor Mark